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

NEW YORK Nov. 5.-For the
" 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 its
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 he 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 oyer 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 n correct
idea of what they want in the way OF
reforms.
Would Arouse Enmity.
They have in meeting assembled
seen fit 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-
ni2e him. but ii would also tend to
antagonize the members OF the fra
ternity at the very start of the pro-
ceedings and therefore install a feel
ing Of enmity that would be very en-
barrassing and entirely foreign TO the
spirit Of fairness and frlendliness 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 10 promote
| reform for the players John Nj Ward.
! who. was studying law, was the head
| Of that organization with James
! O'Rourke, also a law student, If not
/ already admitted to the bar, as Ward $
| able lieutenant. They were both fully
| capable of presenting their demands
I -
Owners Taken unawares.
The club owners were loath TO be
| heve that the players would 30 to ex-
! tremes. and the launching of the
/ Players League IN 1890 caught the
/ magnates Of the National League to-
/ tally unprepsred. There was no Ma
| uonsl Commission then--only the one
| league TO contend against The sud
| den onslaught of the players came
| very near wrecking the too confident
! club owners. II did wreck several in
! dlNldual magnates, noticeably John
/ h. Day. who was considered by the
! rev olting 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,
I and was not convinced until he found
there were no traitors among the
| players he most desired to remain
with him when money to a fabulous
amount was placed on table in front
OF them.
Such players as Ward, ORourke.
| Roger Common, Buck Ewing, George
| Gore, Tim Keefe and others spurned
the most munificent offers 20 quit the
brotherhood and renounce the princi-
pies they were fighting for. but none
OF that sturdy, honest bunch even
| tiickered
Players Lost No Prestige.
That the Players League was not a
| success does not reflect on the play
ers intentions or ideas Of right and
wrong, as they thought A mistake
was made in the selection OF certain
hackers, who proved TO be weak
kneed and with spongy spines. but the
players themselves lost no prestige by
the advancement OF their ideas OF
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
making the present crusade are such
good fighters as those or nearly a
quarter Of a century. ago ! have no
way OF knowing but as il has been
j published that some Of them fear TO