New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-15
PRESIDENT of Players Frater-
nitv Will Not Let PerSonalI-
ties Cloud the Issue.
NEVER ORDERED A STRIKE
r,od 10 See That Commission
will Now Consider Demands
After Refusal to Treat with
organization Last June.

spirited statement DO " ''P''
.ob which the chairman OF the Ma
commission delivered in Columbus
wednesday night at the dinner of the
.,or leage owners.
conservative Of the players han
-. ,,s situation without gloves and hits
,.s, from the shoulder He declares
,,...mann is trying to cloud the issue
-, personalities. Attacking the head OF
t-,ternity instead Of discussing the
Wv Of the players will not misleau
Ions saws Fultz. He denies siren
a. that strike was ever proposed
&C. qratifed to learn that the com
.,ssion is now willing to treat with the
,-a.o,ritv-something it would not con-
10 last June. His statement reads as
fellows;
=. recent speech at Columbus Mr.;
il chairman Of the National
htIl..r,jssioD is reported TO have maze
t,tsin statements rejecting upon tht
,Sod we have adopted IN conduGuh6
.ss affairs OF our fraternity MI. ne i II :
- has either been incorrectly quoleu VI
u, ls' i;,,forration has been at fault, as some
oE the alleged statements were lar from
u-rste and we think the puDllc IS en-
go to orr version of the controversy.
NJ Hermann has also much TO my
rsgret seen nj 10 make personal dtIdCN
mon me AS neither my personality MOI
- ones animuS toward me mas any
sl; 70 10 do with the issue and can in no
sav interest the public, l Nouchsafe the
Element that this attack is somewhat
so ri Mace and shows a lack OF pose
grbieb MIR. Hermann would not nave beSh
o,ilt( OF had he more maturely consul
ss,ed the matter. This is a question OF
ssrircinlss moi personalities and the pub
tc ALWAYS keeuly analytical, VIII not per-
~, tbe issue 10 be clouded by discus
son NJ something which does not con-
csrn il in the slightest. If Mr.. Hermann
sgrees 10 negotiate with us we can as
s7re rim that he will run no greater FISK
nam We Will i he desires a committee
n nlavers. we are perfectly willing 10
scoounodate-in fact, we are good sports
md don't propose TO Qulb1le, out Wheh
II comes 10 q question OF substance my
diagnosis Of the situation is that the play
srs are absolutely in accord and that
ihey have burned their bridges. Al
tbopgh | have not heard from the mem
hers OF our advisory board upon the sub
isct | eel very sure that they would
nave no objection TO appearing with me
NfOre the commission. That, however is
Z natter solely for their determination.
This board is one in which ! take great
deal OF pride because no cleaner. no more
esrable' no more intelligent set OF men
ever PLAYED ball than Jake Daubert, John
Henry. Jack Miller and Ray Collins. VINO
with me compose II.
Mr.. Hermann states that l have critl-
e.sed IN a certain magazine decisions OF
the National Commission. l regret thdt
-. H. x.ssgrslF ~
done In as dispassionate a way as pos
gble and solely with the idea OF showing
the public that some OF the decisions
we're not rendered according 10 legal
principles and were unjust TO the player.
! am perfectly willing TO defend the
sOundness OF these criticisms or 10 iur-
ther establish their fairness.
The chief objection seems 10 be that
BE have not had facts before us Wnen
making our criticisms. We dare say thdl
IN several cases we have had facts not
possessed by the commission, which we
would gladly have submitted had not the
hostility Of Mr. Hermann last June IN
refusing all intercourse with US prevented.
We are criticised for calling the man
gho made it possible for the owners 10
secure a copy Of our requests before they
vere formally presented black Sheep'
and bis act is commended as an endeaFor
70 establish amicable relations between
ad this was worse than black Sheep'
h vas a stool pigeon. and he gave the in
formation with no idea Of benefiting the
Paternity, but Just the contrary, ana also
% lngratiate himself with the masnates.
70 man who takes, without the knoWl-
eise OF the person into whose hands IL
l& been intTusted for signatures, petl-
non which he secretly gives 10 the oppo-
sic faction does so with an honest IN
tent II this is Mr. Herrmann's idea of
orderly procedure, and If he thinks, as ne
reported 10 have said, that such an acc
aoqld b. commended and respected, we
'sry respectfully take issue.
Nr Hermann criticises me for giving
edr petition to a New York paper before
had teen presented to the commission
ahd board. Were this the case there
eold undoubtedly have been very serl-
ys breach Of etiquette committed; but a
eieiul reading of the paper from when
~ Hermann SAYS he got his informa-
~ viii show very cOncluSiYely thdt l
Nl nothing whatsoever to DO with the
Ii.er II be wishes 10 urge the point !
s-aA be glad TO tell him how he can ma
sA Who furnished the requests TO the
.apefs. but when he learns the name / II
,9aIantee he won't take the public into
As confidence
again, / am criticised for trying TO To-
III strike and OF attempting 10 exact
promise 10 that effect from the players:
- really has its humorous SIDE, put L
sA going to toss my hat into the ring
.ao care Mr.. Hermann or any one else
~ produce ball player who made any
IN statement I'm earnest. II i may SINK
~ lne vernacu.ar. ! expect some player
"a Mddlng' Mr.. Hermann and he EEL
~ My attitude has always been
~ Inc reverse. and the players know
aeclly whore / stand. The criticism
Osu lead 70 the belief that there has
sos friction within our ranks. on the
f-u Siy / can say proudly that at no
,sss s mas there been the slightest con-
,s,on and al no time have the players
NV nv que consideration, refused TO follow
~, a9Vlce. II organized ball is relying
~ Ioinentlng any trouble between the
h ana me il is grasping at straWs;
~ SIMPLY marking time.
Ill I, hermann says that the sentiment
r.eogEhere is 20 settle all disputes in
bSseSeaaole way, either by conferences ar
S~.afation or otherwise. Should il be any
nj s1'ss'eht IN organized ball? Emphatically
LAST June, when we made several
lss4sssS 10 Mr. Hermann as kinds or
missts 10 take the temper Of the COM
nn,iel we were told that further COM
Tbsss auons would receive no attention.
escS Two statements hardly square with
la ,v1her however. we are exceedingly
rerseSp Know that Mr.. Hermann has re-
over ~ himself. and We are much pleased
nee,lnses attitude he now assumes toward
dra,sh, fun time that organized ball
t4sygpel those petty bubbles about my
agbfe an outsider and being in this
thins. Tor my own private ends" These
seoros,aslr,e mere child's play; they haven't
xe,a pushed the purpose for which they
Tbis Heehaed. so let's abandon them.
Sortan, controversy Is not the most inn
tboaah lining now before the public.
inseIInn some Of US at times seem to
item II Is; yet Il Is a matter of suf-
il import 10 warrant our going at il
k,S u.shlhed. businesslike manner SO
cts 81. Out the bubbles. Mr.. Hermann;
ssd ~ uOwn 70 the meat Of the matter
hg cop cop straining at gnats and swallow
Vim heis or the long suffering public
nave us patience exhausted.