The Washington times., 1916-12-11
Major League Magnates Face
Several Knotty Tangles In
New York.
FULTz READY FOR CONTEST
Players Said to Hope for Free
dom After Keeping War
Time Contracts.
NJ LOUIS A. poUeHER.

Tomorrow the National League mag
mates win open their annual meeting In
New York. On the surface, all II calm
a. q mill pond. but beneath are several
cbstructions certain to cause trouble.
Before the meeting II long under way.
bitches are sure TO como. Here they
Hitch No. THE adoption Of q play
ers' contract and the order for their
distribution.
Hitch No a-Eiection OF August Herr
mann to The National Commission.
Hitch No. a--ouashfng the investiga-
tion Of the final Brooklyn-New York
series.
Fult. IL In Field.
TIE National Commission has ap-
proved Of q new form Of players con-
tract (which. so far a. known. IL en-
tirely acceptable to both the clubs and
the players. II there were nothing
more required tlhan an agreement AZ to
the wording Of the official papers. all
would be lovely.
But David l.. Fultz. President Of the
Players Fraternity. has presented four
demands to the National Commission
calling for action by the minors and has
been turned down. The minors tabled
his demands and the National Commits
sion has Informed him that Il cannot
take action in minor league Affairs.
league players. whose contracts ended
last October. will decline 10 sligo 1911
contracts until tho minors have accepted
their proposition.
Plot For Freedon..
ft In understood among baseball
men that the major league players
have plotted 60 hold off from signing
until tho 1917 season is under way,
hoping that the magnates will con.
strue the reserve clause as holding
the players through tho following
season, after which they will all be-
come free agents, under the terms OF
the present contract.
As fair warnings have been made
that contracts arc To carry lower
salaries next season than last, tho
players are said TO have expected to
work through 1917 under last years
salary figures, and then emerge free
agents. Thus they wotfid defeat the
EFFORT TO cut down salaries and would
also destroy the claims OF their clubs
upon their services.
Both major leagues must get around
this hitch. for Dave Fultx, backed by
weIlnigh every big league player, Ia
prepared 10 make a stiff fight
Dreyfuss u Csisser.
The second hitch may not be as Sc
rious as was predicted a few weeks
ago. Barney Dreyfuss has been urg'
ing q revolt against Garry Herrmann's
longer remaining on the National
Commission, but he II now much calm
or. and IL IL belIeSed that he has been
Modified considerably by bearers OF
olive branches.
SO far as the National League IL
concerned. Hermann viii probably be
supported, but IL In rumored that the
American I.eaguers. who meet at Chi
cago later In the week, are not so
pleased with Herrmann's recent work
as chairman OF the National Commis
This hitch may upset things all
through the week.
These MeGrsw Outbsrsts.
President Tener has announced that
no attention viii be paid to the de
mands for an investigation OF the
hnal New York Brooklyn series, dur
ing which Johnny McGraw accused
his players OF "indinerent playing
against the DodgerAr A hitch may
arise here, for Ban Johnson has no
great love for McGraw, and may In
sist on clearing up the case, -,
Just what the National League will
propose as new reuglations Tor fu'
turs worlds series can hardly be fore
shadow ed, but some action VIII prop
ably ba taken, The public demands
certain changes looking to strength
eninr the sportsman idea and stifiing
the money-grubbers idea
Prices May Ne Lowered.
Han johnson is on record as sup
porting popular prices In future
worlds series John Tener also ia
vors a lower tax.
Garry Hermann would have every
club In tho two leagues share In the
prof,ts according TO the final stand
ings OF their pennant races.
John Tener likes seven games FOR
The series, but Ban Johnson IL not
av.rse TO making the total nine.
Some action tending to bring back
the popularity or the blue r,1non a,, Sc
seriss came close to killing interest
in any future meetings between tbs