Evening star., 1914-07-20

players in the American and National
leagues is contemplated by the Base Ball
Players Fraternity. according to Il state
nent by President FutlZ. in case the
national commission refuses TO accedc
10 the terms of an uitimatum sent II by
the fraternity in the case Of Player Kraft
of the Newark Internatonals.
Promises a Statement.
Mr Fultz declined To make public the
terms of the ultimatum. hut said that
he would issue Il statement outlining
il later in the day.
1t vas reported that the commission
had bcen given unit, July - To reply
to the players demands. In the event
of an unfavoranlc OF unsatisfactory re-
ply. Nix Fultz ss,iG the players
Eatea2ity would take drastic action"
Mir. Fultz unwilling to say what
the nature Of this action would be-
Difference One OF Salary.
The differences between the fraternity
and tho national commission in the
Kraft case arise from a recent ruling
by the commission to the effect that
k:alt belongs to the Nashville club of
the Southern Association. The fraternity
claims that Kraft belongs to the New
ark InternationaiS and that he is en-
Tilted TO the salary paid him by the
Newark club. which is higher than the
amount he would receive from the
Nashville club.
Kraft has refused to report to the
Nashville club. In taking this stand he
acted on the advice of the fraternity.
johnson Summons Owners.
Ban johnson, president of the -Ameri-
can League, has called a meeting here
tomorrow of all American League club
owners
Mr.. Johnson asserted this afternoon if
a strike order is obeeyed by the players
every American League ball park will
close its gates, all players salaries will
be stopped and the striking players will
be punished for their action.
Strike Order Is Mailed.
Mr.. Fultz. 1t was said. has mailed or
ders for walk-out of players in both
major leagues Wednesday, providing
the commission by that time had not
rescinded its ruling in the case of
Player Kraft.
1t may be said that the commission.
composed of August Hermann. Ban
johnson and eX-GOv. John K Tener of
Pennsylvania. will refuse to recognize
the fraternity's ultimatum. but 1T is
barely possible that before Wednesday
Kraft may be purchased from Nash
a move that would clear the present
cloudy atmosphere.
Club Owners for War.
The american LeaSIle is ready to meet
the issue with a solid 'front.' said MIR.
JohiiS"n. .OI- club owners are Il unit
f"r war. Its about time that this fra
ternity nonsense should end. We have
i'een very patient with Mr.. FultZ and his
associates. but they have gone a trifie
loo fer and We intend to call their bluff
il 4 way that will force them to show
tHcir haudS
1t seems hard 10 believe that MIR.
iC-t1 and his fraternity sh"uld take such
.-tc=itstl steps Ovtr tile trivial case OF
i'-;-rc- Nraift- q case that was auroEiati
,s--.- settled by the provisions of the ma
t.Iat agreement and not by the commits
s-yi1 Nuicn has no Jurisdiction in the
ly..'tt..
-'But that is not the point just now.
gu can say for that if the Anleri-
c;l! League players or 4 majority OF
them obey this strike order Wednes-
day every American League club will
clos It's gates. all salaries will be stop
pea .-ud We will inf!ict heavy fines upon
I'll. players who thereby violate the let
ter and split Of their contracts with
uJsr Ciubs.
'-YoI c:sn also s.., that this strike will
be the last "t,a. conducted by Mr. Fultz
:tno lis Fraternity for we RI. prepared
to Keep our grounds closed for the rest
of the season. no matter what il may
cost us.
Says Fultz Is Hostile.
Mr.. Fuitz's attitude has been hostile
to ever since the commisson granted
more than IL dozen concessions to the
fraternity last winter. L am not prepared
TO say what his motives are, but / am
ANXIOUS TO turn on the light as soon as
possible that the base ball public MAY
become al fact hal
will show up this carefully planned con-
spiracy against the national game.
Mr. Fultz, it will be remembered, re-
fused to arbitrate the IIageman case In
stead of taking this before tbs. commits
sion. he appealed to the courts where he
received crushing defeat Since then
he has been evidently trying To make
some new trouble FOR organized base hall
and has hit upon the Kraft case on which
to base another hostile move"
Hopes to Avert Strike.
David L. Fultz, president of the fla
ternity, said:
Il hope that the trouble may be set
tied amicably."
President Fultz outlined the case of
the players fraternity in a general
way. although he refused either to af-
firm or deny that the ulitmatum to the
national commission contained any
such drastic threats as a strike or
leagues who are also members of the
| fraternity.
Personally, the president of the
fraternity, l have not the power to order
"a STRIKE he continued. Such power is
vested in the board of directors. l hope
that no such drastic action will he nee
cssary. but l will say that the members
of the fraternity believe that in the
Kraft case they justified in their
action.
CINCINNATI, ohio. July ao--Chair-
man August Hermann %! the national
base ball commission said today ne had
as Yet not received the ultimatun of
the Base Ball Players FRATERNITY and
until he received il, could not discuss
the matter.
Arrests to Follow Mine Riots.
GREENWOOD. Ark, July 2J.-War-
rants charging murder. arson and rioting
were prepared here today at the instance