The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-06-18
FRATERNITY DUE
TO EXPLODE SOON
Ball Players Neglect to Pay
Union Dues.
BECOMING WEAKER DAILY.

Diamond Stars Seem Satisfied With
Existing Conditions In Organized .
BaIl-Ebbets Talks on Treatment of
Players.
Is the Baseball Players fraternity |
crumbing? If stories told within the
past few weeks are true an explosion !
is possible at an early date. David L.
Fultz, organizer and president of the
fraternity, at a salary, has written sew
eral letters requesting certain things in
behalf of the players, which have been
coldly turned down by the governors of
the national game. The scare occa-
stoned by talk of dissolving the so CALI
ed "baseban trust" which is at an end,
is said to have opened the eyes of play
ers in all the leagues to the fact that
present conditions, if abolished, would
mean a general reduction of salaries.
The quick collapse of the United
States league, which lasted less than
four days. is another eye opener, the
players engaged by organized ball hay
ing reached the conclusion that the
public, satisfied with the present high
standard of play, is opposed to outlaw
movements.
1t is common gossip in baseballdOm
that many players enrolled as members
of the fraternity engineered by FultZ
are not in a hurry to pay the annual
dues of SIS. Many persons predict the
fraternitys early demise Recalciuant
players have begun to ask one another
what benefits can be obtained for the
payment of dues which go to pay
FultZs salary, They appear to be con
WINGED that the magnates who pay
them for their services on the ball field
do not intend to submit to dictation
and that as Il matter of fact there are
/ no grievances to be adjusted.
The sensible players know that
they are receiving liberal treatment
from their employers" said President
Ebbets of the Brooklyn club. with
the increased popularity of baseball
/ salaries have been raised all along the
line. The new national agreement has
been amended to benefit the players in
major and minor leagues, Minor league
-
! the diamond. are eager to be sold tC
the majors. while veteran players il
the major leagues. are satisfied to bt
turned back to the minors at good sala
] ries rather than released with no pros
pect of other enga gements. Rules o
discipline are necessary to govern baC
actors, but there are very few in
/ stances of oppression, and all sucl
| cases are fairly dealt with by the IA
/ tional commission. The players. witt
! few exceptions, are we'll satisfied witt
! present conditions. They believe in or
/ ganized baseball. and they will tell 20
3 so if you ask them"
To- 4 player drawing salary from on
=, of the western clubs in the NatiOnG
league, who didn't want to be quoteC
, said that when the fraternity was Of
gained the players in the major Gil
cults joined because it was fad. 'BU
it has been made clear" he continued
that we have no grievances wort
talking about. Our relations with tt
club owners are cordial and we a
- precfate the fact that in paying hie
salaries our employers are running b
financial risks. II 4 nfSn Sdialt'u tea
. cannot win the club owner los,
ID money, but he is compelled to live l
to the terms of each players contra,
ce Ty Cobb is getting $500 from D
to troit. yet he can't help the Tigers 0
. of the second division. The fraterni
\. has accomplished nothing so far, al
81 that is why the players are beginni
az to ask why they must go on payi
p. SIS Il year into the treasury"
ie If these stories of dissensions in t
- ranks OF the fraternity are untr
"a Fultz, it is pointed out, can easily
en- prove them by publishing a list of I
. players who have come across vi
ne the coin.
p.
Isl