South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-01-17
STRIKE DATE FEB.
70 SAYS FULTZ
II TangIe is Not IrOned Out
None of Players Will Make
Training Trips.

NEW DIRK. Jan 1I.-DaFld l..
Fultz, president OF the Baseball
Players fraternity. Tuesday set Feb.
20 as the date the players strike is
likely TO become effective.
The Chicago National league
players have been instructed 70 re-
port in Chicago on that date TO-
make the trip 70 their training camp
at Pasadena" said Fultz If the
present baseball tangle is not
Strengthened out by that time. how
ever. not one Of the Is leading
members OF the team will move.
The other clubs who have unsigned
fraternity players will be up against
a similar situation when they or
der mobilization at the opening Of
the training camps The players
simply will not bulge"
Fultz said the decision 20 join the
American Federation Of Labor came
after reports from Prest Johnson
OF the American league that the fra
ternity must be crushed and that
players who are active in the frater-
nity must give up their order or get
out OF his league.
We needed something 10 bulwark
us up. and there seems no doubt
that affiliatiOn with the American
Federation Of Labor will prove
great benefit" continued Fultz.
II believe such utilization will
strengthen us sufficiently to win the
requests we now ask for without
carrying this strike into the season.
do not believe the GLIB owners
viii want 10 antagonize the fedora
ton. as baseball is largely a work
ing mans sport, and especially in
the western cities, which are union
ized much more strongly than some
in the east. II would hardly be TO
the advantage Of club owners 20 hire
inferior players in such cities.
Says All VIII Stick.
Not only did 500 20 700 players
sign pledges late last season, not TO
sign until instructions to do so. but
within the last four weeks we sent
out fresh letters TO the players ask
ing are you still willing to go
through with this?' and all have an
swered yes
81 also have received many letters
from players of low minor league
classification asking what they
shall do. They play in leagues not
protected by the fraternity and they
have been instructed 30 sign their
contracts"
Afilation OF the Baseball Players
fraternity with the American FEEDER
alton OF Labor would end the pres
ent salary system in professional
baseball by which the best players
row receive thousands Of dollars for
their work. in the opinion of Pres't
Ban johnson OF the American
league. who discussed here Tuesday
the plan TO unionize ball players.
lie asserted the change would mean
that "a union scale Of wages would be
paid both the star and the average
players i'm accordance with the
amount OF money his position called
for He doubted IL the stars of the
game would make such an agree
ment. Pres't Johnson recalled that
in the old National league wages
were standardized when owners
found IL difficult 10 pay the large
salaries some players received years
ago and he cited the case OF Nc
Phee. the famous second baseman.
whom. he said. had 10 he satisfied
with the same pay that players of
inferior skill received. Under the
plan at that time, Pres't Johnson
declared. outhelders received GER
tain sum and inhelders. il was
agreed. we're 20 receive another
amount PRIEST Johnson said he was
unwilling TO believe that present day
baseball players. drawing large sal
aries. would be content 20 eQualize
their earning abilities with players
who just manage 20 hang on TO the
major leagues.
Prest Johnson said ne hoped
Samuel Gompers would first consult
with his associates before taking up
the proposal seriously. adding that
the American league has never been
info tror-fefff 20 tn Am arfraD IraH-