New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-21

mission says it has no jurisdiction to
hear our grievances. II the reader
could have seen the way Mr.. Hermann
and Mr. johnson handled that situation
he would know that il doesn't need any
Realizing the hostile attitude of the
board and that We had our work cut
out for US, the players were thor
oughly canyassed last season, and be-
tween 600 and 700 Of them pledged
themselves in writing that they would
stand together until our requests were
granted.
Our petition was presented and we
were again rebuffed by the board. To
be sure that the players were still firm
in their determination to see the mat
ter through, the Fraternity again can
vassed them, with the result that the
vote was overwhelmingly in favor "of
going to it," az the boys say.
Surprise Is Coming
Organized ball has thus upon its
hands one Of the most serious condl-
tons which it has ever faced. and un-
less it sees fit TO compel the board to
straighten up and do the right thing
there will be some awfully surpr sed
PEOPLE within a few weeks. Many at
tempts have been made by the big
league owners to picture the players
as ingrates for not signing contracts
when the commission has granted their
request.
We should like to ask how il can be
possible for these men who are IN the
same organization with the minor
leagueys, and who have agreed to stand
one for all and all for one. TO desert
simply because they have gttten what
they were after. This would be about
as treacherous and contemplate an act
as they could perform. 1t would be
dictated solely by their own selfish
ness and not by their desire TO be fair
to their owners or any one else. Any
ball PLAYER who takes this course wall
be a marked man.
Would the fans ever forget that he
broke faith with his comrades
after inducing them TO take stand
because of his supposed cooperation,
he deserted as soon as he got the re-
lief he was seeking? Follow this prin-
ciple to its logical conclusion.
The big Lacquer deserts because ne
Gets what he is after The players IN
the Southern Association then follow
suit because they get their travelling
expenses (Which is factl. Then the
plavers on the Montreal club. because
they get their expenses when we oe-
lieve is the case), do likewise. lheh
arise some Of the players on anotner
club and say: what are we hghtIuE
for? We get our expenses, ana tleS,
too. desert the colors. At last we ma
him who marched forth so bravery 70
the battle with such a eoOdly company
battered and bruised, fighting the octo-
pus alone. Reductio ad absurdum' as
we used to say in the little country
schoolhouse.
Back TO Hopelessness
We would be right back where we
started four years ago; the lndlvldual
would again be bending his back In
hopeless fight against one OF the most
powerful organisms in the country.
All the labor and thought and effort OF
these young men gone for naught-
nothing doing.
This attempt on the part of the
owners is an old ruse which we have
been Cup against" before, and when
the plsyers, in the Yernacular, are too
wise 10 "fall for" The owners know
that If they could induce the big fell
lows 20 break away from the minor
leaguers they could trim US in sections
without the slightest difficulty
Nothing doing, gentlemen; IL we go
down well all go together, but we'll
go down with our shoes on. Ii may
be unfortunate for the big league
manager, but he must suffer for the
company he keeps. We made numerous
protests against our treatment, over a
period of years, but no one seemed in
terested. We passed il over seventy
times seven. while the little fellow got
the worst of 1t. But now We are in
corner and we are going to fight.
We are always willing TO arbitrhte'
but we are no longer willing TO be done.
Not only will we tight. but we will win,
because Re are right. and the right
must triumph in the end.