The Washington times., 1917-01-17
Ban Johnson and Clark Griffith
See That As Result of
Labor Support.
LEONARD At THE MEETING
Old Fox Now Has But One Date
Left Before Completing
Spring Schedule.
HY LOUIS A. BOUCHER.

sTf the players, acting under the
guidance of Dave Fultz, cannot un-
derstand that the National Commits
Son has Iabored for fifteen years to
make hiKh salaries possible, let them
60 along with Fultz. Appealing to
the labor men for a charter can have
but one result general lowering OF
salaries"
Thus does Manager Griffith talk of
the latest move by the Baseball Play
ers' Fraternity.
q. aAs 1 have said all along" contin-
ued the Old Fox, 1--WE cannot allow
the players to dictate to us in the
management of our own clubs. In
their present fight, they are asking
the National Commission for some
thing not in its power to give. THIS Is
foolish on the face of it.
Lower Salaries LoeNIng.
IN the old days, you know, there
was a salary limit. 1 worked under IL
in the National League. There was
also a general standard of salary for
certain positions. For instance, an
outfielder was seldom paid as much
as an 1nflelder, lWnlle sldi piSNN
could get the limit.
THE American Leagues best caro-
in its battle for baseball existence
was its making the sky the salary
init. Then the National Commission
was formed to keep the big leagues
working as a team, and from then ON
4 the salaries rose until now player
like Cobb can draw $4,000 for doing
what Bill Lange probably got $1,000.
Making ball players union men un-
der the Jurisdiction OF the A. r OF L.
for one thing, will detraet largely
from the drawing power of the game
as a sport, It will also have a tend
ency to bring once more a standard
lied salary. And 1t will be much
lower than It is now"
What johnson Says.
Ban johnson welcomes the entrance
of the players into the A. F. Of L., for
he believes the overhead charges will
be cut almost by two-thirds.
"A union scale of wages for ball
players" says Ban, would be estab-
Iished. With the latent jealousies OF
the kindred organizations voting on
the question, the promoters OF the
game need have no apprehension
Let them set the wages at the
maximum standard. Let them nx the
double pay OF the best paid union
scale. Stars OF the renown of Speak
er. Cobb, and Alexander would be
compelled to toll for one-thiro their
present Tecompense.
Thinking baseball players will
never tolerate the idea OF a union
wage for the profession. This would
70
advancement Under such union
system a pitcher would get so much,
an infielder so much, an outfelder
SO much. and a catcher so much, ire.
spective Of personal worth. The
artist would suffer the limitations
of the mediocre performer"
GrIn Mentions Leonard.
I'm glad Joe Leonard attended
that meeting of the players in Chi
cago." remarked Griff today. Then
he can have no excuse OF not know
ing what the whole thing is about.
l hope all my players, wherever they
are. will understand thoroughly the
real situation"
With the exception of a single date,
the spring exhibition games on the
Washington club. On March % the
Griffs will play Birmingham. The
Memphis team will be met the follow
ing day, and the Cincinnati Reds at
Memphis on March %.
Nashville will be played March &c
and %. The next date is open. The
Reds will be played at Louisville on
March 20 and so. The next three
days will find the Griffs battling the
Reds in Cincinnati, leaving for Wash.
ington on the night of April 2.
League VIII Quit.
The International League, which
met in New York Monday. has decided
TO suspend operations for 1917 IL the
big leaguers go on strike.
Ed BArrow's magnates all lost
money last season, and they face
bankruptcy il they endeavor to con
Iinue the fight under present condi.
tions. They have decided, after study.
ing the question from all angles, that
their losses will be lighter IL they
suspend for at least one eyar.
With the International League out
of business, some 125 players will lose
Jobs. In some cases these players will
be carried along by big league clubs
but q majority of them will have to
seek berths in smaller leagues for de
creased salaries.
A. A. May Also Stop.
Although nothing has yet been de
termined, the American Association
may also suspend its schedule for
1917, il q strike is started by the big
league players.
Only one club made any money last
season in the A. A. which ranks with
the International League. The Louis
Vile champions are said to have
cleared a little on the season. Joe
Cantillon came out about even with
his Minneapolis club. but every other
,Iub in the circuit lost money.
With storm clouds in the sky, thf
4. A. magnates do not like the pros
pect OF starting a season, knowing
that heavy losses are certain TO come
Many minor circuits will have t6
quit, for there will be no ma jor league
clubs looking for promising players al
fancy prices. 1t will be retrenchment
all along the line.
AIexandeF's Cause.
In turning back his 1917 contract
1rover Cleveland Alexander makes Il
Slsin that the impending strike in the