The Washington herald., 1912-11-10
~ w. J. MACBETH.

New York, Nov. 4-The B30eoou Pay
er6 Ffatsrnity. according to Vice Presi'
dent Christy Mathewson. who u win
teEinG In this city. has already expert.
enced far greater success 30 far than ita
promoters had hoped for In the briel
span Of time. BY the time Of the spring
training trips II is believed that every
active athlete outside the playing man.
aeers-managers are barred Of course
win b member in good standing. More
the sixteen major league clubs have
already paid their assessments. In ths
great majority Of clubs all but one or
two members are in line. i've teams hav.
ing come In solid.
1t was expected when the organisation
was first talked Of that the movement
would meet with strenuous opposition on
the part OF the magnates. This sppre-
hension caused Q number Of the lesser
likhts to hang back. The stars from
the start were the prime movers In the
reform. The smaller fry naturally hesi-
tsted. They thought that in case Of re-
sentiment on the part Of the masnates
E1nised baseball might do without them
where 1t could not do without the gems
Of the first water.
Far from opposing an organization OF
tie PLAYERS, the club owners without ex-
ception have encouraged their men to
get to9ether. It Is believed that an or
ganization such a. the Baseball Players
Fraternity cannot fail to do q great
GOOD for every one interested in the
game. Az soon ss It was learned that
there was no unionism ideas connected
= hoAN ~ to-
dorsed by the powers. Garry Hermann.
chairman Of the national committee.
artly expressed the sentiments Of all the
promoters in the following words:
National Connissisn Approves.
AN organisation Of the players. prop
eriy conducted along lines Of good sense.
should prove one OF the greatest helps
In the history Of the sport. 1t would
take out Of the hands Of the National
Commission q great deal Of work. The
National Commission would welcome
such q step and would more than meet
the players half way. As understand
Il the players do not demand represen-
tation on the National Commission. They
want q general representation, however.
to appear for item In all cases relating
to the supreme court Of baseball and
this think no more than Just. Through
such medium the commission would
be able to get . clearer insight into both
sides Of all controversies"
The fraternity has adopted q broad
minded constitution the aim Of which II
to propagate the best interests of base
ball. One Of ite most sacred principles
II to compel . strict observance Of con-
tract by both parties and to force tts
members TO conduct themselves In such
fashion during the playing season that
they will be able to give the club owners
their very best services at all times.
There 10 nothing at all menacing to the
present peace Of the game In the atti-
tude Of the new fraternity.
At present the membership of the new
will be confined to major
league playerA Gradually the association
will be expanded until the entire base-
ball field. right down to the most obscure
The annual fee for the major league
athletes is $lS. When the minor leagues
are taken Into nembership the dues will
be graded down to meet the diminishing
salaries right down to the sticks. It will
probably be several years before the
entire family Of organized baseball hasI
been bound together in one playing fra
lernity.
Players Hate to '.Give Up"
II the new frsternity y 10 prove one
half as advantageous to It's members as
the promoters bslisve, then indeed the
iuss are modsrAte in the extreme. As
! rule. baeeoaN players are extremely
hard Igivers w." That was proven con-
.lusiyely N the instsnce Of the present |
when the great majority Of
hem o61ectsd d the dimensions Of the |
Il ths players were only
wise they veula never stop half way In
he new novsmsnt. but would make it
asoocjatiea, too. This could
V done ysrx eastly At . tariff which !
you'd ssnberfeH hseody IN the profess |
One doss,nst hAvs 10 ioek far. for base
Dall dacelfuts. n inany imstances. II 10
luite true-p4q(eNylnt y ~ casss Of the |
~ scnes - aseetly rel
pea11ses ef9ogl a yopngl !