The Washington herald., 1916-12-12
PLAYER NOT BLAMED
FOR GETTING Coin
Opinion Of Fans Sanction the Baseball
Player Getting All He Can.
By JACK vEIocR.

international News Sports Editor.)
New York, Dec la baseball player
is worth all the coin he can get for his
services At least this Is the way every
ball player looks at il, and no doubt it Is
true in more than one respect
The player naturally figures that he
IS the attraction which draws the crowds
to the ball parks, and he knows that
without ball players baseball could not
exist It is human nature for all NOR
tails be they ball players or oommuters
to take advantage Of every chance that
comes their way to enrich themselves.
But there is a limit 70 everything
When the Federal League busted into
the hmelight and attempted to overthrow
organized baseball and bull its way TO
an equal level with an organization that
took years In the building. the ball player
was carried about on a silver platter
and he took advantage OF # Few can
blame the ball players for grabbing
bundles of perfectly good currency which
were hung before their eyes. and for the
most part all of the players wha vaulted
the fence to the Feds have been for
given.
But the tide has turned-it has been
turned for a whole yeAr-snd some OF
the players who signed lonE-terun con-
tracts with the outlaw leaguers are now
facing the unpleasantness Of playing ball
for less money
Major league. as we'll as minor league
club owners. are going to Iop on huge
chunks from their payrolls They are
going to give the player what they feel
he is really worth to them, and they VIII
no doubt make concessions and compro-
mises in many cases. but as a whole the
salary Of profes sional baseball PLAYERS
viii be cut many thousands Of dollars
before the tinkle Of the bell which viii
start the season Of 1917 is heard.
President John K Tener. of the Ma
uonaI League. expressed what We be-
heVe is the general sentiment of the
club owners recently when he said:
Salaries OF ball players NAV be re-
duced to figures commensurate with ther
value on the field OF play as judged by
the men who employ them"
In other words. Mr.. Tener meant 70
inter that the club owners will con
unue to pay good salaries but that the
day of exorbitant salaries for players
VINO DO not earn them is a thing OF the
past
The baseball public has listened 70 q
good many rumors here OF late regardinF
a strike Of the ball players. President
Dave Fultz. OF the Players Fraternity
has even hinted that unless the plavers
get what they want there will be 2
walkout.
The things the players are asking for
summed up, are more concessions from
the magnates. particularly those OF the
minor leagues. The fraternity would like
to order the club owners to dance. and
nave them dance, pronto. The fraternity
Inquired It had been in a state OF coma
so long that II ought TO start something.
so 1t came out with flock Of demands
The minor leagues gave those demands
the pooh. pooh" at New Orleans 80
the fraternity has its back up.
1t is true that a good many players
have not signed up for 1871 Perhaps
only small per cent are now under
contract for the coming year. but the
club owners have not been losing any
great amount of sleep over the fact
These players must sign with the clubs
who hold title TO them or SIT around
with nothing to do but twiddle their
thumbs. and the average ball player has
too much ginger in. his makeup to do
nothing but that
The National Commission has consider-
ed the demands OF the fraternity care
fully, and the commission is always care
ful IN its dealings in baseball. but the
members OF that august BODY and the
club owners OF the country. as q whole,
are confidently expecting that all Will
be serene when the time arrives for
another season to start