Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-18
HUsTLING THIS WINTER TO BOLSTER UP HIS
DREYFUSS DECLARES HE TOLD
MAGNATES PLAINLY OF ABUSE
OF THE NATIONAL AGREEMENT
Pittsburgh President Says He Was Not Squelched
at League Meeting, but Pointed Out Mis-
takes of Commission
BY CHANDLER D. RICHTER

FTNHE scrIbes were given TO understand
l. that Barney Dreyfuss was sduelohed by
tho National League magnates at the an
nual conference. but before the Pittsburgh
president left New York Saturday night he
told US few things he had mentioned In
his speech 20 tho other delegates which
dlsprovs the general belief one OF these
referred 10 the way the National Commis-
sion had broken the National agreement on
the drafting rule. while the other was the
Cravath case several years ago.
In breaking the National agreement
Dreyfuss charged that Garry Hermann and
President Tener had permitted Ban john
son TO have his way at the expense OF every
National League club. According 20 Drey-
fuss, the purchase OF Crayath was never
bonihde. and that the true facts have never
been published.
The Pirate chief also says that Horace
Fogel. then president Of the Philles. bIuffed
Hermann and Tom Lynch, then president,
and that Ban johnson stood for Il because
OF his friendship for the Cantilllone. who
owned the slugging outneder at the time.
III bad my little say IN the meeting and
am not satisfied yet" said Dreyfuss. '"rho
secretary. in announcing that the National
League had instructed President Tener 20
vote for Hermann as chairman Of the Ma
tional Commission, failed 10 mention that I
had pointed out the poor way both men had
looked after tho interests Of tho National.
There also was no mention of the fact that
] showed them why tho American League
had all the best OF II In the draft every sea-
son.
while I do not believe I'm crying over
spilled milk you acribes also heard nothing
about the Cravath case. Cravath belonged 20
mo, and II we had had him in our lineup we
might have won two pennants from 1919 to
1914. lie was the property OF the Pitts
burgh club by all laws OF organized ball and
according to our national agreement; but
we did not get him because the supreme
body failed to do It's work properly. The
Sisler case was only one OF the many mis-
takes. I fought that case because was en-
titled TO the sensational youngster and be-
cause became sick OF the way they were
running things.
Explains Drafting Mistakes
'I win explain Few of the instances
of mlsmanngement that have not been
made public before. In the first place, ac-
cording to the national agreement check
must accompany every draft put In for
minor league players, and when one or
more clubs OF each league have drafted n
player It is first necessary to draw lots
to see which league gets him, and then the
clubs OF that league do likewise.
Has this been done? No. and Il won't be
until the National League gets more back
bone or there is n neutral party chairman
of the commission. Last fall the American
League put In drafts for seventy-elght play
ers, no checks accompanying the drafts,
while the National League asked drafts for
twenty-nine. with checks accompanying.
"1n some instances eight American
League clubs asked drafts for the same
player against one or two National League
clubs. Instead of putting the names of
American and National IN a hat TO decide
which league should get the player, ac-
cording to the national agreement. Herr
mann and Tener allowed the names OF
every club to be placed on slips of paper
the last remaining to get the player. In this
way the American League had eight
chartces against our two. Is II any wonder
that they got the pick of the minors?
Another labuoe OF the national agree