The Washington times., 1917-02-08
.MOGULS WITHDRAW
ORIGINAL PAPERS
Prospects Of War With Germany
Means Wholesale Cutting
of Salaries.
By JOE villa.

NEW YORK, Feb. Sowing to the
possibility. Of trouble with Germany.
several major league club owners al
ready have withdrawn offers to their
recalcitrant players.
One of the magnates sent out a
letter to his men yesterday stating
that contracts mailed him on JAN
uary 20, which had not been received
with the players signatures had
been cancelled and that new contracts
calling for less money would be for
warded later on. ~
OF course the players, when they
receive this startling notice, will
blame the union for their troubles
They could have signed the original
Contracts, in which liberal salaries
were named, IL they had not pledged
themselves to hold out until the
strike leadeV said the word.
Other magnates, who have been un-
able to sign a majority OF their
men, will send out letters OF a sim
liar nature in a few days. with the
result that the strikers probably will
cry out in alarm. This is one OF the
weapons the leaders Of organized
baseball have been preparing to use
for some time.
Asks for Conference. 4.
A formal request from the players
union for conference with leaders
of organized baseball was In evil
dence yesterday. It took the form OF
a circular letter sent out by the play
ers' representative to the presidents
of the minor leagues represented in
class IA and A.
In this communication a confer
'ence was suggested with the idea OF
patching up the quarrel which has
hurt the national game, at least tenn
porarily.
Inasmuch as the unions strike
order has been disobeyed by numer-
Gus players, while others are anxious
to sign contracts, but are restrained
by pledges to stick to their commando,
the request for a conference prob
ably means that the union considers
itself beaten and Is looking for a way
out of the one-sided controversy.
In short. the union shows a dispO-
sition to settle the rumpus with the
minor leagues by agreeing to a com
promise regarding the Transports
tion expenses of the players in those
circuits
Might BE Perpetuated.
II the union should be able to in
duce the minor leagues, including the
League and the Ameri-
can Association, to meet the players
in a conference for
the purpose OF patching up the row,
the union would be perpetuated per-
haps, and the leaders would retain
their authority.
The ra0naat for naaca talk ia
due to the fact that the major league
players are tired OF the strike, and
are exerting much pressure on their
to get them out OF bad
mesa
The players realize, however, that
II the unions strike order is called
off voluntarily, their organization
will become a dead issue in baseball.
The union leaders also know that the
fight is practically over, and that
must be done to save
themselves from oblivion.
VIII Not Agree.
But organized baseball, led by the
National Commission and the major
leagues, will not agree to a pow-wow
with union. Neither will the minor
leagues.
The time has arrived to blot out
the players organization for the good
Of baseball, and the magnates, who
have ben subjected to bullying tao
tics, will not make a single conces-
sion.
Orders have been issued to the ma
lor and minor league club owners
to stand firm, to refuse overtures
from the union and to treat with
their players as individuals. 1t is
the prevalent opinion that il the mag
mates, having the battle won, should
finally agree to some sort of a com
promise, baseball would receive an
everlasting black-eye.
Public Against Union.
The public never has favored the
attitude of the usion. The striking
players have received little or no
in their bold attempt TO
control the business end of the sport
rhe indisputable fact that the play
.rs have held up their employers
or unreasonable salaries has not ap-
,ealed to the fans who pay the
reight- The determination of Organ
zed baseball. therefore, to rule the
yame with absolute power is gener-
lily commended.
The union is defeated and the play
RS who want to sign contracts with
tut further delay should freely ad
nit their mistake