The sun., 1916-11-06
FIGHT TO A FINISH
ON INJURY CLAUSE
Fultz Says Baseball Players
Fraternity Is Determined
to Force a Revision.
TO BONDAGE

David T.. Fuitz. president of the Base
bail Players Fraternity, last night indi-
ca'ed that his organization IL prepared
Tor n fsht to a finish in order to force a
revision or the Injury clause" In play
org contracts. The main fight is being
made on the American League. with en-
phasis on the Washington and New York
clubs.
THE Injury clause in some Of the
contracts provides that a player may he
suspended without pay when an injury
suffered In the performance Of his duties
makes him UNIT for active service. II
permits a player TO be held In bondage
without salary and prohibits him from
seeking employment elsewhere" declared
Fultz.
president johnson OF the American
League Is reported to have said In a re-
cent Interview that the fraternity petit
ton accused certain American League
clubs OF s%uspcnding injured players
without pay. Either Mr.. johnson has
been mlsquoted or he IL evading the
issue. We made no such accusation. In
our brief we stated that certain con-
tracts gave The owners the right 10 so
misuse players II they saw At. and asked
that such clause he removed.
VI Johnson made a somewhat heated
u'Illii W nv fuDU'S'u ttNuSdNloH dllu
said he had demanded of us the names
of PLAYERS so suspended He has made
no such demand. Mr.. Hermann. how
ever. did wire for copies of contracts
containing the Objectionable clause.
which Is an entirely different request.
I'VE replied that contracts could not
he forwarded without consent OF the
PLAYERS. but that Mr., Johnson woul ind
the provision In section 4 OF some OF the
Washington and New York contracts.
AZ copies OF all contracts are already
lodged in his office our compliance
seemed unnecessary. The clause we
want changed reads "a follows:
should the player he disabled or his
ability to perform his duties he i'm
paired al any tins during the term
h"-ein prescribed the club may deduct
from the the amount then Que, or TO be-
come due under this contract, such
proportion thereof a. the period or se.d
disability o. impairment may. bear 20
thu term herein prescribed. and may al
its option terminate this contract.
But NJ such deduction or termination
o. tn. contract shall he made by reason
the rlave- while in performance Of h']
regular duties under the direction OF the
club. unisss such injury or accident
shall wholly or partly i~ncapacttate the
player for a period OF fifteen u5N days,
in which event such deduction may b"
made fo- the period OF. disability or
ifnIilFm nj IN tNtess OF ltrfu lAo'
DAYS. and this contract may be term
mated AZ the option Of the club; pro-
yil,d. however. that the player shall be
given written notice thereof oy the
club.
The words in which event such deduc'
tion may be made for the period " disa-
bi'ity or impairment in excess OF fifteen
go days are new and are the ones In
which The vice IL contained. There Is
, no ambiguity in the clause. II Is obvi.
ous'y unfair and must be changed" said
Fultz.
1t IS an open secret that major league
owners are making plans for big salary
reductions this winter should there be
a definite indication Of concerted actor
in reduction. there Il no doubt that th'
fraternity Will retaliate. Just how Is
uncertain. A host Of w. time contract.
of leading lights expired with the 1871,
season II very few new document
have as yet been offered the players.