New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1916-11-25
BASEBALL STRIKE
IS SERIOUS MATTER
Tener Thinks Players Would Make
Mistake in Drastic Move

New York, Nov. 25.-"Should the |
major league players declare a strike }
because of the refusal of the National
association to grant certain demands
requested by the Players Fraternity
it will be a strike not against the Ma
tional commission, but against the
very game of baseball itself" said j.
President John K. Tener of the Ma
tional league yesterday in reply to
Dave Fultz's strike threat. Fult2
Thursday said fraternity players will
not sign contracts unless the minor
league concessions are granted.
Il cannot conceive how the players
can talk of a strike on such an issue"
continued the former Pennsylvania
Executive. Furthermore, it would be
the major league players who would
have to bear the brunt of such
strike. The class AA and A minors, 4
also protected by the fraternity, could 4
easily sign up sixteen men to the
team, and go ahead with their seized
ules. That would mean that only the
major league players would be idle
and losing their means of livelihood
over a trivial minor league matter.
players under such circumstances
would be the most foolish and detri-
mental thing the players could do.
For years the National commission
has done everything possible for the(
betterment and advancement of the
big league player Mr.. Fultz admits
the National commission has been
fair and just. I will go even further
than that. In all disputes between{
players and club owners the commits
sion Invariably leans toward the
player so Jealous is it that the rights
of the player be protected.
Contracts Prove Rule. -
ct see FuItz finally has dug up two
! contracts which have a clause permit
! ting club to suspend a player with
| out pay in the event that he meets
with baseball injury. The fact that6
| Fultz can show only two such cons
| tracts is a sermon in itself. 1t shows
| to what lengths the commission goesi
| to protect players and how we safe-'
guard their rights, when only two
such contracts-and both of them I'M
authorized-are in existence.
"And the players would strike
against us, who have been their
friends and benefactors! The major
league players strike because of some
petty minor league grievance! Is that
just and fair? I repeat such a strike
would not be against the club owners
| of the National commission, but
against the basic foundation of base
ball
'Fultz says his quarrel is with the
commission and only indirectly with
the National association. Is that SO 2 4
Of
mission always has furnished FNultz
with whatever data he has asked for.S
and his relations with the fraternity
president always have been cordial
and pleasant. If Fultz will recall [
when the National commission grant 4
ed the players some concessions few
years ago, the minor leagues did not
concur in all the commissions ac-
tions, and President Sexton Of the
National association did all the talk
ing for the minor leagues, the COM
mission representing the majors.
Strike Is Unfair.
1.-The minor leagues maintain a
separate organization. In fact, the
National association antecedes the
National commission. Now, because
we do not say to the minor leagues,
You must do this the fraternity is
ready to include the big leagues in its
strike and launch it's strike against
the commission, with whom the fra
ternity always has had pleasant re-
lations and whom the players them
selves admit always has treated them
with impartial fairness"
A meeting of the National commits
sion will be held in Chicago Wednes- }
day, when the fraternity's strike
threat will be a live issue. The pri-
mary object of the meeting, however,
will be to discuss the new form OF
contracts which attorneys for the MAJ
Tor leagues have drawn up. The suit
of the Baltimore Federal league di-
rectors which comes up early next
wear also will be taken up by the
mi .