Evening journal., 1914-01-07
PLAYERS GET
SOME BENEFIT
Some Contract Reforms De-
manded by Fraternity Grant
ed By Commission
SIX REQUESTS GO
OVER UNTIL LATER

] CINCINNATI, Jan. I'll any of the
requests Of the Players Fraternity
for a revision of the rules OF organ
lied baseball are to be granted by
the National Baseball Commission or
the committee from the minor
leagues it will be only after a hard
struggle This developed early at
the joint meeting Of the three bodies
here yesterday when the committee
from the fraternity was heard.
The committee was headed by Dav-
id Fultz. president of the fraternity
and included five players. AZ the
opening OF the meeting il was decided
to take up the requests one by one.
/ n no agreement could be reached on
any of them, II was TO be laid aside
and the next taken up.
The first request When a play
er receives 10 days notice of uncon-
ditional release he shall be free to
sign with any team Immediately. the
contract to run from the expiration
of the Today poriod" discuss
ed three-quarters of an hour and af-
ter the players committee refused
/ TO permit the substitution by the
commission of the word negotiate
after the words "shall be free to- was
! laid aside to be taken up later.
/ Request No. , Passed Over.
The second request taken up read
National Association players shall
receive 10 days notice before they
can be released Internationally.
Mike Sexton argued against this
rule for the committee from the
minor leagues. He said the conces-
sion might be made by class AA
and Glass A leagues. but that below
this standing il was impossible. He
declared that rs per cent OF the
leagues below class A we're losers
last year and that he estimated with
this rule in effect in May. June and
July Of last year, it would have cost
the minor league below class A
/ S33O.0OO.
After further debate. request No. 2I
was passed over for further consider
alton. Secretary j. H. Farrell. of the
national board was heard at length
on the subject
Request No. 8, which reads. when
a player is transferred he shall be
transferred subject to all the terms
OF his contract" brought forth more
opposition from the National Com
mission. Chairman Hermann insist
ed that il would be doing the player a
grave injury to pass this rule. but he
intimated that II the fraternity de-
sired II the commission had no real
objection. BY consent this also was
passed over for further deliberation.
No Opposition To No. 4.
Request No 4 was the first that
really met with no opposition. It
reads when a player is transferred
he shall be furnished with a writing
which shall be binding on all parties
concerned. showing what teams have
a claim to lim and what that claim
is"
There, was short discussion of the
request. but all parties appeared to
favor 1t and Chairman Hermann an
nounced that il would be granted. al
though the announcement at this
Tune, he sad. would not be binding.
Request No. brought up another
squaoble. IL reads. When a player
receives his unconditional release or
when waivers are asked upon him.
he shall be notified in writing 10 that
effect" The commissione did not
take exception to the first part of
the request, but seriously objected to
the part concerning waivers Chair
man Hermann explained that the Sc
cret asking Of waivers did not iniure
the ballpiayer. while Mr. Fultz could
not understand why any secrecy was
necessary. The request was finally
laid over.
Request No. 0 read: "At the time con.
tracts are sent out every palycr shall re-
cveivc copy. 10 be kept by him for his
own ise.' This was agreed TO without
discussion. Chairman Hermann saving
that he heartily agreed with the play
ers
Minor Leagues Object
Request No. 7-"All written agree
ments. whether embodied in formal con.
tract or noa. shall be binding upon both
the club and the player President
Hermann announced agreement ON this
rule, hut IL was objected TO by the COM
mittee from the minor leagues. who in
sisted that all written agreements shall
be embodied in tho contract and promul-
gated. After further discussion, how
ever, ihc rule was agreed TO-
Request No. S-"Everv team shall
furnish each player with two complete
uniforms exclusive of shoes was also
agrued to. In the discussion on this rule
the fact was brought ont that an clubs
furnish players with uniforms except the
National League.
Request No. O. reading: Every team
shall paw the actual travelling eNpcns,s
of its players from their homes to the
training camps. or so much thereof as
does not exceed the expense from the
league city To the training camp was
agreed TO- this without discussion
Request No l0-"lf regular contract
is not rendered probationary player
before the expiration Of the 4j-dav pro-
bationary period he shall be free
agent WIS agreed tc
Major Leagues Agree.
Request No. II reads; III player as
been in major leagues Tor any portion
Of the PLAYING season for ten different
years. and If at any time after the be-
ginning of the tenth year no team in
such leagues desires his services he .hall
receive his unconditional release. sub
lect. howevcr. 10 reservation bv the club
which signs him.
There was no objection bv the major
league owners and The rule was agreed
to.
Reqaes. No. y is; III player has
been IN the major and the Class "A
leagues for any portion of the playing
season of twelve different years and II
at amy time after the beginning Of tire
twelfth Rear 40 team in such leagues
desires his services. H. shall receive his
| unconditional release. subject however
to reservation by the club which signs
vi