Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-28
ANOTHER MIDDLE may
Be CAUSED BY FULTz
Organized Baseball Officials Likely
to Reject Latest Demands, Which
Probably Means a Strike.
CONDITIONS DIFFERENT NOW
Last Summer the Union Compelled
Ebbets. Of Newark, to Moot Condi.
lions In the Kraft Case-Aingnates
Apparently Have tho Whipl,and,

NEW YORK, December s7,-oia
friends of David L. Fultz, president Of
the Baseball Players Fraternity, are
hoping for his sake and for the sahe
OF his union that no will become a
little more conservative In his ideas
before the regular annual meeting of
the National Commission In Cincinnati
next month. 1t Is then that the fra
ternity will present Its new set OF do.
mands for betterment OF conditions for
the players.
Fultz's latest plan Is entirely the 70.
verse in principle of the other suEsesI
tons and requests he has made. All
those on which the governing body of
organized baseball has taken action
thus far are based on merit system,
the reward of those Justly entitled to
reward. His new proposition, which Is
causing considerable discussion among
baseball men. applies to players sent
by the big leagues to clubs OF lower
classifcations. He processes to believe
the National Commission should make
rule to compel the payment of SOL
aries to such men just as large as IL
they had stayed in the majors: in other
words. that their contracts be taken
over in full by the minor league clubs
The governing triumvirate of organ
lied ball--Garry Hermann, Ban John
son and John Tencr-wll oppose the
new proposal forcibly, unalterably 1t
absolutely Will not consent to the idea,
particularly in these times of financial
stress and retrenchment. when the
players as whole are getting more
than their share. anyway.
Fuitz Noted Fighter.
The obstinacy OF Dave Fultz Is we'll
known. He is n fighter to the finish
I'm hny L.,
opponents accuse him of CARRYING his
pugnacity too far and his friends dread
the results OF his impetuosity when he
goes OF on an extreme task like his
present one. They say that he is in
danger of getting embroiled in a fight
where he has no chance to win. but a
sure chance to lose. Though a wise
counselor to players In many ways
he is likely to undo all the good he.
has brought them and wreak harm in
stead II he gets n fixed idea in his
head.
Conditions are different now from
what they were last summer, at the
time when Fultz threatened n strike
or all the fraternity members over the
memorable case of First Baseman
Kraft. of Newark, who had been dis
patched to Southern League club by
order OF the National Commission or
ganizcd baseball bowed to the union
then, Owner Ebbcts, Of the Newark
club, fulfilling the conditions OF the
fraternity ultImatum by buying Kraft's
release from the smaller league and
returning him to Newark. which pre-
vented the impending strike.
MhEnntes Will Welcome Strike.
Next season, however IL Fultz
threatens n strike. the magnatcs will
let him go through with il. and will
be even glad of the fact. II Will OFFER
an opportunity for getting rid Of :;
number or ironclad contracts held by
players who are not worth as much
now as the documents call for If "A
PLAYER goes on strike. that will he "A
violation OF his written promises and
before court OF law, so far as the
clubs obligations go. Thus the club
cant be forced TO pay him salary hut
the contract will serve as an absolute
bar TO the mans performing for the
federals II he attempts TO jump
therefore. the magnates can compel
the PLACER TO sign "a new contract for
Il smaller amount, any amount thcy
feel like making him accept, the play-
cr only alternative being TO Quit base
ball entirely
That ia one thing that will occur IL
strike Is called Another is that
many players with such contracts will
re1usc TO take the big risk by going on
strike. And most OF the really star
men now own such contracts as is
wei known. Thus, what will become
OF the fraternity II nearly all the ble
guns stick by the magnatcs while
those who constitute the small fry go
on strike? The answer is easy Ther.
VIII not even be much OF a corpse left