The Washington times., 1917-01-19
Al Demaree Kicks Against HaV-
ing Chicago Cubs Bear
Burden of Battle.
MINORS WILL REAP BENEFIT
Manager Griffith SEES Hops for
Little Fellows in Frater-
nity's Fall.
By LOUIS A BOUCHER

among the members or the BaseDall
Players Fraternity. Dave Fultz's or
ders not to sign are being openly
fiouted and Al Demaree is out with a
protest against the Fraternity lead
er's making the Chicago National
League club a goat in the troubles
now facing maEnate and player.
THE action of FuItz in calling the
strike on February 20, the day the
Cubs are to report" says Demaree,
makes the Chicago club and its play
ers the targets The attention of the
baseball world will be centered upon
the players OF the Chicago club and
they will have to carry the burden of
the strike.
Nor is it fair to discriminate
against President Weeghman.. He's
q fine man and has gone to lot OF
expense In giving the players this
trip to California and it isn't right
that he should be selected as the OBJ
ject of the first attack.
Players should Train.
81 am opposed to the fraternity
keeping its men from going on the
condition some way, and it's my idea
that we should be at liberty to &C
company the clubs. and then IL FultZ
and the owners can't get together. it
VIII be time enough to take decisive
action.
I'm going to write to Fultz these
facts, too"
Inasmuch as no players will be al
lowed to accompany clubs to training
camps until they have signed, DEM
aree's statement indicates a chang
ing phase in the situation.
Will Help Minors.
'"The death of the fraternity will
be the making of the minor leagues,
especially the larger ones" says Man
ager Griffith. "They cannot exist I'M
less they cut salaries and even the
veteran players in the International
League and American Association, in
stead of fighting against the mag
mates, should be with them.
almost every minor league would
have to quit, IL compelled to pay the
salaries they have paid for the past
two or three years. Then whore
would the player make a living? I'm
der the system now going into effect.
they'll all make living which is all
the magnates do when it comes down
to brass tacks."
One Grinman Signs.
Manager Griffith admits that one
of his regular players has signed
his 1917 contract.
81 decline to name him at this
time" explains the old Fox, but my
correspondence shows that the only
differences between the club and my
players. is based on the size of sal
aries offered.
Il shall have every one of them in
line when the marching orders go
out, have no fear. My players Joined
the fraternity because the others were
doing 1t, but not one had his heart
in the scheme. That's what they're
all telling me now
Players Are Signing.
Major league players are signing con-
tracts on every club.
Ray Schalk. given raise for his good
playing Of last season. has signed with
tine White SoX, laughing at Fuliz's or
ders.
Eddie Cicotte. Joe REM. and Claude
Williams. White Sox pitchers winterinG
in Chicago, declare they will not join
in any strike against the big league
clubs
Though some 100 players belong to
the fraternity. IL Is estimated that less
than $50 are SIN in the big leagues.
Therefore. il can be reasoned why one
quarter Of the membership is not eH-
pActed TO bear the brunt Of fighting for
the other three-quarters.
Salaries Are Dropping.
The Federal League booster salaries
al along the line II forred the organ
lied baseball clubs TO follow suit. or else
the players. For two years unlimited
salaries have been paid. and. in many
cases. these so-called wartime con
tracts are still IN existence
With the passing Of the Feds. organ
lied baseball realizes that bankruptcy
will come unless the salaries go back
to where they were before the Wards
opened their Golfers. Practically every
cub is planning TO lower III expense
in 1917. This Is particularly true Of the
National League clubs.
Ban johnson claims that il is now
plain to everybody that the fraternity
is simply trying TO maintain inflated
salaries. This was limited many times
last summer.
JOhnSon's Statement.
THE strike propaganda Of Fultz is
clear to the baseball world" says
Johnson. 1T Is a move on the part
OF Fultz and a few players to main
tain the big salaries OF the war time.
81 see President Weeghman. of the
Cubs. has thrown down the gauntlet
TO players who refuse TO accompany
his team on the spring training jaunt
He says they must go with his team
or lose their places on his roster.
at Is plain that the players do not
crae about the minor leagucrs. They
are out to maintain high salaries. The
Cub players are harder hit because
their salaries were inflated more by
the Federal League war than most OF
those affiliated with other clubs"
FuItZ Talks Some More.
Dave Fultz ridicules Ban Johnson's
lack Of knowledge OF union rules.
charging him with trying to throw
dust in the eyes OF the players.
johnson forgets that wages are
never made by organizations OF en-