Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-13
TO PROTECT FED PLAYERS
BASEBALL FRATERNITY Is
CONSIDERING MATTER NOW
VIII DO All In Its Power 10 Mike In
dependent NuEnntcs Respect
Valid Contracts.

NEW YORK. February l2.-David l..
Ful,z. president of the Baseball Play
ers Fraternity, has come out with an
announcement that his organization is
going to do every thing in its power
to force the Federal League maenatcs
To live up TO the contracts made with
the players.
''Of course, We never officially rccoE-
nzGd the Feds" asserted fultz. but
the purpose Of our organization is to
protect the players. While the Fed
eral League existed. the players In II
were not recognized by us. Those
who belonged to our organization and
then jumped to the Feds automatically
| suspended themselves. But the recent
merger, which wiped the Federal
HAGUE from existence. had the effect
of restoring to membership all our sus-
pended members.
AS the matter stands now. these
men again belong TO our rSanization,
and therefore. il is our duty To secure
Tor them a square deal. Just what
action we will take In cases where
naguates of tn Federal League ignore
binding contracts with players IS
something that the future must decide.
We arc marking time. Nothing viii
be done until after the playing sea-
son opens Then We vii! know what
players. il any. have been treated un-
Justly as regards their contracts
Fu!tz refused to set excited over re-
ports that when the National Com
mission is rcorranized next winter
there is possibility OF a player being
named as one of its members. Ful,H
said that AT this time lie couldn't quite
figure out where tho PLAYERS would he
benefited ny National Commission rep
rcseutatiou, as the PLAYER WAS in the
minority.
The plan. il i; ever was put through.
might bring about much better con-
ditions for tn" player. but can't
imagine its full benefits just now
added tultz "Ecr the players TO have
Il member in the commission certainly
would he 4 tjue thing The reported
plan as understand il. calls for com
mission Of three members ono repre-
scn,iur the players and tho two other
members representing the respective
leagues. In case where there was
some dispute between tho leagues and
the players. and the matter came TO
a vote. IL would he two to one against
tho players. in case the commission
members voted as their organizations
dictated"
Touching on tho condition of the
fraternity, Fultz said:
I'VE arc in better shape RICH, now
than ever before. our total mem bcr-
shin Is 1850. Approximately 90 pct
cent OF the hic league playcrs arc en-
rolled The balance Of our member
ship is recruited from tho teams in
tho Class AA and Glass \ leagues W..
ar" taking NOW members right along
ID" YOU figure on taking in the
PLAYERS of tho lower leagues"
Not NOW. II seems to US that in talk
iiS IN players from tho three highest
srad" Leagues We have covered the
h"Id fairly we'll. AZ some future date
Nc may decide to add tho Class r League.
PAYERS IN membership. but such q plan
- not being considered AZ present"
" Is very likely that within tho next
'hr"" months or so tho fraternity OIL
'laIS VIII cal general meeting for
INC purpose Of rc-ol"ctinG officers and
formulating new plans for the hotter
m"ni OF tn" players conditions