Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-17
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

D 06N 3AAx14s 4AASAAAA S~>s'
-orsanized labor will not support the
Players Fraternity in the fight 1t now
Is making. whether or not the fratern-
ity 10 granted q charter in the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor" This was the
assertion OF Clark Griffith today In
regard to the most important recent
development In the strike" situation
The laboring men Of this country nave
demonstrated that they can make their
influence felt in any fight they engage
In" Griffith continued In explanation
of his opinion. "but they also have
record Of being absolutely fair and OF
not sntssing any sort Of struggle I'M
less they honestly believe 1t is just
enc II Is for this reason that 1 pre-
dict that union labor will not lend its
aid to the fraternity:
whether the fraternity will be granted
a charter in the American Federation
of Labor depends entirely whether the
players are ELL, sgi6ls d to ,9i viii become n
afiiliated with the federation. but IT does
not necessarily follow that the federa-
tion will back the fraternity in its pres
ent fight. Before any such action was
ordered the heads of the federation
would have to be satisfied that the de-
inands of the fraternity were just, ana
81 is just there that the fraternity VII, III
fail, as there is no shadow of DOUBT IN
my mind that the federation VIII de-
cline to advocate the frateruttys de-
mands when 1t learns all the 1actS III
regard to the situation"
II know 1t to be a fact that the play
erS are not in sympathy with Fultz IN
his present fight" Griffith continued.
''Fultz misrepresented things when ne
induced them to sign an agreement at
the close of last season to await per-
mission from the fraternity before
signing 1917 contracts. The players pc
lieved il was solely for the purpose OF
enforcing the disability clause that
they were asked to hold off. This mat
ter already has been adjusted to the
satisfaction of the players, and they
are not concerned over the demands OF
the minor league players for conces-
sions which they (the major league
players) already have"
The local manager today said he had
received letters from five or six players
saying they were not willing to sign
lust at this time. but said in every m
stance 1t was q question merely OF
terms and that the Players Fraternity
and its demands were not mentioned In
any Of them. Griffith said he had been
informed that Leonard. the local IN.
fielder, had attended the meeting or
fraternity members in Chicago yes
terday. but that there was no criticiSm
due Leonard on that account with the
Washington club 1t merely is question
comes to go south for training, SAN
Griffith 1.-THE Washington club Will
finish right where 1t stands now. Inc
players can't run this ball ciup nor
the American League either.
with the exception of one date the
itinerary for the spring exhioition
been completed by Manager Grihth.
The fret game to be played by the
team after leaving the training camp
at Augusta will be with the Birning-
ham club at birmingham. March 20.
The Memphis club will be met at Mem
phls March "a and the following day
the first of a series of games with the
b. Memphis The Nashville team will be
played at Nashville. March 70 and -,
and on March 20 and 80 Cincinnati VIII
be played in Louisville. March 81 and
ing Nafhewson's National Leaguers in
Cincinnati. after which the team will
come on to Washington. For March
20. the only open date. game may be
booked for Dayton or some other town
close to Cincinnati.
A national commission of it's own for
Gated BY A. r. Tearney. president of
the Three League. Tearney contends
the present minor league board of
eleven members Is unwieldy: that It is
unable properly to serve the interests
of the minor leagues throughout the
country, as the board seldom meets.
and the members. serving without sal
ary do not devote the proper attention
to questions confronting the smaller
base bali organizations of the country.
Tearney suggests a new board of three
members. sufficiently remunerated to
be able to devote their entire time to
the sport, and clothed with absolute
power.
His plan was preached yesterday at a
meeting OF the presidents of the Cen
So ASS .fa+ ion, ws1
leagues yesterday in Chicago. 1t was
voted TO hold another meeting there
January 81 to redistrict the three or
yanizations. which comprise twenty
diana, IlliEois. Michigan. Iowa and
Missouri.
President Dickerson of the Central
League Ia quoted as saying 1t is prob
able that Saginaw, Mich, will purchase
she Wheeling. W. Va, franchise and
that other changes probably would
he made in the circuit Club owners
or the league are to meet Sunday in
Grand Rapids to decide upon plans and
give Dickerson authority to act.
Definite announcement that the ma
5or league base ball season will open
Wednesday. April IL, instead of Thurs
day. the 18th, as was unofhcially re-
ported. was the only information given
out In New York yesterday after the
Joint schedule committees of the Amer
Jean and National leagues had ended
the meetings, which began Monday.
"Wednesday is the logical day for the
opening. as II enables the teams TO
complete a four-game series Saturday.
80 that Sunday may be utilized by the
teams in the east where no Sabbath
contests are played. for travelling 10
the cities where the second series is
scheduled.
According to dispatches from Ph:la-
delphia, Manager Connie Mack of the
Athletics was surprised last night
when he learned of the rumor that he
was disposing of Catcher Wally Schang
and Pitcher Joe Bush in trade of
some sort. He denied the story and
said; II have no intention of trading
Sehang and Bush. l expect them to
stay with me, also Amos Strunk, who
also was mentioned in the hold-out
trio. OF course. much depends upon
what Schang and Bush do between now
and the time my team starts for the
south. If they insist upon being hold
outs, and 1 see that they are dissatis-
ned over their contracts, / must find
other players TO take their places. but
1T the present time l am not even
thinking of trading them"