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

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 it's
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
! fetal 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 a 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 forceful 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
| II be an injustice to them for the Ma
tional Commission to refuse to recog-
| niZe him, but II would also tend to
antagonize the members of the fra
| ternity at the very start of the pro-
! ceedlngs, and therefore install feel
| ing of enmity that would be very en-
| barrassing and entirely foreign to the
! spirit of fairness and friendliness that
should prevail and which seems to be
the inclination Of both parties, ac-
| 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
/ ORourke, also a law student. IL not
already admitted to the bar, as Ward S
able lieutenant They were both fully
capable of presenting their demands
TO the magnates, but were laughed at
Owners Taken Unawares.
The club owners were loath to be-
lieve 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
uonal Commission then--only the one
league to contend against. The sud
| den onslaught of the players came
very near wrecklng the too confident
club owners 1t did wreck several in
diNidual magnates, noticeably John
T. Day, who was considered by the
revolving players as their best friend
among the owners, and was offered
the chance to get on the brotherhood
band wagon before il was too late
But Mr.. Day refused to believe that
he could not influence enough OF his
star players to protect his interests
and was not convinced until he found
there were no traitors among the
players he most desired TO remain
with him when money to fabulous
amount was placed on table In front
Of them
Such players as Ward. ORourkc
Roger Common, Buck Ewing. George
Gore, Tim Keete and others spurnet
the most munifcent offers to quit the
brotherhood and renounce the prlnci.
Piles they were lighting for. but none
of that sturdy. honest bunch ever
iliCkered.
Players Lost No Prestige.
| That the Players League was not d
success does not reflect on the play.
ers' intentions or ideas OF right auC
, wrong as they thought. A mistall,
was made in the selection of certain
! hackers who proved TO be weak.
kneed and with sponRy spines. but IN,
players themselves lost no prestige bN
the advancement of their ideas o.
needed reforms in fact, although de.
feated they gained much that they
demanded and the players OF to-day
are deriving the benefit
Whether those players who are
I making the present crusade are suCl
good fighters as those of nearly q
quarter OF a century ago. / have ne
way of knowing. but as il has beer
published that some OF them fear {,