The Washington times., 1917-02-12
Big LEAGUERS ASK
FREEDOM TO sign
Prepare Resolution to Be Placed
Before Fraternity Meeting
in New York.
PRESIDENT MINOR TO GO
Manager Griffith Receives Four
teenth Signed Contract
From Regular.
PRESIDENT MINOR TO GO
BY LOUIS A. DOUGHER.

hO"
to get into line for 1917, because OF
their having signed pledges not to
sign until Dave Fultz gives the word.
have prepared a resolution asking re-
lease from their pledges. This resolu-
tion will be placed before a meeting
OF the fraternity, which will be held
in New York, this week while the
magnates are in session.
Though one or two major leaguers
have been strong in their determine
tion to fight the magnates to the end,
1t is well known that for several
weeks certain prominent players have
come to the conclusion that the pest
thing for them personally to DO is
to get in out of the wet. They are
unable to do this owning to the
pledges they signed last summer.
Calls General Meeting.
President Fultz, seeing the walls of
his edifice tottering and about to
bury him in the ruins, has called a
general meeting of the fraternity to
be held in New York. The dissatis-
fled major Ieaguers, a minority in the
fraternity, have worked up their
movement to lift the embargo on
their signing. Their fight will come
behind closed doors, of course, but
II is expected to result in the death
OF the fraternity.
Fultz's request for a conference
with the heads of minor leagues in
class AA and class A ranks has been
turned down. The players chief is
unable to obtain a hearing from either
the big leagues or the largest sections
of the minors. With revolt brewing
in his own ranks, he seems doomef
to ignominious failure.
Schedule for Week.
The schedule for the big week is
a. follows:
Tomorrow-NationaI League meet
ing at Waldorf-Astoria-
Neutrality-suspicious. Commission
holds special meeting.
Thursday-American League meet
ing at Wolcott.
Friday-Joint meeting of both big
leagues at Waldorf.
The American League meeting is
expected to continue not more than
two or three hours, Ban johnson
knowing how to rush business along.
The National League, unless It
breaks all precedents, will be in ses-
sion for two or three days.
The Baseball Players Fraternity
also will hold a meeting, but neither
the day nor the place has been an
nounced.
President Minor Goes.
Both President Benjamin S. Minor
and Manager Clark C. Griffith, In
view of the Importance of this
scheduled meeting, will attend the
sessions in New York. They expect
to leave Wednesday afternoon, and
be present at the Wolcott when Ban
johnson calls his class to order.
II suppose I'll see John Henry in
New York." said Manager Griffith to-
day, though l have nothing to talk
about particularly. 1 have rendered
him a contract, which he has yet to
sign, but he won't be a rebel to me
until he refuses to report for the
training trip"
Calls II n B1under.
According to the Philadelphia Pub
lie Ledger, Ban Johnson has over
stepped the limit in threatening to
drive Henry from baseball" as the
following article today indicates:
"Since Ban Johnson organized the
American League and invaded the
domain of the once allpowerful Ma
tional League, he has achieved what
seemed to be impossible of accom-
plishment in the world OF baseball,
but the car has also been guilty of
making some mistakes in his rul-
ings. His latest threat against
Catcher John Henry, OF the Wash
ington club, is a blunder which can
do no good to the cause of baseball
at the present time.
haz II.r artf
in the Players Fraternity, and un-
doubtedly from the angle of the mag
nate is deserving of punishment, but
IT, as johnson is quoted as declaring.
there is no room in the American
League for a player who through his
allegiance to the fraternity works
against the interest Of the league,
there is a way to gee rid of that
player by releasing him to the min
ors. AS a matter of fact. johnson
has no authority to drive" any
player off any team in his league
unless the owner of the club is will
ing; but Johnson's word is law in
the American League, and IL he is out
TO "get" player there is small
chance for that player to remain in
the organization.
AntaEonizing the Fans.
johnson is antagoniZing the fans
when he threatens to drive a player
out Of the league. The player is the
idol OF the public, "a fact that John
son seems to have overlooked, and
while the fans apparently are against
the players in their present stand,
they are not likely to accept John
sons threat without some resent
ment. II required a colossal faux pas
on the part OF Dave Fultz, represent
ing the players, to transfer the sym
pathies of the baseball public from
the players to the owners, but such
an arbitrary mandate as issued by
President Johnson may again ALLEVIATE
the fans from the magn9tes.
"It comes to pass from time to time
that a powerful man becomes so per-
msRted with the consciousness OF his
power that he is prone to overstep
the mark. There is a realm beyond
the limit of which no man can tread
with mpunity-without the danger
of bringing his structure Of despotism
tumbling about his ears"
The fourteenth signed contract of
b 1915 regular arrived at the Grin-