The Washington herald., 1917-01-23
The Players Fraternity Is
Refused Labor Charter
Rumor Claims A. F. of L. Turns
Down Baseball Question
After Long Debate.
shooI The Tin Ia ont

shoo! The tip IL out.
Listen, you real baseball fans, the
American Federation of Labor has re-
fused to grant the Baseball Players Fra
ternity a charter under organized labor.
Since Saturday afternoon at O'CLOCK
until a late hour last night the executive
committee of the American Federation
Sof Labor has wrestled with this ques-
uon. and when yesterdays meeting ao-
Journed at II D. m, no definite news was
ready to be given out, so stated Secretary
Frank Morrison, of the executive COM
mittee.
Like the famous Tom Lawson case, oil
course, his baseball question with the
American Federation of Labor had 10
have Its own little leak" and just VINO
let the cat out of the bag will never be
known, but It is now and it remains Tor
President Davy Fultz to make a new
move for his laborins athlates
Just what happened and what the de-
oates on this question were will not be
made known for a few days, but from the
Offset they must have not been very
promising for the ball players, as 1t Is
F.. claimed that Davy Fultz blew right In,
turned around, and blew right out again
Fultz presented the players case be-
fore the committee on Saturday after
noon, and was before the council for. two
hours After the council had heard Fultz
plead for a charter they debated the
question, the main point of debate being
whether ball players are wage earners
In the sense OF the term construed by the
federation, or in other words, whether
they are eligible for affiliation with the
union labor.
Just what move David L Fultz and his
Players Fraternity will now make Is
not known, but IL this leak carries any
, weight 1t is up to Davy to dig up some
other nsv move.
Manazer Qr.fffth wore a little smile
when he opened his mail yesterday and
received the signed contract OF player
who Is a member of the Baseball Play
ers Fraternity. This makes eight play
ers that Griffith now has in line, tnclud-
ing Johnson, Foster, Milan. Morgan
Flagherty and a trio Of players VINO are
members of the "Fultz clan"
The Old Fo1 stated last night that he
is yet to receive any reports from his
players that have failed to sign, in ref
erence to the fraternity, but claims that
most of them are questioning the terms
Of the contract and he anticipates no
trouble in getting all the boys in line.
-
Billy weart. in the Philadelphia Even
ing Telegram. explains the threatened
strike as follows: THE players are far
to call them out on strike on February
20. In the first place there are a num-
Der Of players who do not belong to the
fraternity. They will not go out In sym
pathy with the other players. Then
there are a number of stars who are
signed to contracts which do not run out
until the end Of the next playing season
E>ultz says he would not ask them to
violate their contracts Therefore, they
will be careful about expressing any SEN
tinents In favor OF the would-be strik-
ers. These two classes Of players are
on the safe side. They cannot lose, no
matter which way the wind blows.
Then thare are those who cannot see
why they should get into the scrap,
which does not concern themselves, but
only players connected with certain
minor league clubs Some of these play
ers have already taken the bit between
their teeth and def1ed Fultz and the fra
ternity by signing contracts within the
past few days. For this action Sallee,
Of the Giants, and stanage Of Detroit
have been expelled from the fraternity"
Fresh life may be rumped into the
corpse Of the Federal League II the
threatened strike Of the ball players ma
teriaHZes.
Baseball men here pointed out today
that in case the threatened strike should
drag into the regular playing season, the
way will be opened for a revival Of out
law" operations. The parks in number
Of former Federal League cities are still
standing, and could be leased or pur-
chased.
with a deadlock between players and
magnates. and assurance of strong sup
port on the part Of the fraternity, it is
believed the players organization could
md backing to reopen the baseball war.
II the strike call is issued by Dave
FuItz the next move will be up to the
club owners. And the major leagues
have voted to have nothing more to do
/ with the fraternity.
Hear what New York thinks of Brooke
! Brewers chances in the 7o-yard invita-
ton race at the Mellrose games Wednes-
day night:
The TO-yard race Is another event that
is filled with contestants who have earn
ed championship honors. The sensational
Brooke Brewer, Of Maryland State UNI
versity, who recently won the junior ma
tional indoor championship in command
ing fashion, will make his first appear
ance in this city. The young schoolbc
jumped into prominence last year
outsprinting many experienced opponen s
in the Meadowbrook games in Philade =
phia-
Opposed to him will be 10 Loomis
Roy r. Horse, Alvah T. Meyer, Andy B.
Kelly, Charles w Loomis Frank Steph-
enson and 2. P. O'Hara, of Massachu-
setts Tech. Efforts have been made to
have Howard Drew augment the field
and reply Is expected from him within