The Washington times., 1917-01-16
|JACKDUNN LAUGHS
AT STRIKE GOSSIP
Baltimore Magnate Doesn't Be-
Iieye Players WIN Pass
Up Envelope.
By JOE VIA.

NEW YORK, Jan. 1e-Jack Dunn,
owner Of the Baltimore IntsruationaI
League club, refuses to take the play
ers' strike seriously. He says that
the idea Of major league players re-
fusing to step up to the captains Of
flee once on payday, because they
are striking in sympathy with their
minor league brothers Is absurd.
-As matter Of fact, the minor
league players have no grievaness,s
said Dunn. They are glad to set to
our training camps at their own en-
pense to hae q chance to earn . Hv-
ing. Why, most Of our players have
been discarded By the majors, ana
are on the down grade. They ought
to be glad that the minor leagues are
In existence.
IL we should close up shop they'd
be In sorry plight IF the big leagues
do not surrender, the players will
throw up the sponge. They want the
money. and they viii not remain idle:
II makes me laugh when hear play
ers talk about holding out It's a
joke
Dunn advocates q new drafting
rule which appears to have some
merit. He argues that the majors
should agree to draft players from Z
minor league club once every two
years instead OF annually. In that
way Dunn says q minor league club
could develop, young players so that
hey would be thoroughly seasoned
when they graduated into fast com
pany.
He declares that Il Is unfair to the
Baltimore club to draft Q crack young
5ter, and then turn him back to some
other club in the International cir
suit.
InteruatieaaI Ii CRIner.
In December the International League
Itartled the baseball world by defyins
he National Commission. The club own
rs voted to ignore the commissions
'uling which awarded 5000 to c. II.
sbbets. Of the BROOKLYN club, to satisfy
liz claim against the Newark franchise.
Although President johnson, Of the
american League. as a member Of The
'ommission. hled q minority report In
he EEbbets case. be said yesterday
he action Of the International League.
o say the least. was decidedly impol-
tic
Meanwhile. Il is said, something has
,een, done under the surface to convince
be International League men that they
q serious blunder. They have
aimed down lately and Il win not be
urpftsing II they suddeny decide TO
Ibide by the commission's verdict.
Larry After .. Berth.
I ran across. Napoleon Laioie At the
Iotel Imperial yesterday. Leioie has
nded his career ~ q major league ban
layer. which began in fSk He is after
he nansgePent OF the Toronto Intsr-
lational League club and he probably
Viil be appointed.
Lajoie had = tanning bee with Arthur
irwin, who discovered him when he was
laying first base for the Fall River
hub twenty years ago last summer. Ir-
Fin was the manager OF the Giants at
hat time and he practically closed .
cal for Lajoie and an outfelder named
,eler before notifying the late Andrew
freedman. president OF the New York
lub.
Irwin agreed to pay $3.50 for the re-
Eases Of La3oie and Celer. but when
freedman was informed OF the facts
o turned Irwin down, with q statement q
hat he didn't care to engage amateur
layers" 50 La1oie and Cellar were sold
D the PhiIlies
LaJoie made his first appearance as
he PhiIlies' first baseman at the Polo
irounds In August. 1895. and proceeded
D knock out a home-run drive the
rst time he came to the bat.