The Washington times., 1913-10-01
Probable Lineup.

NEW YORK. Oct. 1.-The entrance of
the Baseball Players Fraternity, head
ed by David L. Fultz, New York at
torney and formerly q great player
with Philadelphia and New York in the
American League, is causing consider
able agitation here and may bring the
trouble to a head here Monday when
the National Commission meets to con-
si1sr the present intention of McGraw
and several members OF the Giants to
90 through with their newspaper con-
tracts. The fraternity will back up the
players, if the latter hold to their con-
tracts. Fultz's official statement fol-
lows:
"Mr. johnson is reported to have
said that any worlds series players who
were under contract to write for news
papers must annul these contracts or
they will be subjected to severe pun
ishment and the series will be stopped.
We cannot believe that Mr.. Johnson
made any such foolish statement. In
his position at the head of a big busi-
ness which relies for its stability upon
the binding force of contracts, he could
hardly afford to advocate the disregard
q the contractual obligation wherever
It suited party,s fancy. Nor would
he wish to meet the large damage suits
the players would be liable for in case
they violated their contracts.
"An talk Of calling the series off is
absurd, and the gentlemen composing
the National Commission are too clever
to involve themselves in the serious
complications such move would in
evitably bring about The public still
has some rights, and big business is fast
learning this fact .-..1
Would the fraternity back I'D its
members in writing for the newspa-
pers? ..0.
1T most assuredly would. We do not
pass upon the status of the player-au-
thor as, in our opinion, that matter
rests entirely with the player and the
become necessary to enable one of ,our
members TO carry out a contract which
he has had a perfect right TO enter iato
and which another has entered into with
him in good faith, We would back him
up to the limit H.,
Those who know the intense feeling
existing between Ban Johnson and
''Muggsy" McGraw say that trouble is
sure to come out Of this situation now
latter's rule forbids players to carry out
their newspaper contracts. II the COM
mission intends to be oeeyed in the
future, il must remain adamant now
The Baseball Players Fraternity prom
ises to make trouble for the magnates
In the matter of players contracts at
the coming winter meetings Of the ma
tor leagues. Ban johnson, who is con-
sidered the handspring of the National
Commission, is hardly expected to well
come this intrusion Of Fultz and his
organization into the affair Several
times during the past summer FultZ has
been snubbed by the commission, and
heis sure to receive the same treatment
again. II he comes into this struggle be-
tween the commission and the players
in the matter Of worlds series writing.
Frank Baker and Eddie Collins, MEM
bers of the Philadelphia Athletics, are
expected to stick to their contracts,
Meyers, Marquard, Demaree. Mathew
SON and McGraH, of the Giants, also
mean to go through with their agree
ments Connie Mack. shrewd leader OF
the Athletics. declines to take stand
in the matter. but says that the COM
mission should have taken its action
last fall.
McGraw. whose attitude toward John
son is we'll known, is peppery. He says
that there isn't a chance of his failure
to carry out his newspaper contract
He charges that the commission de-
layed too long before issuing its order.
'"The commission has had q whole
year in which to make its announce
ment," says McGraw. why did it
wait until We signed contracts? II this
order had come in the summer. there
is little doubt in my mind but that the
players would have obeyed. Perhaps
next year this trouble won't happen.
But We have signed contracts now. 1t
il too late for us to break them. for
any reason whatever. Ny decision is
final In nv own case