The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-12
Reviews Brotherhood's Failure
to Wreck Organized
Baseball.
PRESENT SYSTEM IN FAVOR
Gaffney Thinks Fultz Should
Order Players to Return to
Their Old Clubs.

Dcen asked 10 DaCk the fedcra1 League
do not remember the financial ruin that
resulted from the memorable attack upon
organized baseball In 1890. THE Sun
asked \. c. SpaldinE yesterday to say
something about the present embarrass-
inent Of the national game. Mr.. Spalding.
who returned from Europe last week. was
the biggest man IN tho National League
when the players organized the Brother
hood and then induced capitalists to back
mn outlaw. circuit to fight the parent or
Gnnisatlon
"'rnc Brotherhood war involved n loss
Of mon" than $500 600" said Mr.. Spald-
ing. and both sides suffered about
equally. There wasn't n stockholder In
any Of the National League or players
league clubs who didn't lose money The
Drotht rnoud took practically all Of the
National League players away from their
old employers, who We're left with grounds
and had To md new talent. Public in
tCrost IN the grand old game soon Jagged
until the newspapers paid more attention
10 the attendance figures than TO the
standing of the various clubs, In due
time the games IN both circuits were
played TO empty benches and ut the end
OF one wear the hackers OF the players
We're ready to surrender.
THE National League stood practically
alone IA this disastrous night. but its pres
here that the National League. led by
Gov John X Tcner will live on in all its
glory despite the efforts Of the Federal
league to wreck 1t by Turing away star
players
"OrFanized baseball Is a necessity. The
sport like our country must be governed
properly and sanoly II prosperity is TO
prevail. Tho American League, clevery
and honestly managed, has grown up to
be "A healthy rival of the National League
and together they have done mertorious
work in keeNing the sport clean and in
benefting the welfare OF the players
Under organized government baseball has
become wonderfully popular. The sport
has grown into great industry. with
magnificent plans. high salaried players
and enormous. attendances. Yet doubt II
many of the National and American
League clubs have made much more than
expenses in recent years because Of heavy
investments.
81 read the other day that the Federal
League had 100000 with which to
fight the two major leagues. In January.
speaking from baseball standpoint.
s1o.0o0,oo0 Is equal to about $4,000 In
July. Inexperienced men who are ready
90 furnish money to start this outlaw
movement have been told OF the future in
glowing terms. but when the time comes
20 pay salaries and other expenses in June,
with gate receipts dwindlng to almost
nothing. they may find that they have
been deceived.
"In June, 1890. me New York National
League club had been driven to the wall
by tho brotherhood and the other club
owners were called upon TO put up $So, 900
TO prevent rhe Giants from going into
the hands OF receiver. We were COM
PEELED To tide the New York club over
rather than have big hole IN our circuit
That was nearly twenty-five years ago,
when baseball wasn't conducted on the big
"a, - hn 14r hfplr Ia
unfortunate FOR the sport that these rue
lions should occur now and then. due
chiefly 20 personal spite. They hurt base
ball but one thing Is a source OF gratifi-
cation--they cannot last long. Baseball Is
q lively old bird and cannot be killed.
81 believe that the American people
favor organized baseball for what II has
accomplished. also the two big leagues
which have built beautiful bah parks re-
CARELESS of expense and have created the
worlds series, which, In my opinion. Is
the greatest annual sporting event in this
or amy other country. IL was pleasant
news to learn that john X. Tener had
been elected president OF the National
League. on our tour OF the world twenty
five years ago he acted az my secretary
and treasurer. lie handled the finances
OF the trip with such skill that felt sure
that he would succeed in business after
leaving the game,
81 haven't seen Gov. Tener for many
years, but have followed his career with
interest. Evidently he Is an Ideal leader
for the National League In the present
unfortunate controversy and ] have con-
didence in his ability To steer the old ship
out of the troubled waters"
James Il. Gaffney, president of the Bos-
ton Nationals. raised an interesting point
yesterday which probably will call for a
reply from David /. Fultz, president OF
the Baseball Playpr9 Fraternity.
"My sympathy has been with the fra
ternity from the start" said Gaffney. for
believe in labor organizations. When
the ball players formed their union they
selected Mr. Fultz to represent them and
10 obtain certain concessions from their
employers organized baseball. Mr.. Fultz.
following the policy OF all labor unions
ordered a strike. He made the members
of the fraternity pledge their words that
they would not sign contracts with their
employers until after their employers.
through the National Commission, had
passed upon list Of twenty grievances.
Last week the baseball strikers sent
a committee of walking delegates to Gin
cinnati to confer with their employers.
The meeting was most harmonious and
the delegates. In q signed statement de-
clared that they were thoroughly salts
fled with the concessions granted and
that they had been treated with abso-
Lutte fairness
'"Ine strlko was deClhroo OH Inei, Dut
Mr.. Fults did not pursue the usual
methods that prevail in organized labor,
He failed to order the members Of the
PLAYERS union 10 return to their en-
ployers Instead he declared that he
would simply advise the players that they
were no longer bound by pledges. In all
fairness. why doesn't Mr.. Fultx take up
the cause OF organized baseball by adj
vising tho players to stick to their old
clubs Instead OF entering an open shop"
'1Iow do you account for the Federal
Leagues raids on National League teams
while American League teams seem to be
immuneT' Gaffney was asked,
THAT is easily answered" said the
Boston magnate. thinker. Knabe and
Mordecai Brown. once National League
players, are trying to induce their old
friends TO leave our circuit. They are not
well acquainted with American League
men Tinker's action In stealing King
Cole away from Frank Chance shows
Tinker up In his true colors
"If any OF my players talk TO me first
before they consider Federal League prop
ositions / viii not lose one of them. The
Federal League cannot live under pres
ent baseball conditions and players who
aro tempted 10 jump should first consult
their old employers"
81 don't care 30 much about losing