New-York tribune., 1913-12-29
Demands To Be Presented
to National Commission in
Cincinnati on Saturday.
FULTZ EXPLAINS HOW
TO MAKE ALL CHANGES
No Revision of National Agree
ment InvOlved-COnfident
Owners Will Be Fair.

to the National Commission next Satur-
day is of great moment With A few eX-
ceptons. all the stars OF the game have
agreed not to sign contracts for neA'
season until they have received satisfac-
tion from the owners. Only the fllnsy
reserve clause holds them in check AMI
II the decision Of the commission Is ad-
verse they can flock to the outlaws
The players hold the upper hand. aud
they will get far more consideration thah
they would II the Federal League were
not lingering invitingly In the ofing. The
change in the attitude of the owners
toward the new organization during the
last few weeks has been marked Tile
men at the head OF the clubs seem to be
on the point Of complete capltulation. and
little trouble is anticipated in Cincinnati
on Saturday.
In a resume OF the stand and petition
of the fraternity which is to be considered
by the National Commission David L.
FultZ. president OF the players organiza-
ton. gave out the following statement
las; night:
The petition o. the Baseball Players
Fraternity. signed by about five hundred
members. was presented to the National
Commission and the National Board on
November s. As was announced several
days ago, a conference will take place in
Cincinnati on January e. at which the
fraternity will be represented 10y its OFF,
GERS. John =. Henry, Jacob l.. Daubert,
Ray W. Collins. John B. Miller, Edward
NJ. Reulbach and myself. In connection
with this petition 1t has been stated that
we have adopted the wrong procedure,
that we should have presented our pet-
tion to each league individually and that
We would have TO start all over again.
These criticisms however, were made
by those who did not take the trouble 10
inform themselves regarding baseball
legislation Article VIII Section I. OF
the national agreement reads in part as
follows.
"'Al contracts between clubs and play
crs Iu the major leagues shall bc in form
prescribed 10y the commission. All con-
tracts between clubs and players IN the
National Association shall be in form pre-
scribed by the association
"hs the relation between the players
and owners is purely coutractual. it is
readily seen that the commission and
board are the only proper bodies for us
20 appeal 10. and that had We attempted
20 get relief from any other source We
would have been decidedly out OF order
and would very probably have been side
tracked
The criticism is also made that our
requests IL granted, would involve a re-
vision 81 the national agreement Even
though this were the case, Il would be
well worth the trouble Any legislative
enactment which unnecessarily abridges
the rights OF one group of persons for the
benefit of another group. without any ah-
vantage accrunG to the body polite.
should be done away with at no matter
what cost.
"Noth.nS Of this kind, however. need be
involved ~ far as we are concerned the
national agreement may stand Just as 1t
ls An agreement with Us granting our
requests and providing that ii take prece-
Gence over anything to the contrary
wherever found I'm baseball legislation
will be all that Is necessary 10 carry the
changes into effect The owners may
mcuts as are deemed necessary at their
pleasure.
Other reports say that organized ball
will simply delay decision on our requests
indefinitely, and eventually, perhaps.
shelve them altogether Any such action
seems 10 Us very unlikely. Nothing would
be accomplished by delay. as the situa-
ton would eventually have 10 be faced.
The players most assurcdly would not
relish being ignored and their attitude
would be made even more determined
and perhaps somewhat embttered. Aside
from this consideration, we believe that
organized bail is inclined TO be fair and
TO meet tine players half way. Our re-
quests are equitable. and were framed
after a great deal OF careful considera-
ton.
we have not viewed the situation en-
tlrely from the players standpoint. but
have tried TO look at II from all angles.
Apparent hardships upon the players
which We deemed necessary for the main
tenance OF the game. such as the release
clause and the reserve rule, we have LETT
untouched except the latter rule IN the
case OF veteran players.
1T is q matter of great qualification
to rs 10 witness the attitude OF many
Of the Leading baseball men toward our
petition. II reports can be relied upon
IL has been pronounced acceptable by
Mr.. Hermann and Mr.. Johnson, two
members of the commission. and while
Governor Tcner. the third member, has
n nniriOn have
fears regarding the stand he will take.
AS we have no reason to doubt the sim
cerlty OF any OF these gentlemen In this
matter We feel very confident that the
adjustment will be satisfactory to all
concerned and that numerous causes Of
friction heretofore existing between the
owners and players will be done away
with for coed and all
Cincinnati. Dec. 2S.-"Nlr Fultz's in
depreciation OF Article VIII, Section /,
Of the national agreement is correct. and
q would have been useless for him 10
nresent any matter concerning contracts
70 tho directors OF any OF the leagues"
said August Hermann, chairman Of the
National Commission, here tonight.
what the outcome OF the deliberations
of the commission will be after hearing
the committee from the Baseball Play
ers' Fraternity | cannot say, but the
committee will he heard and the de-
uands will be given early consideration.
Toronto Pros Win at Soccer.
St. Louis Dec. 2S.-The Toronto Pro-