The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-01-23
MUST HAYEPUBLIC
TO WIN VICTORY
Branch Hickey Discusses Trou.
bIes Now Affecting Ma =,
tionaI Game.

ST. LOUIS, Jan. 23.-Local base
ball magnates are not worrying
much over Dave Fultz's gatherings
back East. Branch Hickey, himself
an attorney as well as business man.
ager of the Browns, has the follow
ing to say against the fraternity
chieftain:
81 can't see why we should be wor-
ried about Fultz's threat to enlist the
aid OF the American Federation OF
Labor. l will say, though, that un-
less Fultz does enlist the aid of some
powerful ally, such as President Will
son, Mr.. Gompers, or Theodore Roose-
velt-some person or persons who can
sway public sentiment-he is a gone
goose. Just now 1 absolutely know
/ that public sentiment is on the mag
mates side. The fans appreciate what
we have done for the ball players,
and they appreciate the foolishness
OF FultZ precipitating a strike OF ma
jor league players, because of some
trivial differences between the minor
leaguers and their employers.
Union Wages For Players.
But assuming that the fraternity
Joins the American Federation of La
Dor, what then? First we'll have to
have a Standardization of salaries.
Well have to have a fixed pay for
third basemen, shortstops, outfieIders,
"All right, let's proceed to the bust
ness OF signing contracts. Here's q
young third baseman from the minor
leagues, just breaking in. We con-
suit the schedule and find that the
standard salary for third sacker, as
laid down by the unionized frater-
nifty, is, we'll say $1,000. Fine! The
young player Is immensely pleased.
It's more than he expected.
Now comes Frank Baker, an es-
tablished star, a drawing card and
worth probably as much as he can
get. But the book says Baker is q
third baseman and the standard sal
airy for such. men Is $4,000. Then
you'll hear . the squawk The very
idea of Baker playing for the same
salary as bush Lacquer is prepos-
ferrous. But what can the magnates
do but pay the unionized scale?
Haven't the players Joined the unionf
VIII Close Parks.
''on the other hand, supposInE there
is strike. Unquestionably the mag
the players will be out of work. Now.
where is the average player going &c
turn and look for a salary in any
way commensurate with his rewards
on the diamond?
only recently there was a milk
wagon drivers strike. / knew one
man who made SO a day driving a
milk wagon. After the lockout he
went to work at another job and was
paid 1926 a day. But do you know
that the average daily pay of the
ballplayer is $40 or better? Some
run as high as $50 a day.
where are these men going to get
any such salaries? II the ball parks
shut down they may turn to some
other business and be thankful for as
much as IS a day. They will suffer a
reduction OF from 100 to 1000 pei
cent
Can't he Standardized.
baseball is a skilled labor. Its
salaries cannot be standardized.
Would that they could! What a re-
lief IL would be to know that all out
felders were worth only $4,000 a
year and all pitchers only $4,000.
What A cinch this business of sign
ing bsllplayers then would be-
II tell you. we have nothing to fear
from the fraternity. We have made
concession after concession to the
players, and If they now choose to
follow Fultz they are making their
own bed, and they will have to sleep
in il. So let them have their fling
We have nothing to fear"
Hickey expects an early answer
from most OF the Brownies. Thost
who delay may live to repent