New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-14

oughly repentant, after paying heavy
fines. Jim Delehanty, the main con
spirstor, was railrosded out OF base
ball
In the darkest moments OF the Kraft
case there was great doubt as 20
whether the Fraternity members would
have gone so far as actually to strike.
Many OF the leading spirits OF union
ism at that time deplored the muddle
When faced with the possibility OF
abrogating lucrative contracts some
few, indeed, had begun TO back pedal.
The great majority Of the star men de-
clared openly that never again would
they allow themselves 10 be made cats
paws for any minor league cause.
A Fight TO Finish
That the club owners Of the major
leagues are serious in their purpose 10
see the present difficulty through 20
finish fight if necessary there can be
no doubt. The American League Is com
mitted; the National must follow SUIT
whether or not it cares TO be so bold.
: A backdown 20 the Fraternity now a.
Ebbets and the National League backed
down to Kraft would only mean a
/ graver crisis in the future. Further
/ more, the major leagues appear to have
/ right on their sides. Fultz admits ne
/ has no quarrel with them. He admits
/ he is using his alleged power OF
B threatened walkout to force the Ma
I tional Commission 10 coerce the minor
leagues into granting concessions 10
/ their players which the little fellows
/ feel they cannot afford.
As 10 the minor leagues, they hgure
a strike would be the very best posi-
Bile tonic for a sport that has grown
into a bonanza for the employees. In
deed. certain magnates advocated clos
ing shop in the small circuits during
the Federal League war. A dozen small
circuits every year are forced 70 dis
/ band before completing their schedules.
! Additional expense would simply be
/ financial suicide.
No Fight with Majors
The fraternity has no quarrel with
the major leagues, which hsve granted
readily everything which Fultz asks
from the minors. Nor has the union
any cause for complaint OF the treat
ment OF the players OF the big minor
leagues. These invariably pay eN-
penses in full OF the players 10 the
training camps and the home cities.
Small leagues cannot afford 90; they
try out too many experiments each
season.
To a man NJ tree the attitude 81
FultZ and the fraternity strikes as
ridiculously unfair. Indeed. n has been
| believed all along that the players
union did not embrace membership
/ from leagues lower than Class A. Yet
all these leagues of high minor CLASH
| fcation have for years been granting
| the players the privileges which FulN
requests. Can IL he that David L. fulH
is making this play so as 10 appeal 10
| the obscure lads Of the sticks and swell
! the union Golfers by double or treols
! the present figures
One thing Is cetain. Now that Ban
Johnson has declared himself, the issu,
will be settled one way for good and
all The best thing that the National
League can possibly do IS 10 string
along with Bic Ban.
President John X. Tener OF the Ma
tional League appears quite as decided,
though less outspoken in his remarks
than B. B. Johnson.
"Nv experience with baseball play
ers." Mr.. Tener continued, has assured
me that they are possessed OF a sense
Of honor above the average type. ] do
not think that the rank and file who
/ have no grievance will hold out IN the
interests of conditions in the obscure
minor leagues, in which they have no
concern.
~ believe thinking players realize the
predicament Of the small promoter.
These cannot stand trihing They can
not be burdened with additional eN-
/ pense. As it is, how many small
/ leagues have to discontinue each year
before the playing schedule has been
completed? Many OF these small
/ leagues arc conducted only because Of
sense OF civic pride.
"The workmanship Of the citiZenry
/ is called upon TO make up deficits. Thee
small organizations without the icas'
/ financial loss might close shop. Or
they might operate with amateurs ana
schoolboys. Certainly they would do
quite as we'll financially as they did
last year.
Bad Thing for Game
That would be bad thing for base
ball" said Mr.. Tener, yet u might
bring the players to their senses. II
the maleontents were left without
means of earning a livelihood they
might appreciate that their present lot
is not so hard after all. As 10 the
major leagues, ! anticipate no trouble.
The fraternity has expressed satisfac-
ton with prevailing conditions. There
Is no occasion for arbitration, for II -
admitted there are no grievances to be
remedied. II, however, this strike talk
Is being INDUCED in TO intimidste the
club owners OF the National and Ameri-
can leagues, then the sooner the matter
is brought TO a showdown the better 10
will be for all concerned"
Captain T. T. Huston, of the Yankee,
regards the situation as one TO be de-
plored by the players OF worth and
merit.
THE fraternity" said the captain,
would do it's members a better service
in figuring out some means OF reyiving
interest in the sport. There has been
altogether too much Squabbling, too
much money talk. The game. in large
sense. is in the keeping of the players.
The promotion will stand just so much
overhead and that limit was passed 10
the days OF the Federal League war
The worst a strike could possibly 30
would be TO damage the interests Of tf-
players. II these insist upon KILN
the goose that lsys the golden eggs '
-. fartff