Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-01-13
LOCAL FANS BY REFUSING TO SIGN AT TERN
ALEXANDER THE GREAT, HOLDOUT.
BAN JOHNSON DECLARES HE WILL,
DRIVE DAVE FULTZ OUT OF GAME
Sensational Events in Baseball Follow in Rapid
Succession-Clash Between Players and
Owners Cannot Be Averted
By CHANDLER d. RICHTER

SENSATIONAL events in the baseball
- world are occurring with such rapidity
that there is no telling what may happen
next ON Thursday night Dave Fuitz.
president Of the Players Fraternity. threw
a bomb into the ranks Of organized ball
when he suspended Harry Stats Saliee for
signing contract with the Ncw York
Giants after he had agreed TO wait until
he had received word from Fuitz. as he
had promised 10 do. Fulz declared that
similar punishment would be meted out {"
other Fraternity members who broke their
pledge, and he threatened tJ iSsue an order
to the players not 10 report at training
camps
ON tnc same evening Fult2 met several
members Of the Players Fraternity in this
city and discussed the situation with them
1t is said on reliable authority that eyerl
one who attended the meeting pledged him
self to stick by the Fraternity Similar
meetings were held in many other cities.
aud m each instance the players pledged
loyalty to the finish.
These events stirred the baseball world
but the excitement was nothing compared
to that created by the announcement that
Grover Cleveland Alexander, the wonder
fu philly hurler had returned his unsigned
contract TO President Baker with a polite
note telling him that the terms We're not
satisfactory.
This message was flashed East from
.NltNdlhtl > lDIllt w 81 dki. aNtll., l'Nl
night. and the famous pitcher verified the
report in a wire this morning
Predicted Holdout
Before he departed for Oscar pugcys
ranch in Texas after the worlds series
Alexander admitted to the writer that he
expected to have trouble getting tn" con
tract he wanted and insisted that the terms
would be satisfactory to him or NE would
not report regardless Of threats Of sus-
pension Judging by AleNandcr's remarks
at the time he wants several thousand
dollars more than he believes the phladcl-
phia club is willing to pay. but insists
that he will get it or remain at his home
Alexander pointed out that he received
less money in 1915 and 1916 than many
players who were acting as substitutes or
who were just about holding their jobs. lie
declared that he had remained loyal to the
phls during the war with the Federal
League that he had treated the PhtiteS
fnirly when he could have jumped with
out fear Of court restraint: that he knew
he was responsible in a large measure Tor
the winning of the pennant and the big
financial returns to his owners. and that
the time had arrived for him to get a real
contract.
Local fans were amazed at the annotncc-
ment as President Baker remarked few
weeks ago that Alexander would he sent
contract that would please him greatly. and
that there would he no trouble getting ihe
famous hurlcr in line. Evidently there is
big difference in what the club has offered
and what "Nlcx" thinks he is worth or he
would not have returned the contract. If
the difference was slight, Alexander prob
ably would have waited until he came East
TO discuss his new contract with President
Baker.
Must Sign Alex
1t is believed that President Baker will
ST..