New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-21
Perfect Organization to Pro-
teCt Themselves from Un-
lust Discipline and Au-
toCratiC Rule.
DAVE FULTz PRESIDENT
Matty, Cobb, Doolan, Sweeney,
Vice. .Presidents-Pass Res
olution Condemning In
temperance Among
Members.

With Dave Fultz. the oldtime out
fielder Of the New York Yankees. as
president, and "Christy" Mathewson,
Mike" Doolan, of the "Phnlies"; "Ty'
Cobb and Ed" Sweeney. of the Yam
KEGS, as vice-presidents, the organiza-
tion Of the Baseball Players Frater .
nifty was perfected at a meeting held
in the law offices of Mr.. Fultz. at No.
II Wall street, yesterday afternoon.
Thus the long talked of protective as
ISOLATION has become a reality, and the
attack by a spectator on "Ty' Cobb at
American League Park in this city last
May has borne fruit in the banding to-
gether Of the players for the common
good.
With the formation of the associa-
ton the players are in position to tie
I'D major league baseball at short no.
tice II they so desire; but such a con-
tingency is furthest from the thoughts
Of the organizers, the purpose Of the
fraternity being primarily TO protect
the men from unjust discipline. Bound
hand and foot by the laws of organized
baseball, the players have been forced
10 submit 70 the DEGREES of those in
authority or be blacklisted They have
been fined and suspended i'm the past
without a hearing. and ii Is to counter
act this condition that they have
iolned hands so that they may protest
as a body.
ANY other grievances are Of minor
Importance. Naturally no attempt will
he made TO fix wage scale. This
would be too hard on the stars who
are making their $4,000 a year. If a
scale were adopted the shining lights
would he compelled to accept the sal
sry Of an ordinary player. on the
whole. the men are well paid.
Hans Wagner Joins.
When Hans Wagner enrolled as
member of the fraternity yesterday the
roster included the name Of nearly
every star in the two major leagues.
The famous shortstop of the pittsburgh
Pirates held off until he was convinced
Of the seriousness Of purpose in the
men behind the movement, and cog
infant Of its worth he has cast his lot
with the association. The only wel
knoUn men who are not members are
"Rube" Benton the pitcher Of the ON
cInnati Reds; Eddie Plank, Of the Phil
sdeIphia Athletics, and Shafer and NC
Corrnick of the Giants. To date 2SS
players have Joined the organization
and a dozen more will be taken in DUR
ing the coming week. Many OF the
Young nIayers in the two leagues nave
asked 70 toin. but the directors nave
decided to admit TO membership only
tboss who have shown enough ability
N earn regular berths with the teams
The meeting was called yesterday TO
elect officers and discuss policies sew
,ral resolutions being passed In the IN
tersst of the players. These Will be
presented to those in authority In the
two big leagues. Each club, has
member on the board Of directors the
Cleveland Maps being the only team
which has not entered into the move
ment and consequently was not rep
resented yesterday. The directors VINO
attended the meeting were as follows:
Mathewson. Of the Giants; Sweeney OF
the Yankees: Daubert, Of the Brooklyn
superbas; Doolan, of the Philltes;
Thomas, Of the Athletics; Henry OF the
washington Senators; Cobb. Of De
troit; Mowrey, Of the Cardinals; Pratt
Of the Browns; Miller, Of the Pirates;
Continued on ninth page, second column.