New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-19
I0HNSON'S STAND
RIDICULOUS, SAYS
FRATERNITY HEAD
Owners Unionized Long
Ago, So Why Not Fight
Fire with Fire?"
Ry W. ]. MACBETH

In the opinion Of David L. Fultz'
n-esident Of the baseball Players
Fraternity, the heads OF organized
baseball arc sending out some ineor-
rect and ridiculous statements IN con-
nection with tho proposed strike OF
major and minor league players.
Fultz particularly resents an inter
view credited 70 Ban Johnson, boss
Of the American League, IN which 1t
is intimated an utilization with the
American Federation Of Labor would
usher in a scale of manual labor wage
for the stars OF the game.
The Fraternity head alleges that
these warped statements have been
made with one object-the purpose OF
influencing unsigned players who have
pledged themselves 10 remain Outside
the fold till the common issue has
been won.
Some very ridiculous statement,
said Fultz yesterday, "have been CIR
culated in the public press during the
ast few days regarding the effect al
dliation by the ball players with the
American Federation Of Labor would
have upon the baseball business. Mr..
Johnson is reported 20 have said 1t
would mean wage scale.
Ignorance Of Union Methods
an making such a statement Mr.
Johnson shows ignorance of union
methods. lie also states that If the
ball players want to unionize so
will the magnates and enforce a scale
Of wages. He seems to forget that
where wage scales exist they have
been brought about by the employe,
and not by the employer. He also for
gets that baseball owners unionized
long ago. and now have one of the
strongest organizations in the country
Would il not be logical TO fight FIRE
with fire?
"These statements" Fultz contin-
ued, "are made simply TO prejudice the
players in the eyes Of the public, and
also TO mislead the high-salaried men,
ANY such move by the players would
not have the slightest effect upon sal
aries. The men would continue TO
bargain individually so far as their
salaries are concerned.
"As an evidence that this is a fact
we invite the public's attention TO the
experience Of the White Rats and the
Actors Equity Association, which com
prise practically all the vaudeville per
formers and all the legitimate actors
IN America Both OF these organiza-
tions are affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor We have not
heard of De Wolf Hopper working for
the chorus girls salary nor wage
scale or many vacant seats In the
theatre.
at is also a matter Of public record
that the authors organization, which
has a membership of many high tone
writer's in the country, was seriously
considering affiliating with the fedora
ton and failed 20 take the step only
because a few Of the radical members
opposed the step very violently"
Bill Donovan. manager of the
Yankees. is convinced that the great
majority Of major league players
still unsigned will be lined up before /.
10 is time 10 leave for the South
at the suggestion Of Ban Johnson /
said Wild Bill yesterday, the two
major leagues arc just about 10 take 4
stand they should have assumed years 1
ago. They are going 70 ignore the /
Fraternity head, though not the players /
themselves, if they appear individually f.
or IN committee.
That's just the way they broke up
cur fraternity fifteen years ago" con-
tinued Bill.
yves, we had a fraternity then. ]
think il was called the Baseball Play !
crs' Benevolent Association. II lasted
o couple of years, too. don't believe
more than 10 per cent OF the members
paid their monthly dues OF SO and
nobody ever did find out what became
of the treasury after the big blowof.
But the end of this pioneer fraternity
came when the heads of organized
baseball refused an audience 70 our
association lawyers
In the opinion Of John A. Heydler,
secretary Of the National League, the
Fraternity chief made poor selec-
ton in the Chicago Cubs as q gauge
Of the integrity of players. Fultz in
timated that the force Of his strike
movement would be shown on Febru-
airy 20, the date set for the departure
from Chicago 10 California of the
cubs for spring training.
The Chicago Cubs" said Heydier,
"huve TO observe no roster limit until
the beginning of the 1917 season.
This team, as we'll as the St Louis
Browns, was granted this boon as part
sc the peace agreement with the Fed
oral League. Old Federal League
PLAYERS are not Fraternity members.
Irrespective Of the situation elsewhere,
Frcd Mitchell will find no difficulty in
letting a train load of players to
make the Journey TO the Coast