New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-26
BALL PLAYERS
HOLD A SECRET
MEETING HERE
Thirty Respond to Call OF
Fultz to Prepare
for Strike

Thirty members of the Players Fra
ternity gathered in secret session at
the Hotel Somerset, last night 70
form plans for the proposed baseoai'
strike. which is tentatively planned Tor
this spring.
Among the prominent players VINO
won't into session with David Fultz'
president Of the baseball players
union. were Harold Janvrin and DICK
Hoblitzell, Of the Red SoX; Ed Reul-
bach and Red Smith, of the Braves;
Otto Knabe. of the Cubs; Billy Fisher,
of the Pirates, and Bert Daniels, the
former Yankee, now with the American
Association.
Il was planned TO keep the meeting
absolutely under cover, but there must
have been a leak as pig as that re-
ported in connection with the late
Presidential message. There we're no
more newspapermen. in the corrdors
than could be comfortably held when
packed four deep.
rs soon as the last VI NAtN boAA
arrived the door was locked and DaVld
Fultz began a long speech he was
frequently interrupted by loud ap-
plause. which would seem TO indicate
that his plans for a strike were gen
orally approved by the players assem-
bled.
1t vas noticeable That there were no
PLAYERS from the Giant or Yankee
squads in the assemblage, although the
meeting was started in the home city
OF these two teams. Brooklyn players,
too. were conspicuous by their absence.
The PLAYERS who gathered at the call
of Fultz represent perhaps tenth OF
the men in the big leagues. The non
attendance of Yankee and Giants play
ers would indicate that McGraw ana
CAPTAIN T. L. Huston were right wnen
they declared that they had practically
signed up all of their squaas.
II was reported from the meeting
chamber that an investigation into
leak in the baseball union had been
recommended. The session promised TO
last until an early hour when 1t was
expected that the head of the Frater-
nity would emerge with an ultlmstum
20 organized baseball, which probably
would advance the time for the strike.
II was also reported that Fultz had
received assurances Of the support Of
union labor.
During the meeting the following
telegram from Iris Speaker was re
Boston. Mass. January %.
David L. Fultz, Al Wall Street,
New York City.
81 am sorry | cannot be with you
tonight. Have to have treatment for
nv nose. am with the boys. feel
sure we will win. Will stop over on
nv way home. IRIS SPEAKER,
Following is complete list OF the
PLAYERS who attended the meeting:
Eddie Burns, Detroit; John Miller,
St. Louis; George Chalmers, Phialdei,,
phia; Tom Clarke, Cincinnati; biii
Fisher, Chicago; Otto Miller, BROOK
lyn; Jack Dalton, Newark; George H.
Burns, Detroit; Grover Hartley 81
Louis.
iols. Milwaukee; Gus Getz, Brooklyn;
John Henry, Washington; James Ar
cher. Chicago; John Enzmann, New
ark: Frank McDermott. Montreal;
James c. Smith, Boston; Ed Ruelbaeh,
Boston; Al Sehacht, Newark; Charles
Jameson, Washington; AL Carlstrom,
Toronto: William Doak, st. Louis;
George Burns, New York; Larry Gard
ner Boston; Dick Hoblitzell, Boston.
Washington, Jan. 25.-oecretary Nor.
rson of the American Federation OF
Labor to-day declined TO affirm or deny
that the executive council Of the Fed
Grafton had refused TO grant union
charter TO the Baseball Players Fra
ternity.
lie added that no information on the
subject had been given out either by
or on behalf of the Federation and that
il was impossible 70 say when some
announcement of the councils action
might be made.
The council, which has been in ses-
sion here since last week, will go 20
New York on Saturday for another
meeting. Secretary Morrison, while
admitting this procedure was somewhat
unusual, declined TO say whether the
cause of the council moving was con-
nected with consideration of the ball
players application.