New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-21
Baseball Strike Ends When
Players Find That Detroit
Club Owners Are the
Chief Sufferers.
TO PLAY SENATORS TO-DAY
Rebels Declare That They Will
Continue to Fight Johnson's
Czarism - Navin and
Cobb Persuade Men
to Give In.

Philadelphia. May 20.-On the ground
that they did not want to see Frank !.
Eavin. president of the club, suffer for
any action on their part, and at the ear
nest solicitation Of "Ty" Cobb, the play
ers of the Detroit baseball club called
off their strike late this afternoon and
agreed to play the regular scheduled
game in Washington tomorrow. Thus
ends one of the most extraordinary stu
atoms that has ever been brought about
in organized baseball. In announcing
their decision to return TO the field the
players said they want it distinctly un-
derstood that they will still fight for the
principle involved and for which they
struck.
In returning to the fold the players
received no concession from Ban Johu-
son, president of the league, who had
indefinitely suspended "Ty" Cobb for at
lacking a spectator in a game in New
York last week. Mr.. Navin, however
promised the men that Il they returned
he would do his utmost TO have Cobb
reinstated as quickly as possible; that
he would do all he could as a club
owner TO have the American League
give better protection TO the players on
the field against unSportsmanlike con-
duct on the part of spectators. and that
he will see that none of the players will
al y or
any fines that may be imposed upon
them by the league.
To Save Detroit Club.
Cobb acted as the spokesman for tie
striking players after they had been
taken back.
The boys have decided to play in
Washington without me-" he sail.
Their consent is given solely that The
Detroit club may not suffer by the inn
position of fines or the danger of losing
its franchise. They will stand on ;h-ir
principle and will play on the assurance
of Mr. Navin that all fines that may De
imposed for their action so far will be
paid by the club.
at a meeting Of the club owners to-
morrow Mr. NaVin will endeavor to have
the unsportsmanike conduct of spec
tators in the stands, such as preCiptatcd
this trouble. eliminated in the future.
The boys feel that their action in going
on strike has reacted against the Detroit
club, and for this reason they have de-
cided TO end the strike.
The boys also are doing this because
they are in no condition to fight. The
fight was altogether against Johnson
and was not against the Detroit club.
AS the club appeared TO be the chief suf-
ferer the boys decided to call off the
strike"
President Navin has assured the play
ers that the heaviest sentence that vii
be meted out TO them will be fines, and
he has promised that the Detroit club
will pay them. While President Navin
refuses to discuss this phase of the SIT
uation. apparently he has some gree
ment with President Johnson.
Cobb No Longer an Issue.
The decision of the strikers was
reached after Ban Johnson had received
from the rebels" through President
Navin, a proposition to agree TO return
. work and 10 play in WASHINGTON If
the president Of the American League
would agree to determine the limit Of
CObbs suspension JohT son lost ~ time
in turning Gown that offer, and informed
Navin that he would not treat with
Navin or the Detroit players while the
strike lasted. He informed the owner
of the Tigers that he had not considered
the Cobb case: that it was not at all
pertinent; that the only question before
him was the insurrection OF the players,
and that they would have to settle that
at once il the American League was TO
continue to be the recognized boss of It's
players.
Conference followed conference in
rapid succession and Navin was worked
up to the highest pitch He jumped into
a taxi and rushed up to the Aldine 20
plead with his men, asking them to give
I'm for his sake and not to sacrifice all
that he had put into the game He even
went so far as to assure them that IL
bIltS NdlItu OH tire Stl iht anu tIidI IL
Johnson did not put it up to them in
the right way, then he. too, would join
them I'm any movement they wanted to
make TO compel the league president to
treat them properly.
Cobb himself was called into the con-
ference, and he. too, pleaded with the
men to give in. At first they were OH
durate. Jennings became active. First
he took Bush outside the conference
room, then Moriarty and Delehanty. then
Mullen, each player in turn, and had
few minutes talk with the stars Of the
team. Sam Crawford wanted to fight IT
out if the whole league was against
them, for he said what would be the use
Of knuckling to Johnson now, for they
would always feel that they had not had
q square deal. and that they would only
grow more bitter as time went on. Jen-
nings begged him to give in, and, finally.
after much persuasion. the players then
told Navin TO go back to Johnson with
their capitulation.
Johnson was eager TO have the thing