The Washington herald., 1917-01-24
STRIKES BACKBONE
IS BROKEN JOHNSON
Baseball Players Are Satisfied. Declares
President of League.

Chicago. Ill., Jan. 8-"The backbone
of the baseball players strike Is broken. :"
This was the parting shot to Dave
Fultz, president of the Baseball Play
ers' Fraternity, dealt by President Ban
johnson, of the American League, on
the eve of his departure for Dovers
Hail. Ga. on pleasure trip.
Reports from American League mana
gers and players. coming to the head
quarters of the circuit, tend to prove
that a strike is not wanted by the play
ers, says the A l.. chief 1t proves, he
contends. that the strike propaganda is
being fostered by Fultz principally.
President Dunn, of the Cleveland
Indians, was an American League
magnate who brought In an optimistic
report. He said:
Practically all of my players have
signed contracts to play for Cleveland
in 1917. The only one of my regulars
who has not come to terms Is Bobby
Roth, and I anticipate no serious hitch
with this player.
t'Most of my men voluntarily offered
to sign; several are not affiliated with
the fraternity, and others have gone
on record as opposed to the strike
program of Fultz.
There seems to be a feeling on the
part of my players that their best in
terests will not be conserved by holding
out Iris Speaker is under contract;
so is Morton and the other regulars.
Roth was willing to sign some time ago.
but waited until I could offer him the
new form of contract. AS far as / know,
Roth has no kick coming on the question
of salary"
An optimistic report from Manager
Clark Griffith. of the Washington club.
was Forthcoming. "Grif'' said he had
seen a number of players and they SEEM
ed be loyal to their club. Four of his
regulars, including Walter Johnson. were
already under contract, "Griff" said, and
he anticipated little trouble rounding up
his other regulars.
This report from Griffith was diamet-
rically opposite to that OF Nick Altrock,
who is on the payroll OF the Washing
ton club. Nick said the Washington
players were for the most part affili-
ated with the fraternity and were strong
for Dave FNIltz. John Henry is the rep
resentative of the fraternity on the
Washington club and Altrock thought
this catcher had lined up the men on
the side of F>ultz.
The American League chief also was
optimistic over the chances OF starting
the season with all the clubs of the
American League playing their regulars,
even II a strike was called on February
20, as threatened. He refuses to take
the strike seriously. White Sox players
have lined up almost unanimously in
favor of their club, as opposed to the
fraternity, and the St. Louis team also
seemed strong for its club.
Johnny Lavan, shortstop of the Browns,
has come out in a scathing rebuke OF
players who are talking of going on a
strike as follows:
ANY major league players who will go
out on a strike at this time is working
against his own interests and playing
into the hands Of the rasnates," said
Lavan. The club owners won't worry
much IL we strike. 1t will be the play
ers who will suffer"
President johnson exhibited a commun-
ication from Samuel Gompers, of the
American Federation of Labor. in which
he asserted . walk-out of the major
league players would not be at the in
stigation of the organization of which
he Is head.
Larry Doyle u one Cub ball player who
will not respect the laws of the Base
ball Players Fraternity. He has been
a member for years, but. judging from a
letter received by President Weeghman.
the second-sacker does not believe in a
strike. His contract is signed and he
will be on the train February 20 when
1t pulls out for Pasadena, Cal.