The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-14
FEDS IN BROOKLYN:
UNLIMITED BACKING

porters by calling David l.. Fultz prcsi-
deht OF the Baseball Players Fraternity,
ana his fellow directors. Nd Epulbach
JAKE p1ubcrt and Jack Miller. into the
room. The Fraternity men. IL seems had
been IN session with the federal Leaguers
Tor some time at the hotel in response To
an invitation extended TO them by Pres-
ueht fillmore. Mr.. Fultz lost no time
IN taxing the floor and declaring that the
stores published IN Yesterdays newspa-
pers 10 the effect that the Fraternity had
Joined hands with organized baseball IN
hsht 10 beat the Federals were based
upon transformation. As these stories had
oeen furnished u the ueyspaptrs by
uafty HERMANN OF the National Com
mission President Fultzs assertion came
III the nature OF a surprise. MIR Fultz
stated That according to the constitution
ana bylaws OF the Fraternity. all MEM
oers who Jumped and signed contracts with
any baseball organization would b. .x-
pe"ed, out that. as the Fraternity did not
recognize the validity Of the reserve
c'tuSe' so-cailed, In organized ba .bs,il
contracts members who dlsregardsd tho
option clause and signed with the Fed
efsi League merely would be suspended
pehu'ns an application for reinstatement
MT Fult2 made II plain that the Fra
ternlty's position would be strictly neu-
trai and he intimated that II at some fu.
'ure une the Federal League players ex-
eepunR contract jumpers. should apply
Tor reinstatement they would I've restored
to good standing
In short 1t was Inferred from the APP
parent friendly relations between the
! Federal Leaguers and the fraternity men
mat 1t would not b, long before the Federal
League Is recognized by the fraternity on
the same plane with the protective leagues
| IN organized baseball Mr. Fultz In
timated that If player KIllifer. who signed
| Federal LaLgue contract befor. he
| signed Philadelphia National League
contract. reported To- the Phillies and pro-
ceeded TO play with them. he would he
| expelled from membership In the frattr-
| nifty the same penalty To- be 'nct.- out g.
kirkpatrick. who signed with the BaltI-
more club before he sewed himself up
with the Brooklyn Nationals
Prior to Mr.. Ful,zs conference with
the Federal League men he had been
Interviewed by joe Tinker. who asked
him To take lunch with Messrs Gilmore
and Weeghmt II. Fultz declined but SAID
that If the Federals wanted TO talk busi.
ness with him he would visit them Mean.
while Garry Hermann. at the Waldorf
Astoria, when told tina. President Fuits
had refuted the story of coalition IN tn,
newspapers, pOohpoohed the idea MIR
Hermann reiterated the story that h,
gave Ia the newspapers Thursday nigh
regarding the conference between the
national comm ssion and tho fraternity
Tie said that Mr.. Fu!ts had stated posi-
lively at that meeting that ali members
VI the fraternity who reported to IN,
Federal League for action would he .x
PEELED from membership. including thos
who had signed contracts with Natioua
League clubs or who had jumped the re
serve rule.
air. Hermann wanted to bet 81 .00'
that Mr. Fultz had made this statement
but last night. when Mr.. Fultz agreed {,
| confront Mr.. Hermann with "A denial %
the latters story. the chairman OF tn,
, National Commission backed down com
pleteiy. Mr.. Hermann denied tina
he made any such statement Ia III. news
papers or that he had said that Mr.. Fult
had declared the jumping members OF M
fraternity would be expelled. Mr.. Herr
mann seemed only too willing t,
side with Mr.. Fultzs side OF the s!tua
ton, and the leader OF the frat.rrlt'
therefor" left the hotel convinced tina
the baseball public would know where t
place the blame. Mr. FulH called w Til
SUN last night and said
Il think that la Justice TO the fratcr
nifty. II should b., made clear that Nj
Hermann either misunderstood our posi-
{ on or miSreprescuted US ~ appears I
be up TO him to take the blame and tn
, ! criticism which has been ieyelled q
? ogr organization rs those who were l..
/ 10 believe that We had entered into
, | conspiracy with organized baseball :
. crush the Federal League"