The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-23
BALL PLAYERS
To MAKE MANY
NEW DEMANDS
OBJECT TO WAIVER AND RE-
SERVE CLAUSES IN
CONTRACTS.

NEW YORK, October 22.-When
the bail players fraternity undertakes
TO negotiate with the two major
leagues in Chicago in November and
in New York IN December much fric-
ton is sure to develop, and the new
organization is likely to cause much
trouble in baseball circles before an
other season.
Chairman Hermann. when he was
in New York during the worlds Sc
ries. did not hesitate To say that the
nationa. commission, while it was
willing 70 ffs-CTT at att tfTups u ttTe
grievances Of baseball players. OBJ
jected to David Fultz, who is no long
er a ball player, as president
Fultz for the past six years has
been a lawyer and the commission
thinks that a ball player and not q
lawyer should be at the head of the
organization.
Fultz was largely instrumental in
organizing the body. and II already
has a membership of more than zoo.
AT the annual meeting of the frater-
nifty, held in New York, 1t il under
stood that the ball players agreed not
to consider any contracts for next sea-
son until after the meetings OF the
two major leagues, AT these meet
ings the fraternity expects To submit
SGNEFdl GUdHEtS 4tl ltiE al AiAftS tA Cpit-
tract
One OF these concerns the waiver
rule. which ball players think is un-
just because the club owners work 1t
entirely to their own advantage, with
little or no regard for the players,
who assert that oftentimes club own
@ers use the waiver rule only for their
mutual advantage. Under the rule it
is stated that players are sometimes
sent TO the minors simply because
OF the personal hostility OF the own
ers. Then. again, the waiver rule is
worked to get a player into the mi
nors, with promise for some minor
league player later in the season.
Also. players are shipped back To the
minors when a minor league club is
willing to pay a major league club
larger price than the waiver price
paid by major league clubs The fra
ternity is looking for several changes
in this waiver rule.
Another rule which the players
want changed is the reserve clause.
Under this rule a player may be re
served for one season. when in reality
he lis tied down hard and fast for his
entire baseball career. To he traded,
sold or farrned as the club owners see
fit. The players declare that this
rule is too binding and often impedes
opportunities for them to better them
selves. They want rule which viii
be more elastic and certainly more
equitable.
Chairman Hermann, of the ma
tional commission, said recently: We
have some idea of the demands which
the players are to make but | do not
think there is any cause for worry.
If we find that there are good grounds
for some of the changes in conditions
which are asked, they will be granted,
but Il stands to reason that the play
ers will not be permitted to dictate.
Under present conditions the players
have no kick coming. They are pro-
tected by the rules. and do not
look for a general strike. even IL We
refuse to give this new organization
recognition.
There was considerable change in
the personnel of the officials Of the
fraternity at its annual meeting. 1t
was noticed that well-known players
like Christy Mathewson, Ty Cobb,
Mike Doolan and Ed Sweeney retired
from holding office. while players not
so prominent were substituted.