The Washington times., 1917-01-27
Planning to Hire Hall and Out.
line Players Contention
Before Public.
MATTY is APPREHENSTVE
Thinks Magnates Should Be
Prepared for Walkout by
Earnest Athletes.
By LOUIS A. BOUCHER.

By LOUIS A. BOUCHER.
Feeling the setting in of strong
current against the Baseball Play
ers' Fraternity, President David L.
Fultz plans to hire a hall and Tell
the public the players side OF the
present contention agitating the dia-
mond world.
rally to the support Of the down.
trodden athletes, IL only the details
of the fraternity's fight can be elu-
cidated. So he's going to elucidate
them a bit
In addition to President Fultz, an
attorney and a good talker, the best
speech-makers of the fraternity will
be invited to tell what they know
about things. No entrance fee will
be charged, nor will any hats be
passed.
Presidents Ban John and John K.
Tener- will be invited to attend and,
IL by chance they accept, they may
be asked to give their side of the
mixup. 4
New York is getting "aIl net up"
over this latest phase of the baseball
situation.
/. Looks Fer Trouble.
Christy Mathewson, manager of
the Cincinnati Club. while not in
sympathy with the fraternity, be-
lieves that the trouble is more seri
Gus than many magnates admit.
"I have talked with several mem
bers OF the fraternity" says Matty,
"and I don't believe they are bluff.
ing. The players are set in their
opinions. Whether or not they will
go the extent of a strike, I don't
know, but It might be well for the
magnates to prepare for a walk
out"
However, both big leagues seem
intent on going to the mat with the
athletes.
BAKER IL Adamant.
President Baker. of the Phillies, is
maintaining his position relative to
increasing Grover Cleveland Alexan-
der's 1917 salary. He has notified the
pllCuGE NHdl gotOOO IOE OuC year
il the clubs limit.
Alexander and KilIifer will either
accept the offers I have made" says
Baker, "or they will retire from base
ball. I know what Alexander means
to my team, but ! cannot place his al
leEiance above principle. ! am deter
mined to see this thing through; 1
can hold out quite as long as either
of the lIayers."
Alexander wants a three-year CON
tract at $4,000 a year. He has a
working agreement with Bill ,Killifer
that, unless their demands are grant
ed, they will play semi-pro ball in
PHILADELPHIA KilIifer has been cut
1000, down to $4,000.
Dodgers Are Agreed.
The Brooklyn Dodgers are apparent
agreed to hold out in a body, unless
their salaries are continued. George
Cutshaw, second baseman, and
Wheezer Dell, pitcher, are the latest
to return their unsigned contracts.
It is rumored that before leaving
for home the Dodgers agreed to make
the fight Tor big money. Pfeher, Ol-
son, Smith, Miller, Meyers, Cutshaw,
Mowrey, Getz. O'Mara, Wheat, and
bunch is holding out.
Pitchers Douglas and Pendergast,
both members of the Fraternity, have
signed with the Cubs for 1917,
though no permissions have yet been
granted by Dave Fultz.
Offers Them Club.
John H. Farrell, secretary OF the
National Association OF Minor
Leagues, says that he can arrange
for a group of fraternity members to
take over a franchise in some Class
Il. c or ID league, believing that this
experiment would go farther than
any thing else in proving the case
of the minor leagues against the fra
ternity.
I'm the smaller leagues" says Far
reII, "the clubs are operated by or
ranizations of public-spirited citizens
without the slightest hope OF profits,
hut always at a loss, their only pur-
pose being to keep their town on the
map through the medium of a profes-
sionaI baseball team in a representa-
tive circuit.
1--WE believe we can arrange to
transfer any Class B, c, or ID league
in America entire TO any committee
from the fraternity who will guaran-
tee to operate the circuit intact for
one season and thus fully and com
pletely convince in a substantial man.
ner any body OF players who are Ia
boring under a delusive excitement
manufactured, many believe, for the
purpose of maintaining a position for
one man and the sport in a state OF
turmoil and confusion"