New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-14
BOisterOus Bans Detl
Means War to Finish
with Fraternity
By W. J. MACBETH

bcen called in favor Of the fraternity
Another is whizzing up 10 the dish.
Ban says he will knock the ball over
the fence. He usually makes good his
promises, for he is the Ty Cobb and
Home Run Baker combined Of the mag
mates.
In short. the serious situation which
.conironts organized baseball because
Of the presumption Of the Baseball
PLAYERS Fraternity in attempting TO
dictate policies for the men who foot
the bills has been assumed by the
broad, broad shoulders and betty bat
or the belligerent president OF the
American League. Ban Johnson has
declared himself in unmlstakable and
emphatic terms.
THE fraternity must 60" says john
son. 'Fultz must get out. The
American League will never again
countenance David Fultz nor his or
ganization. Players of the American
League must Immediately dissssociste
themselves from executive positions
with the union. The presumption OF
the fraternity has become a menace
that must be met instantly and settled
with for all time"
Are Ready for Strike
The remazSs Of Johnson make It sp-
parent that Big Ban is sure of ms
ground. Doubtless the possibility OF
o strike was discussed thoroughly at
the annual meeting Of the American
League. The boss of the young major
circuit would scarcely dare to commit
his colleagues otherwise.
Whatever plans may have been ar
rived at for concerted action and CO.
/ operation between the major league
/ clubs it would seem that Ban Johnson
has scored heavily again for American
/ League prestige. He is the only one
of the two major league heads and the
only one Of the three National Com
mission members who has committed
himself 10 any definite stand against
Fultz. His associates of the trlum-
virate. when they talked at al
straddled the issue. But in speaking
defiance to Fultz Johnson has com
mitted both of his associates to night
10 the finish. They must share the
fight.
A very important meeting, no doubt
will be this conference here tomorrow
Of the National Commission members
and the Joint schedules committee OF
the National and American leagues
johnson intends to sound his commits
sion associates as to just how far the
National League will trail with the
American. But, in any event, he Is
prepared to 90 it alone. il necessary.
Here is Johnson's plan: He will set
a time limit for the return of con-
tracts signed by those American
League players not held by long-term
documents. Failure to comply within
the time limit will mean indefinite
suspension without pay.
Prediction Comes True
There would have been no crisis now
: if the National League had listened 10
Ban Johnson three years ago, when
the fraternity members threatened a
walk-cut in sympathy with First Base
man Kraft At that time the Ameri-
! can League executive argued that a
truce was simply storing up trouble
for a future day. His prophecy is
justified in the present instance.
Kraft was drafted from the South.
/ crn Association by the Brooklyn club,
/ The following season Brooklyn at
/ tempted to turn the player back TO
/ New Orleans. as promised the year
/ before, in case he failed 10 make good
/ in fast company. In other words, the
Dodgers paid certain sum for the
! privilege of trying out Kraft A GER
/ tain other specified sum was TO be
/ paid New Orleans il he made good.
/ In case Of Kraft's failure in Brooklyn
1 the Pelicans were 10 retain the de-
post. as well as 10 get back the
7 player.
This common practice OF optional
/ purchase had been recognized through
out the history Of organized baseball.
/ But IN the interim between the time
/ Of Kraft's purchase and the beginning
OF the following season certain con-
/ cessions mad been granted the Base
! ball Players Fraternity. Among them
I was a rule which said that in future
no minor league player should be
/ turned back to league OF lower
/ classification, unless all the clubs OF
all the Intermediary leagues first
waived claim TO his services. The
/ Southern Association was a Class a
/ league. The three Class A A leagues,
/ of course, were rated higher than the
Southe n. Fultz held that Kraft could
not legally be turned back to New Or
/ leans until all Of the club owners OF
/ the American Association. Information
al and Pacific Coast leagues had dis-
/ claimed interest in him.
Point Was Technical
The point at issue, it will he readily
seen. was a technical one The National
/ Commission held that the new rule
necessarily could not apply TO the mora
obligations of the agreement between
BROOKLYN and New Orleans, as the con
tract had been entered into prior 10 tho
granting of the new concession to the
Fraternity. IL pointed out an injustic,
would be done to the Southern Associa
+ ton club. Fultz held that otherwise ar
/ Injustice would be done 10 Kraft. Fultl
/ threatened a general strike.
Johnson declared in case OF strike
the American League clubs would loci
their parks. Failure Of players 10 pro
coed with games would have broken :
lot Of wartime contracts. But the Fed
eral League was IN the field at tha
time. Certain National League club
GENERATORS became weakened as th'
great day approached. Some of then
prevailed upon Charles II. Ebbets u
pay the balance due on Kraft and re
tain MIN for service with the Newark
team, which the Brooklyn interest,
then controlled. This was done. IL wa
great moral victory for the Fra
ternlty.
Whole Team Walks Out
There has been but one strike n
Johnson's time. Some years ago thu
Detroit players all went out In sym
patty with Ty Cobb. Jennings's sta
had been set down for assaulting a fan
at the old Hilltop grounds. This far
had been particularly abusive 20 tn
j Genrnia Peach Iohnson's yerdIct o