The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-21
GIVEN UNTIL WEDNESDAY
TO AGREE TO DEMANDS
Ban Johnson Declares He Will
Close All Parks in Arneri-
can League.
DISPUTE OVER KRAFT CASE
Magnates Say Walk-Out. Will Mean
Fight to Finish in Base
ball Ranks.

ball and the Baseball Players Fratcr-
nity appear to be on the verge OF an
open break, regarding the status and
disroTition OF Clarence o. Kraft who
recently declined to obey an order by
the National Commission to report from,
the Newark international League club
TO the Nashville club. OF the Southern
Association. and was suspended
The disposition OF this player has
neen the source recently OF both cor
resrondence and personal interviews be-
tween representatives Of tho National
Commission. the National League and
the Players Fraternity. Al a meeting
ing of the board OF directors OF tha
Players Federation Yesterday, Presi
dent d. L. F'ultz. of that orraniz,-
tion' was instructed to prepare a let
ter. which is generally termed in base
ball circles an ultimatum. from tho
fraternity TO organized baseball.
The letter. addressed to August
Herrmann, chairman of the National
Commission. said unless the demands
OF tho federation in the case of Kraft
were agreed to- the members of tho
fecernticn on and after "Wednesday
would no longer consider themselves
under contract.
JOHNSON THREATENS
TO CLOSE ALL PARKS
President Ban Johnson. OF the Amer
lean League. to-day called a meet
n
ers for tomorrow morning. johnson
to-day stated that if an order calling
FOR strike of American League pIay-
ers Is carried out. he would cause tho
immediate closing of all American
League baseball parks until such time
as the players agreed to return under
such conditions and penalties AS might
be imposed by the league
President Fultz, of the federation.
tonight isued a statement defending
tho -stand--of the Players. Fraternity.
II said the Kraft case. while now the
main point at Issue, was only, one OF
the causes of the differences between
the federation and organized baseball
1t declared the Cincinnati agreement"
entered Into between players and
magnates last year, had been violated
by club owners dozens OF times and
that few of the magnates have not
made n pretense OF living up to the
agreement"
DENIES HE HAS POWER
TO CALL OUT PLAYERS
President Fuitz denied emphatically
that he had the power to call Il strike
or walkout OF members of the PLAYERS
Fraternity. He said this authority
was vested in the board OF directors
The Idea that Federal League WAS
in any way backing the players fed
GRAFTON was secuted by National and
American League magnates in this city
to-day.
1t appeared to be the belief OF the
followers of base Ill that the Kraft
case would be settled by the acquisi-
ton of Kraft through purchase by ono
of the major league clubs. or by sub
hitting the case TO a board OF arbitra-
tion.
Ba Johnson said he received his lrst
intimation OF the proposed strike yes
terday. He Immediately called a meet
ing OF the American League club own
ers for tomorrow. Mr.. Johnson said:
The club owners OF the American
League are a unit IN this matter The
Kraft case does not affect the Amcri-
can League. II Is purely National
League matter.
"If the players Of the various clubs
In the American League strike on We'd
nesday 1t Will be II direct violation OF
their contract. If they walk out We
VIII close every one of our parks and
not reopen until such time as we have
convinced the ball players that they
do not run the American League If
the federation calls out our players on
a strike, 1t is war to the finish between
the American League and this players
organization.
The ball players under contract to
our league cannot run the league or
dictate tho policy OF its club owners
or officials. The sooner this Is under
stood by the players the better il will
be for then: otherwise they will be
without employment. SO far as we are
concerned for Some time to come"