The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-17

the union among the professional players
that has been able to make its presence
felt keenly as a result OF the present war.
The fraternity. through its president, Da-
vid J.. F'ultz, will fight stolldly for any
compromise between the old established
aud revolutionary factions OF the pro-
motors which does not treat players who
have deserted to the Independent cause
as fairly as the hackers of the Gilmore
circuit. Mr.. Fultz made this point clear
yesterday.
"ln the peace negotiations between or
ganlzed baseball and the Federal League"
said he much has been said about taxi
ing care OF the Federal League magnatcs
but little about taking care OF the Federal
League players should the Federal
League be taken into organized baseball
the immediate effect Of such move would
he to restore automatically to fun mem
bership in the Baseball Players Fraternity
all Federal League players VINO were
members previously except the eight or
ten contract jumpers. Hundreds Of play
ers in both the Federal League and or
ganized baseball are under long term
contracts which contain no reserve clauses
Any peace negotiations therefore when
ignore these contracts Will necessarily ran
short of their purpose. as the fraternity
and public will insist that all contracts
be carried out.
There have beer reports 70 the effect
that even those players who have gone
to the Federal League without violating
a contract will be disciplined" continued
Mr. Fultz ANY acts of reprisal upon
these play ers would most assuredly not
be relished by our organization. We
would see that they received the publicity
necessary to their extinction.
The cases of contract jumpers stand OF
different footing" continued the
fraternity executive. But even here the
magnates should remembr theat for every
player who has Jumped a contract there
has been a magnate-an older ana more
experienced man--who has induced him 20
do so. II these magnates are to be purged
of all alleged guilt and welcomed INFO
organized baseball 81 is hard 10 see why
the player should not be accorded the
same treatment.
Vow that peace is about 20 be de
cla- red concluded Mr. Fultz. 1T is we'll
for the public TO note ;he fact that out
4 the hundreds OF players who have 70
coived fatterinG offers TO jump their con-
'racts less than ten Of them have been
induced to do so. That these men have
los, thousands of dollars because thcy
wished to be honest should be a glowing
tribute to the integrity OF the game and
should 20 far e. allay tne suspicion tina
has orept into the minds of ;he public
during these days of elimination and re-
crim!nation.'
The expressed attitude - the fraternity
relative to the disposition % former
organized baseball players now active
in the Gilmore Circui; strikes directly
upon one OF the chief Obstacles in the
way OF settlement. II il the long term
contracts with such men as Miner Brown,
Joe Tinker. Otto knahe. Fielder Jones and
-. -.
ing. These crafty veterans assured them
selves OF plain business documents with
their employers which guarantee them Eat
salaries whether the Federal Baseball
League goes TO smash long as The
firms for which they work remain solvent.
The rank and file Of Federal League
PLAYERS bothers neither the Federal
League nor organized baseball Gilmor,
and his associates could not be held II tho
league suspended operations.
II has been learned on the very host ~
authority that the Federal League de-
sires nothing more than minor league pro-
lection from organized baseball provided
the majors will relieve the various clubs
of tho h,gn priced players who worr once
associated with the National and Amcri-
can leagues. The latter boon OF course.
Is absolutely necessary II the tilmor" or
Eani2ation is To operate on any bu' a
major basis, But tho club owners Of tho
Johnson and Tcner leagues are set against
lndemnfying even in this small measure
the band Of men who started the baseball
wa
There seems no disposition on the part
OF the National Commission to discrim-
nate against those players who disre-
girdcd only the reserve clauses Of their
major league contracts No douh, IL
peace is declared these vii, revert to thclr
original employors-if the employers care
-, NJ has, To-, 4 -
Charles II. Ehbets and William + Baker
all declare that they will have nothing
further to do with the men who deserted
their clubs. Others are less scrupulous
and are prepared. In the event OF peace,
to demand their former chattels. In which
case Mcssrs. Gafncy. Ebbets and Baker
are likely TO ind in their recrcants valu-
able trading material. But with the con-
tract jumpers il IS very different Tho word
has been passed by the National Commits
sion that organized baseball is through
with them. the Federal League and the
Baseball Players Fraternity to the con-
trary Notwithstanding,
President Fultz's avow,d ncace plat
form commanded little more than smile
from local representatives Of organized
baseball. II was pointed out that the
fratcrnity's sGe power Law in the CTR
cumstance of baseball war. Peace. the
soons argue would shear the union OF
all its influence. That peace lies in the
immediate future President Fultz has ad-
mltted.
II was reported from Chicago voster-
day that Ban johnson. the president 81
the American League, was in New York.
fle could not be found ~ any Of his ac-
customed haunts last evening. II ne ar
rived he took tho greatest pains to keep
the matter secret At the time of the
worlds series Ban promised 10 return 20
Gotham about this time and to unloose
such thunder as would topple the Federal
League down about the ears OF James A.
Gilmore,
II Johnson iH not here he may he ex-
pected soon deal OF the utmost i'm
portance not only to the American League
but to the peace OF organized baseball -
we'll has been brewing for the past sew
eral weeks. II the big czar is able 10
carry ont his plan he will be able 10 snap
his fingers al the outlaws, his hench-
men declare II II limited that johnson
hopes TO make good before December /,
so that n Cha les A. Weeghman In able
to raise tho money necessary for the pur-
chase OF the cubs from Charles T. Taft
tho final crushrr may be put upon big
Bans arch enemy.
In connection with this proposed sale
OF the cubs II has developed that Charles
W. Murphy 10 st!N tho Yea, pom ~ hrhiut.
the throne at the West Side. According
% reports from Chicago Charles T. Taft
stil owes Murphy s4S5.o00, which he de-