Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-05
BY Sam Crane.

a.
NEW YORK, Nov. 5.--For the
N good of all concerned in the
coming controversy between
the National Commission, club own
ers and the Baseball Players Fra
ternity, when the latter presents its
demands for reforms looking to the
players interests, it is fortunate that
| second thought has convinced some Of
the magnates that it Will be the bet
ter plan to allow the fraternity to be
represented by Lawyer David L.
Fultz, whom they have elected the
president Of their organization,
rather than to ignore him and his Of
| ficial status.
Professional baseball players are
| extremely touchy on many things.
but on none more than to be refused
| recognition in the way they them
| selves select
Individually the players are always
at loss as to how to voice their
| grievances. They can get together
and talk over their troubles, real or
| imaginary, with great gusto and with
reasonable arguments, but they are
| doubtful Of the ability of any Of their
number to so present their arguments
| in the forcoful way they think is nee
essary to give the magnates correct
| idea of what they want in the way of
reforms.
Would Arouse Enmity.
| They have in meeting assembled
| seen ut to elect President Fultz as
their leader and mouthpiece in the
! present crusade and not only would
1t be an injustice to them for the Ma
| uonal Commission to refuse to reCog-
| nize him. but it would also tend to
| antagoni2e the members Of the fra
| ternty at the very start of the pro-
Ceedings, and therefore install a feel
ing of enmity that would be very en-
| barlassing and entirely foreign to the
| spirit of fairness and friendliness that
| should prevail and which seems to be
| the inclination of both parties, &C
| cording to all reports.
When the brotherhood In the fall of
1889 took up the cudgels to promote
| reform for the players John NJ Ward,
who was studying law was the head
Of that organization, with James
O'Rourke, also a law student If not
already admitted to the bar, as Ward S
able lieutenant They were both fully
capable Of presenting their demands
10 the magnates, but were laughed at
Owners Taken Unawares.
The club owners We're loath to be
leVe that the players would go to eX-
tremes. and the launching Of the
| Players League, in 1890 caught the
magnates of the National League to-
tally unprepared, There was no Ma
tional Commission then--only the one
league to contend against. The sud
/ Il aaFa.y. . ~
very near wreCking the too confident
| club owners. 1t did wreck several in
! dlVidual magnates notiCeably Johr
! Il. Day who was considered by the
rev olting players as their best friend
among the owners, and was Offered
the chance to get on the brotherhood
| band wagon before II was too late
But Mr. Day refused to believe thai
, he could not influence enough Of hi!
star players to protect his interests
and was not convinced until he fount
there were no traitors among thu
players he most desired to remain
with him when money TO a fabulou!
, amount was placed on n table in from
OF them
Such players as Ward. O'Rourkc
Roger Conner. Buck Ewing, Georg,
Gore, Tim keefe and others spurne,
the most munifcert offers to quit tn,
brotherhood and renounce the prinCi
Piles they were fighting for, but runI
Of that sturdy. honest bunch ever
4 hiChered
Players Lost No Prestige.
That the Players League was not
success does not reflect on the play
p ers intentions or ideas of right an,
> wrong, as they thought. 4 mistalS
was made In the selection Of certain
: hackers, who proved TO be weak
3 kneed and with spongy spines. but tn,
Z players themselves lost no prestige b,
: the advancement OF their ideas o
: needed reforms, in fact, although de
s teated they gained much that the!
: demanded and the players Of to-da,
5 are deriving the benefit.
Il Whether those players who ar
5 making the present crusade are sue
; good fighters as those OF nearly
s quarter of century ago. ! have IA,
{ way of knowing bat AS IL has beel
) Unpublished thatxsome Of them fear t