The Detroit times., 1915-01-16
Expression of Loyalty Just Now
Sure Not To Go I'm
Rewarded
.GREAT OPPORTUNITY"
DECLARES +. J. NANIN
To Advantage Of Players To
Come To Rescue of D. Il.
Anyway
BY HAROLD Y. WILCOX.


4 Baseball players, from the Right
\ Honorable Tyrus Raymond Cobb down
TO Ping Bodie, have the opportunity
OF 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 10
kick it in.
The opportunity in question has 10
do with the present crisis IN the ma
tional pastime. 1t is not chance TOT
rebellion, but for an expression or 10y
atty. II the players OF organized pan
were to vociferously acknowledge
how much better their condition I'M
der organization is than 1t could pos
sibly be without organization, II they
wero to merely confess how promo
ton has sought them out and big sal
aries--salaries all out of proportion 10
whaI they could earn in the customary
professions OF young men-haVe come
To them through organized baseball,
they would render great service TO
both the magnates and the game, and
they would not 90 unrewarded. IL Is
probable that they would forthwith
be offered a place on the national com
mission. and that the fraternity and
the commission would reach basis
OF mutual understanding that is lar
from existing at present.
The writer discussed the attitude OF
the fraternity since the Feds filed
their "trust'' suit with Frank j. NaVln.
president OF the Detroit club, this
week. and Mr.. Navin confessed that
he didn't know just where the players
stood. Dave Fultz, the frat head.
made a statement when the suit was
fled that could not be construed as
hostile. or perhaps, even as indlner-
ent. but it did not promise rallying
OF the men TO the cause OF organized
ball. Mr.. Nayin's assertion that ne
was somewhat puzzled 10 know Just
where the players stood was therefore
justified. Then the Tiger magnate
volunteered the following statement:
eft seems to me that the players
have,a great opportunity before them
just now"
"It seems TO me that the players
It came from a source that is eminent
w conservative and trustworthy and
knowing Mr. Navin 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 has seen at to swear 20. Since
the players earnestly desire represen-
tation on the supreme court or base
ball, since fandom at large thinks
they ought to have II, and since the
granting OF such privilege would un-
doubtedly remove the last prop from
under the "trust' allegations, there
Is much reason to believe that such
would be the reward.
IL 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 that 1t
could never otherwise have gained.
and with II the players have attained
remuneration and renown that would
have otherwise been denied them.
There may be many things that should
yet be done for the players. but If
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 to win
the things they hope for through their
frat. Neither will those things be
hastened IL they choose to stand aloof
and see the magnates win without aid.
which the leaders in organized ball
can probably do. But II the players
should go TO an extreme OF loyalty.
even for grandstand purposes, they
will undoubtedly find that attitude
VERY much TO their advantage.