The Detroit times., 1915-01-16
Expression of Loyalty just Now
Sure Not To Go Tn
Rewarded
+ "GREAT OPPORTUNITY"
DECLARES +. j. NAVIN
TO Advantage of Players To
Come To Rescue OF D. h.
Anyway
BY HAROLD Y. WILCOX.

Baseball players, from the Right
Honorable Tyrus Raymond Cobb down
ITO Ping Bodie, have the opportunity
LOT a lifetime pounding at their thresh'
old, II their hearts are really In the
cause OF the players fraternity. Old
MAN Opportunity is not only POUNDING
on the door, he is actually trying ~
kick IL in
The opportunity in question has TO
do with the present crisis IN the ma
tiOnal pastime. Ii IS not a chance loi
| rebellion, but for an expression oil 10y
atty II the players OF organized pan
were TO vociferously acknowledge
how much better their condition uh'
der organization is than II could pos
Bibly be without organization theS
were 10 merely confess how promo
tion has sought them out and Dig sai'
aries salaries all out OF proportion 10
what they could earn in the customary
professions OF young men-haNe come
to them through organized baseball
they would render a great service 20
both the magnates and the game, anu
they would not go unrewardeu. ~ -
probable that they would forthWlih
4 be offered a place on the national com.
mission. and that the fraternity ana
the commission would reach OASIS
OF mutual understanding that Is lar
from existing at present.
The writer discussed the attitude OF
the fraternity since the Feds hled
their trust" suit with Frank j. NaSlh.
president of the Detroit CLUB. TINS
week. and Mr.. Nayin confessed that
he didn't know just where the players
stood Dave Fultz, the frat mead
made a statement when the suit was
fled that could not be construed as
hostile, or perhaps, even as lndlHer
ent. but it did not promise a rallylhg
of the men TO the cause OF organized
hall. Mr.. Nayin's assertion that ne
was somewhat puzzled 70 know Just
where the players stood was therefore
justified. Then the Tiger magnate
volunteered the following statement
at seems TO me that the players
have a great opportunity before them
Just now"
"It seems TO me that the players
n came from a source that is eminent
Nv conservative and trustworthy. and
knowing Mr.. Nayin as the men or
baseball know him. the statement can
easily be interpreted as meaning that
the magnates would not overlook
Wholesale expression of loyalty TO on
set the charges of slavery" "peon-
age" and tyranny that the Gilmore
circuit las seen fit 10 swear TO. Since
the players earnestly desire represen-
tation on the supreme court OF base
ball. since fandom at large thinks
.hey ought to have il. and since the
granting OF such privilege would I'M
coubtediy remove the last prop from
under The trust" allegations, there
Is much reason to believe that such
would be the reward.
" the players really had sufficient
cause to wish the disintegration OF or
ganized baseball. their position would
be different But regardless OF incl
dents that have not seemed fair, the
fact remains that under compact, all
powerful organization. baseball has
gained prestige and prosperity tnat II
could never otherwise have gained.
ard with II the players have attained
remuneration and renown that would
have otherwise been denied them.
There MAJ be many things that should
yet he done for the players, but IL
the courts were to be convinced that
organized ball Is what the outsiders
and disgruntled folk say il Is, the play
ers would never get chance 10 win
the things they hope for through their
frat. Neither viii those things be
FASTENED IL they choose 10 stand aloof
and see the magnates win without aid.
which the leaders IN organized ball
can probably do. But If the players
should 20 TO an extreme OF loyalty.
even for grandstand purposes, they
will undoubtedly find that attitude
very much to their advantage.