Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-11-10
without the gems of the first water.

Far from opposing an organization OF
the players, the club owners without ex-
ception have encouraged their men to
get together. 1t is believed that an or
ganizatlon such as the Baseball Play
ers' Fraternity cannot fail to do great
good for everyone interested in the
game. AS soon as 1t was learned that
there was no unionism ideas connected
with 1t, the movement was heartily in
dorsed by the powers. Garry Hermann.
chairman OF the National Commission,
aptly expressed the sentiments Of all
the promoters in the following words:
"An organization of the players.
properly 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 Ma
tional Commission a great deal of work.
The National Commission would well
come such step and would more than
meet the players half way. AS l under
stand it the players do not demand rep
resentation on the National Commits
sion. They want a general representa-
ton, however, to appear for them in
all cases relating to the supreme court
Of baseball and this think no more
than just. Through such a medium the
commission would be able to get a
clearer insight into both sides of all
controversies"
Broad Minded Constitution.
The fraternity has adopted broad
minded constitution, the aim of which
Is to propagate the best interests of
baseball. One Of its most sacred prin-
ciples is to compel strict observa-
ton of contract by both parties and to
force its members to conduct them
selves in such fashion during the play
Ing season that they will be able to give
| the club owners their very best serv-
ices at all times. There Is nothing at
all menacing to the present peace of
the game in the attitude Of the new
| fraternity
| At present the membership of the new
organization will be confined to major
league players Gradually the associa-
ton will be expanded until the entire
baseball field, right down to the most
obscure minor leagues. will have been
feared for Tho annual fee for the ma jor
league athletes is SIS. When the minor
leagues are taken into membership the
dues will be graded down to meet the
diminishing salaries right down to the
sticks. 1t will probably be several
| years before the entire family of or
ganized baseball has been bound to-
gethcr in one playing fraternity.
| If the new fraternity is to prove one
half as advantageous to It's members as
the promoters believe, then. indeed. the
dues are moderate in the extreme. As
a rule baseball players are extremely
1 s~s, Int n
conclusively in the instance of the pres-
ent movement when the great majority
| of them objected to tn, Dimensions of
assessment. If the PLAYERS were only
wise they would never stop half way
in the new movement but would make
It a beneficiary association. too. This
could be done very easily at tariff
which would embarrass nobody in the
profession.
Not Always Dissipation.
| One does not have to 'oolS far for
ba seball derelicts. In r,any instances.
II Is quite true--especiaily in tho cases
of the old school--dissipation Is Ill
rectly responsible. But not always. A
young player might be incapacitated for
life so early in his career that, with
his means of livelihood taken away. he
twould become a burden upon some
ones hands. With mutual benefit as
ISOLATION behind him. he would be well
provided for and the realization Of this
would undoubtedly encourage him into
taking greater risks. There would be
far fewer gun-shy players N the ex-
listing commercialism on both sides did
not exist.
The magnates are possibly not all SO
money mad as Charley Webb Murphy
who released Mordecai Brown 10
louisville the moment his great pitcher
Ibroke down. They already appreciate
that the fraternity is bound TO benefit
them. They woud welcome even more
radical steps along the paths of mutual
benefit. Indeed, such men as Charles
lComisky, Charlie Somers. August Herr
mann and John r. Brush have long
advocated big home for worn ont
players or at least a reserve fun fol
The alienation OF their w"es. Unkntwr
to the public, these men annually cx-
pend modest fortunes on the oil :!Ir.r
lstars who are now In need.