New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-04
IS
GREAT HELP TO
BALL PLAYERS
Fultz Issues His Annual
Report Covering Work
of Organization.
BIG INCREASE IN
THE MEMBERSHIP
Major League Magnates Are
Living Fairly Strictly" to
the Agreement of 1914.

David L. Fultz, president of the Base
ball Players Fraternity. has issued the
third annual report Of the organiza-
ton. The fraternity has grown in
strength. and more players are allying
themselves with it every season. There
are now more tnen LOO men in the
fold, and Mr.. Fultz said last night that
in all probability this number would
be greatly increased before another
season has passed into baseball his
tory.
The major league players have shown
the greatest interest and enthusiasm,
while the American Association aad
Pacific Coast League are well repre-
scented. In many teams in these leagues
the full strength has Joined the fra
ternity.
In leagues of lesser classification, sal
airy reductions and the other woes to
which the minor Lacquer is heir have
caused interest to slacken somewhat.
but, on the wohle, the condition is most
favorable.
The fraternity presented TO the Ma
tional Commission and National Eoard
nine requests as authorized at the last
meeting of this body. The decisions OF
the commission follow: -Four requests
were denied, three were granted. one
was withdrawn and one pertained sole
ly TO the minor leagues. The decision
of the Nat onal Board was as follows;
Seven requests were denied. one was
granted and one was partially granted
The fraternity agreement as entered
into January 6. 1914, has been of great
assistance TO the players and has been
lived up to fairlv strictly by the mag
mates in the big Leagues. In the minor
leagues, however, a great laxness has
been shown. which indicates either "A
wilful disregard or ineXcusable ignor-
ance of it's provisions. The agreement
has been especially helpful to the
minor league players in that IT pro-
vides for five-days' notice OF release
before the player can be dropped from
the salary roll. ..
Ali PLAYERS under "ironclad" con-
tracts who were traded by their own
ers and who applied to the fraternity
for advice have been enabled, through
this Office, TO secure agreements from
their owners guaranteeing their sala-
ries upon transfers. This has been
distinct help to a number OF these
PLAYERS, as their owners were attempt
ing to transfer them. making no prom
ises whatsoever regarding their sala-
ries under the new contracts.
Since the fall meeting Of last year
approximately 40 players have APP
piled TO the fraternity for ADVICE
which on every occasion has peen
promptly rendered. That some OF the
PLAYERS are beginning to use the fra
ternity in case of trouble is an EVIL
dence of the necessity for the organi-
cation and Of the players appreciation
of this fact.
The decision in the case Of Hageman
against the Boston American League
team. which was rendered in the trial
court and appealed to the Appellate
Division of the Supreme Court, was
reversed and decided in favor OF the
fraternity. The club thereupon APP
pealed to the Court of Appeals, which
Is the highest court in the state. This
appeal has not yet been heard, but
probably will be during the winter
There seems little likelihood Of the
fraternity losing and the player VIII
realize quite a sum Of money.
The fraternity has taken up upon
formal affdavits during the last year
claims of players with the National
Commission, the National Board and
club owners as follows: With the Ma
tional Commission: Eight directly and
four on appeal from the National
Boards decisions. OF those taken up
directly seven were decided in favor
of the players and one against. or the
four appealed from the National
Boards decision two were reversed
and affirmed.
Claims have been taken up, ten OF
which were decided in favor Of the
players and eight against; two are stlll
bending. Appeals were taken by the
cIpbs from two decisions Of the Ma
tional Board; one was withdrawn be-
fore the commission rendered deci..
sion and one was affirmed IN favor OF
with the clubs: Six we're taken up
directly. and in every case the frater-
nity has succeeded in recovering the
Besides these, there have been num-
erous questions which the fraternity
has taken up with the clubs In oehah
OF the players, and in nearly every
case has been able 70 secure an al
iYstroent satisfactory 20 the player
Tbe sum OF s3.Is4.35 has been actually
recovered from the owners through
ne fundamentally Of the fraternity
4 formal application was made to
me Board Of Estimate By James A:
Gilmore, president Of the Federal
League. 10 close West l43d and 144th
streets. from LenoX Avenue TO the
Harlem River. Mr.. Gilmore wants the
streets closed in order 70 facilitate
the laying out OF the New York Fed
eral League grounds. The matter was
referred 20 Chief Engineer Lewis, and
the board fixed December % az the