New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-27
FULTz DELIGHTED
WITH PLAYERS
MEETING HERE
Mathewson, Though Not
in Sympathy with Strike,
Sees Trouble Ahead
By W. J. MACBETH

David L. Fultz. president OF tho
Baseball Players Fraternity, is think
ing Of hiring a hall. This sage bit Of
slang advice for people with theories
10 exploi, is likely to find literal inter,
pretation By the head OF the players
1nion Dave declared yesterday that ne
WAS bent on giving the players stde OF
the argument much publicity, and tor
This purpose would probably engage
some theatre or large Assembly plsee
IN this city for public speechmaklhs oy
himself and colleagues. ,,.-.u, /.
The meeting. if one is held, VIII De
omen to the fans. All the DemostheneseS
and Henry Clays Of the brotherhood
lave been lined up for the spellbinding
The solons Of the octopus VIII be IN
Nited 10 engage in joint debate. AS
gambling proposition, the fraternity
head would even be content to rest ms
Csc with the verdict Of the populace
President Fultz was delighted with
the success Of Thursday nights meet
irc at the Sherman Square Hotel.
Voiced Players Sentiments
"A po.nt that on Of you writer's
missed" said Dave. "was that the dele.
Gates TO our convention represented no
only their cvu personal views, but inc
sentiment or players in general. lhesc
mon corrcspcaacd 90 district leaders M
politics. They came from the centre
a. population from all over the coun-
,rr. They had been IN closest toueh
with the Fraternity members OF their
several districts. Their enthusiasm Tor
the cause LETT no doubt as TO the hnal
success in this controversy
Most Of tho delegates from out OF
Iaf.rH rfgh n
a.. the big rally 81 Fultz calls Tor an
open meeting.
Christy Nathcwson, manager OF the
Cincinnati Reds while not in sympathy
with the attitude Of the union, is never
theless OF the opinion that the trouble
s. more serious than most OF the mag
mates believe.
"Thc players" said Mathcwson yes
,crdav. ARE set In their opinion that
the National Board has acted bit
too arbitrarily. Whether they Will 60
10 the length Of d strike remains to be
seen. But If the owners intend TO 90
10 the mat. as they declare, they
would do we'll TO prepare now Tor
walk-out. I have talked with few
fraternity members. and ! do not ne
licye the great majority of them are
bluffing,'
National League flrm
Meanwhile it appears as if the Ma,
tional League is quite as determined
10 sec the thing through as Is II.
American rival the sentiments OF
which we're aptly expressed by Ban
Johnson on several occasions.
William F. Baker, president OF the
Phillics, has made an issue with has
star battery. Alexander and kllliier.
The Quaker boss at Philadelphia yes
tcrdsv made public a letter sent TO
Grover Alexander. The champion
pitcher. in returning his contract UNI
signed. demanded Of Mr.. Baker con.
tract for three years at salary OF
$4,000 per annum. After expressing
his establishment at Alexander
cupidity. the president of the Phillies
CURLY Informed his pitching star that
the original offer of $4,000 a year
still stood. and would not be increased
b. any great amount.
Bill Killifer. Alexander's battery
mate. is said to be in league with the
great pitcher i'm holding out for more
money. According 20 Philadelphia
gossip. the contract offered killifer
called for $4,000 less than the war
time salary this backstop enjoyed up
20 the end Of last season. Killifer
was seriously injured toward the close
Of the 1915 campaign and was not
able to appear in the worlds cham
pionship series against the Red SoX.
lie was not Of his customary value
10 the team through 1916 because Of
the 1915 injury.
Alexander and Killifer will either
N accent the contracts | have offered
them or they may retire from the
game" declared President Baker in
Philadelphia last night
81 know what Alexander means to my
team, but / cannot place his allegiance
above principle. ! am determined to
see this thing through; ! can hold out
quite as long as either of the players.
President Thomas J. Hickey OF the
American Association has issued bull
letin TO the players of his circuit i'm
ploring them TO return the coming sea
son TO the old-fashioned rivalry that
made baseball the greatest competitive
sport i'm the world.
There is too much Of the Damon
and Pythias stuff on the ball field now
adays," according TO Hickey. with this
lolly-pop action IN the game player
Of one team will throw his arms around
the neck of his rival instead of watch
ing for an opportunity to sneak an eX-
ira base ! do not mean ! want rowdy
tactics, but | want to see each team
come out with blood in its eye and with
the players strangers TO each other
Ubi1o tho pame Is IN prOpress"