New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-10
Five Hundred of Fraternity Ask
National Commission for
Changes in Contracts.
SEE LITTLE OPPOSITION
Several Owners of Clubs Have
Already Granted Some
Clauses of Petition for
General Welfare.

-men and ehi;-oaies seventeen requests for
changes in contracts. 'ThIs petition has
been In preparation for a number OF
months and represents a great deal of
careful consideration by the leading play
.rs all over the country.
Many of the things asked for are al
ready accorded the players by a few of
the owners Mr.. Hermann. Mr.. Johnson
and Mr.. Lynch are reported to have said
that they are equitable, so the players
are expecting no serious opposition.
The significance OF some of these re-
quests is not Immediately apparent, and
the players have made their requests
public
The requests follow:
Request One. At the present time. when
n major league player receives ten days
notice OF his unconditional release he Is
not permitted during that time to sign
with any team outside of the league in
which he has been playing. National
agreement. Article 6. Section 81 II a
team IN the other majsr league should
offer him $500 a month and a team in his
old league 500 he must accept the latter
offer. Thus. notwithstanding the fact
that he has received his unconditional re-
lease, and that he knows he will be with
out a job at the expiration OF the ten
DAYS, he cannot do business with any
team out of his league. We believe that
he should of course work out the ten
days, but that during that time he should
be absolutely free to contract for the fut-
ure; in other words. that an unconditional
release should be what II purports to be.
"In the minor leagues we find a condi-
ton even more unfair than in the major.
The minor league player receives no pre-
limnary notice of his release; sometimes
the whole thing is accomplished between
innings; and yet by Article % of the Ma
tional Association agreement. he is pre-
vented for period of ten days from sign
ing with any team outside the league in
which ne has been playing. Thus. in spite
Of the fact that he is not in the teams
employ, that his contract has been termi-
mated. that he is not under salary, he is
forced TO remain idle for a period Of ten
teams should want him. Such a restric-
ton upon a mans right to earn a liveli-
hood needs no further comment.
Request Two. When a player signs a
contract, according to the contention of
organized baseball he obligates himself 10
sign with the same team the following
season, and so on indefinitely. The player
L. th,,o 60
magnate wants him, while the magnate
Is not bound for the fraction of second.
Is the player overreaching. therefore, If
he asks for a notice OF ten days before he
can be cast adrift? Should such men as
Dusty Rhodes and Jake Gettman. who
have given years of service to organized
baseball be thrown out Of job. as they
were last summer without a moments
warning?
Request Three. This request means
nothing more nor less than that we want
contract to be a contract If the mag
nate 20 whom player is traded or sold is
10 change the contract to suit his fancy.
as he now does, the instrument, so far as
the player is concerned. is worthless. The
player is no incubus on the owner; the
latter always has the right TO release him.
and this handicap, the players think, Is
quite sufficient
organized baseball contends that the
player should not get his contract salary
when he is sold to a lower classification.
This theory would compel the players to
guarantee high degree of skill, which.
In the nature Of things, he cannot do.
TO be consistent, organized baseball
SHOULD guarantee the player coming up
certain increase, but this IL does not
20: IN fact, there have been cases where
The player did not get even as much as
be did, below. Again. when the player
goes back after falling to make good the
major leagues compel the minors TO pay
The same purchase price as they received
icr him when he appeared to be big
league timber. In other words, the minor
leagues have TO guarantee that the player
VIII make good or the money Is refunded.
II the minors had TO pay only a reason
sole sum for the returning player they
eoah well afford to meet the terms OF
The contract
Request Four. There are several oft-
iefent kinds OF releases in use. and the
payer is sent from one team to another
under various agreements; we contend
mat ne has an absolute right TO know
shat these agreements are, In so far as
'ney concern the property right Of an
owner 10 him.
player Is often sent to another team
VIM absolutely no knowledge/of what
'"e terms Of the new contract are 10 oe
VI Whether he has been sold outright or
op'ionally. We believe, these things be-
ns OF vital Importance 10 him, that ne
should be notified I'm writing just how
" obligation on the part Of the owner
ass been changed
request Five. There are two things
"eh affect materially the players well
,e. and We can see no possible grounds
keeping these matters secret. He has
"htractual right TO have the waiver
iairly administered; this rule Is not
~ ior the protection OF the owners
One. There is surely no reason why
eSe Transactions should not be had In
open; no man in any other business
,,.s. permit a vital part of his CON
ss 9 10 be carried out or dlsregarded
place.
inquest Six For some reason II
- Always been the policy OF organized
49,. not to give players copies OF con-
80 Ninety per cent Of the players
~, without copies last season, prefer
e 70 be without them than to antago-
~, eheir owner by forceful demand
:. equest Seven. Article Is, Section ID,
.me National ARreemenf aaXs that no