New Britain herald., 1917-12-26
FACTION SIJRPRISE
slfacts Contrary to A|ln8 at Meeting

alnS dt MtttluS
 D., Dec. 26.-The an-
 tom Boston that 1918
 been mailed to the
 1rt unsigned for next
 lta distinct. surprise to
 A1ue club owners. For
 practically agreed by
 eeS who attended the re.
 4najor leagues meeting in
 Tt contracts would not be
 til tho delegates had fur
 Anity, at the annual meet
 National Commission, in
 two weeks hence, to dis
 Sffive at some definite salary
 sDrobability the story from
 giEtnated from some misun-
 IT on the part of the scribes.
 Percy D. Haughton of the
 Nationals sat in at the joint
 5ceS In Chicago. and was one
 nost vigorous champions of
 tcal reform. In view of
 Eit Is very doubtful if next sea- c6ntracts for the Braves actually been mailed.
 eA misunderstanding on tho of Boston writers is explainable. new contract, adopted & year ago the two major leagues, and later xified by the National Commission. abraced new form of reserve Ause. This was instituted at the ne t9 safeguard the vital principles G organized operations from legal at &ck.
 s Reserve Clause as Protection.
 The suit for $9o0, 900 damages 1ainst baseball, an alleged sporting 2rust," had been launched by the Stockholders of the Baltimore club of me defunct Federal League. The new reServe clause was substituted for tho S4d on the advice of the best obtain 1hlo legal talent to offset any pos 1ble thrust under the antitrust laws. This reserve clause makes 1t obliga- ory on the part of the employers of Baseball players to notify such before Inc close of the contractual yea. whether or not it is the intention to 1xArctSe for the following season the b&tion on players services, which op- lon Is purchased from the individual IAyer for a stipulated sum each time knew contract is taken out. Most of he delegates went to the Chicago l4eeting under the belief that salary problens would have to be thrashed put then and there. .as. X It was pointed out to them, how lvcr. by legal talent that new con- Kncts did not necessa rily have to be gotiated before the new year; that 6ployers had only to signify before hat time their intention of exercising Dtions on services. The National Dmmission, in a special bulletin to Aator league club owners, emphasized hAt point and instructed tho mag gtes to mail such notices to all un- ned players before midnight of De- Sember J1. This bulletin wAs very particular to Aate that tho mailing of contracts nfkht be delayed until the last day 3f January, as stipulated in contract eoTms if the notices in question were issued bv December 31. Penalty for Eailur, to notify, the bulletin added, would be loss of player titles.
 Debate Laid Over.
 It is reasonable to suppose that the Boston National League club, like ali 1ree major IsaEue clubs of greater nv York, has simply issued to all lf unsigned players notices that op- Ssu for services will be exercised AuD season: for salary retrench- nsat was one of the main problems 1nt confronted the operators. De- nae on the natter was laid over from |hG Chicago meeting as too weighty o be disposed of in the few hours axai1able for joint deliberation.
 There ,is nothing to prevent Boston Dr any other club mailing 1913 con E1Acts It this particular time. But undue haste might lead to later re- rrot. Before tho end of next month employers should have 2 pretty fair line on just what players will be lost through enlistment and draft.
 Doubtless the Cincinnati meeting and the Joint schedule meetings hero in February will develop an unusual humber of trades, especially if some of tho strongest clubs continue to be rlddled as they have been since the oloSe of the last campaign. An un- 1sd player Cor one signed at req DolAhlo sa1ary) is a chattel far more n1tly disposed of to advantage than 1A AtSmper1nnental and over-paid star.