The Washington herald., 1915-01-24
Griff Flags Fultz
For Not UphOlding
%. B. In It's Fight
Declares Head of Players
Fraternity Should Have
Taken Immediate Stand
for Welfare of Game.
By WILLIAM PEET.

Clark Griffith has taken violent dis
nike to the Baseball Players Fraternity
in general. and its president, Dave Fultz,
in particular
The Old Fox since the time he gradual
ed from the ranks to a full fedged man.
ager has always had the best interests of
the players at heart, but he fays Dave
Fultz in no uncertain terms.
When the Federals filed their suit to
dissolve the National Commission, Dave
Fultz, as president of the Players Fra
ternity, should have come out with some
such statement this:
e The Players Fraternity is satisfied
with these contracts even if the court
isn't; they were made in good faith and
we will stand by them.
This attitude argues Grin, would have
made the ball players stand high in the
esteem of the public whereas at present
the fans are not very enthusiastic.
During the time l have been connected
with baseball" says Grif, 7 have been
Q member Of several players fratcrnities,
and they have all been governed by good
officials. The present Players Fraternity
has only Dave Fultz at its head. and
Fultz lost the chance of his life in not
coming to the front for organized base
ball when the Feds started court pro-
ceedings.
That Griffith has always been fair
with the ball players is shown CON
rlusively since he has been in Wash
inEtOu. The Old Fox never had
hold out" on his team. II is true that
lie refused to give Bob Groom a big
salary and lost him, but il was because
he did not believe Groom was worth
any such sum as the Feds were willing
to pay
II is just because ball players
throughout the country who know
Griffith and his methods always give
him a good name that the Washington
club has been able to do business with
minor league teams, and get men here
for a trial.
Take the case Of Chick GandiI. for
instance. At the time Griff went after
him the Chicago Cubs and Boston
Braves We're dickerins for Gandirs
services, and all three offers were about
alike.
Owner Lichenheim. Of the Montreal
club, really left the matter up to Gan
dill giving him the preference.
There happened to be an old ball
player on the Montreal club who knew
Griffith intimately. and this man ad-
Vised Gandil to cast in his fortunes
with the Washington club under Grif-
eth. That's why Gandil came here.
Bob Murphy. the Washington boy,
who last season played for Oakland in
the Pacific Coast League, has been sent
10 the New Orleans club, of the South
ern Association. as Murphy figured in
l trade which first sent him to Portland,
Oreg- from which club he was shipped
20 New Orleans.
There is an interesting angle to Muir
phys contract with New Orleans, and
mis- case may eventuallr- be referred to
he national commission for settlement
Murphy signed a seven-month contract
With the Oakland club last spring. It
was one of the new form instruments,
which reserved for the club an option
IN his services for 1915
Now the New Orleans team Of the
Southern Association can only offer Muir
ply a six-month contract. as the season
only extends over that period
The question arises in assuming his |
Oakland contract shall the New Orleans |
.lub be required to pay Murphy for seven !
months work when in reality he only |
works six?
Speaking Of Bob Murphy reminds the |
writer of a little chat he had with Arthur |
Oevlin last week. Devlin managed the !
9I4 Oakland team. and was responsible |
.or getting Murphy. who was recon- /
mended by Bobby Cranston. the old |
georgetown catcher.
Murphy altcrnated between second base !
ind the oUtield. and was unable 10 finish !
he season. leaving whCU the schedule .
lad about three weeks to run. returning |
Washington on account Of the death |
II has mother.
Murphy has a lot to learn about field |
ng but he is fast as a streak, and sure |
an bust that apple. is the way Arthur |
1evlin talks.
u consider him ono Of the best look |
ug Young ball players ! have ever seen |
Dreak into the game Devlin added
The Wards. hackers OF the Brooklyni
Federal club and supposed to be hackers
II several other clubs in that league, are |
a legal mess. Robert r. Ward WAS
rerved with papers Yesterday in a suit
brought by the Philadelphia Nationals !
ugainst him and his associates for per
madinE Pitcher Tom Seaton 10 Jump his
,ptional clause with the PhiIlies and
bitch for the Brooklyn Feds. The out
.ume OF that suit will depend largely
ipon the dicis:on OF Judge kenesaw Lam
lis in the application to have organized !
,asebau declared an illegal combination
SC have a hunch that the fact that the
rhpoena was served on Mr.. Ward at this l.
irne was the result of hunCh on the
,art of o. 3. maCnates that Judge Ian
lis will decide in favor OF the much ma
iEned O. 3.
The pleadinEs in the Feds suit against
, &. are nearly over. and will probably
~ concluded on Monday. We notice that |
he decision Of the Supreme Court OF |
Eew Mexico to the effect that baseball is |
rot labor. but an amusement. was
trOnglg urged by the attorneys for o. B. /
N Friday. George W. Miller. making
he closing address for o. B, contended |
hat the Feds came into court with .'un-
lean hands, as the saying is in equity.
= because they had in their own contracts
he very same elements which furnished
hem a basis for an attack on their rivals.
Also, he urged that the persuading of
uen to jump their optional clauses was
ad business, and was not an evidence
Il Pureness OF heart. Judge Lands said
" would stand for nothing that would
Iur, baseball as national institution. ''
LII. L.-l. q 49, i l