Evening journal., 1912-11-06
PLAYERS MAY
GO TO COURT


NEW YORK, Nov. 6.-That the new
pareball Players Fraternity means
business and viii endeavor to do
something at the coming meetings of
the two major leagues. is evidenced
by what President David L. Fultz has
to say He says that the player Isl
given the raw edge Of the affairs by
the mogulr and has no opportunity 10
change matters unless the new orgln-
zation is successful. III
The big Idea back of the baseball
I PLAYERS fraternity" said President
Dave l.. Fultz, is to secure justice
ior players and eliminate the high-
handed methods of the club owners
when a player signs contract ne
becomes the sole property of the club.
/ lie can be sold, traded or released al
the owners will The owner is bound
to nothing the player is tied, hand
and foot
THE fraternity will institute civil
suits to compel magnates to live up
to the contracts they have broken.
''rhe case Of John w. Knight, is an
( example. Knight, in 1911 signed a
three-year contract with the New
York Americans for $4,000 a year.
The contract, like every other one,
contained a clause stating the club
could. upon ten days notice, termin-
ate its agreement
Salary Is Cut.
lin 1911, the first year of the con-
tract knight was sold to Washing
ton, which. in turn, sold him TO Jersey
City, a minor league club, where his
salary was cut to $4,000.
This so per cent reduction was
made despite knights contract bind
ing the New York club 10 pay him
$4,000 a year for three years.
Andy Coakley. a pitcher for the
Chicago Nationals, was sold to Louis
Vile His salary was cut $500 a year,
and Coakley refused TO report. Other
teams wanted him, but under the ma
tional agreement he belonged" to
Louisville
"Coakley organized a semi-profes-
sional team and played against some
major league clubs, but the national
commission forbade the clubs to play
his team
Kurt W. Hagerman signed a Bos-
ton American contract for S2,400 a
, year for 1912. Early this season he
was sent to Jersey City under an op-
tional agreement. On June % Jersey
City turned him back and Boston sold
him 30 Denver. which club offered
him Si,500 for the season, and he
refused to report.
offered HRgerman job.
. Other clubs offered Hagerman a
position, agreeing 10 pay him $4,000
I but President McAleer. of Boston
would not consent Hagerman offer
ed to buy his release and McAleei
said;
a You'll play ball with Denver OF
o you viii quit baseball
About this time a major league
e club offered to assume Hagerman's
r $1,000 contract. offering more none,
T. for the pitchers release than Denver
g but McAleer refused. Hagerman wa
d Boston's property; he must obey or
ders or get out of the business which
y gave him a living
a "Hagerman reported at the Bostoi
e grounds daily. but after June % dreN
Is no money. He was refused permits
he sion TO play with independent clubs.
e. Eros B. Barger signed with Brook
he lyD for 1912 at S2,700. He was sold {
Is Newark a minor league team, said Z
n be owned in part by Charles Ebhet.
e. owner Of the Brooklyn team, and Bar
# gers salary was cut considerably
m VIII Seek Redress.
e These instances have been brough
to my attention in writing and tn
fraternity will seek redress for tn
N players.
Is THE case OF Jim Delahanty has no
4. been brought to my attention formal
4. ly, but from all | hear he was rail
it roaded out of the big league hecaus
IF he defed Ban Johnson, president G
Of the American League.
"Delahanty took an important pal
m in the strike OF the Detroit players
(; following the suspension of Ty Cob
p last spring, and soon after the ma
le ter was adjusted Delahanty, who ha
he made uncomplimentary remarks aboi
e. Johnson, was released, although b
ranked as one of the best secon
Of baeemen in the major leagues
at Perhaps teh latest instance OF no
n. completely a player Is in the power
as the club owner is that of Mordec
i- Brown, for years star Of the Gu
or pitching staff.
Last year Browns contract e.
he pired. President Murphy coaxed hi
", TO sign a three-year contract wit
RS Chicago And before the season
IL 1912 passed, Brown was sold TO Loui
b. Vile"