New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07
FuItz Gets a Rebuff
From the Commission

rs too early as yet 20 get line on the
nature Of their reception by the ath-
letes. As a rule, players are usually
backward in returning the document.
However, as It IS now necessary for the
documents 10 be returned before the
teams leave for the training camps next
month. the major msgnatss hope that
a true line may be had on the issue
before the schedule meetings IN this
city.
In the meantime the National Com
mission has plenty to occupy its atten-
tion. A special meeting OF the trium-
virate will be held coincident with the
conference OF the joint schedule com
mittee az Dover Hall. Ga, next week.
At that time the National Commission
will return a definite answer 70 the
Class IA leagues on the prayer for
relief from existing draft rules.
The commission will also attempt 20
study the data available, so as 20 make
suggestions for a redistribution of ter
ritory among the small minor league
clubs. Some time toward the end Of the
month the Big Three Of the sport will
be active in the defence OF the 100000
damage suit brought By the hackers OF
the Federal League Club Of Baltimore.
This case is on the calendar Of law
court Of Philadelphia.
SO far as the small minor leagues
gre concerned, they have no difficulties
which they could not themselves sd-
just. The great fault lies in lack Of
circuits OF compact nature. The com
mission has been asked TO make the
new territorial allotments so that
there will be no resulting jealousies
and dissatisfsctlons among the small
operators directly concerned.
The National Commission is in sym
pathy with the request Of the Players
Fraternity that large minor clubs
should pay expenses 10 spring training
camps.
THE request seems very fair" said
John K. Tener. Salaries are consid-
erably lower in the minor leagues, and
many of these players have TO depend
on business positions during the OF
season II is not right that they should
be called upon TO desert q means OF
earning a livelihood and 81 their own
request give up two or three weeks OF
their time"
An agitation, by the way, has been
launched b. certain fraternity mem
beers to have the club owners shoulder
salary burdens from the time the men
report for spring practice. A Cleveland
writer quotes revolutionist TO the et-
feet that the men will pay their own
way South il the club owners put them
on salary at reporting time.
If this new angle becomes serious 10
would not be surprising II still another
form Of contract were adopted year
hence. For some time certain club own
ers have advocated a contract that called
for salary payments throughout the
twelve months of the year, instead OF
six, as at present. This, IL Is argued,
would make the major stars amenable
to discipline during the of season. II
would better protect the families OF
| the improvident, who are usually 20 be
! found haunting the Offices Of their en-
, ployers each winter for advance money
before the snow flies.
Hughie Jennings is going 70 take a
/ flock of young pitchers 10 Texas In the
/ hope that he may discover one or two
reliable box men among the lot. But for
a very ordinary pitching staff the
Tigers might have landed on top the
/ last two seasons.
( Detroit is possessed Of the greatest
/ punch to be found in fast company. |
is a wonderful run scoring combination
The defence outside the pitchers DO;
compares favorsbly with the best in tn
American League. Good pitching woult
make of the Tigers a new pennant trust
The late managerial careers OF Hugh
Jennings and John McGraw have run
in practically the same groove. These
/ old Orioles and fast friends have both
| been mighty unfortunate in the matter
of developing or finding pitching ma
terisl A stout twirling corps last year
would have landed either in the worlds
series. The hopes Of both for 1917
centre on improvement in this depart
ment, and this department alone.
OF the two, McGraw seems now the
more fortunate. The arrival Of Ferdie
Schupp to help out stat Of veterans
so slow 20 come around a year ago
should almost assure a pennant for the
Giants. Mac, in addition. has phenom
coming from Louisville IN Middleton.
Jennings must trust 10 luck, unless
he can make clever trade. None or
his recruit pitching timber is at all
seasoned. Most Of IL comes from the
obscure sticks. Men Of that kind
usually need a few additional years
schooling, no matter how clever Trey
may be- Jennings just now IS benalng
every energy 10 secure Dutch Leonard
from Boston. a peIlnlHltt OF WIS Nt"N'
might mean the difference between
success and failure. Il will take a lot
Of money 20 get Leonard. Jennings
could, under existing circumstances
, afford to pay almost az much for nin
as Cleveland paid for Speaker
Some day some major league club boz
need of a leader Is going to remember
that there is a great manager footfree
in the minor leagues. That fellow Is
Bill Clymer, OF Louisville, who has won
more pennants than McGrav, Mach,
Jennings, Chance, Clarke or any Of the
others in the major league hall OF
fare. IL is true that Clymer won his
remnants in the minor leagues. But
the process Of pennant winning s
much the same in all leagues. Clymer
has had the necessary experience. tie
is a reconstructionist OF skill And on
the coaching lines he is every bit as
great a drawing card as Hughle Jcn-
nings.