The Washington times., 1917-01-13
FANS ARB AGAINST
FRATERNITY MOVE
Want Baseball on Diamonds,
Not in Courts, and Are Tired
Of SquabbIe.
ny JOE villa.

NEW YORK, Jan. 13.-Hasn't our
great national game of baseball suf-
fered enough In recent years without
strike by the players union? The
defunct Federal League crippled the
sport SO that fans soon turned their
backs and the baseball promoters on
both sides lost many thousands Of
dollars.
When peace was declared last win
ter the public hailed the good news
with expressions OF intense satisfac-
tion- Interest In the games of last
year became greater than at any Tina
since 1914. when the sensational Bos-
ton Braves won the worlds champion
ship. Yet many Of the major league
club owners failed to make ends meet
because OF the heavy financial burd-
ems they still were compelled to carry.
Now comes the announcement that
the National and American League
players who are members OF the union
have agreed to go on strike by refus-
ing to sign contracts for this year
until alleged grievances Of the minor
league players have been adjusted.
Have Ne Grievances.
1t is frankly admitted by the leaders
Of the union that there are no griey-
anees against the club owners In the
National and American Leagues. The
fight IL against the minor league club
owners. many OF whom say they are
on the verge OF bankruptcy and are
ready to close their ball parks.
The baseball public which pays the
freight Is not in sympathy with this
movement which IL calculated. TO
further injure the national game. The
fans have become educated to the
fact that the big league ball players
In many instances have been over
paid and also have beeps fairly
treated.
Has No Sympathy.
The. baseball public In the major
league cities naturally has. no sym
1athy for the alleged trouble Of play
ers IN the minor league eities- The
fans pay the salaries Of the diamond
stars, and they are eager! to see the
sport restored to its former prosper
ity.
II also Is the prevalent opinion that
the men who finance the big leagues
are entitled to . square deal, and that
II they are determined 10 make a
finIsh fight for the control OF the
game no fault can be Justly found
with them
II the major league players there
fore carly out the plan. to strike In
axyT - vuffh fhafF 1ao
brothers, II II predicted that the pub
lie will stand by the maEnates who
declare that they viii not submit to
dictation. and will bar the gates OF
their parks II necessary.
Baseball has received so many hare
knocks during the past three year
that \ players strike cannot become
popular. The fans own the game,
and they are demanding peace 81.
along the line.
VIII Violate Coatraets.
VIII the strike order keep players
already under contract out of the
game? Players who have signed win
violate their contracts II they do not
report for the spring practice. In
many such cases big salaries will be
forfeited. But II these PLAYERS de
eide TO report in order to collect their
'ironclad" salaries how viii the un-
signed players on strike feel about,
It?
Take the case OF Roger PeckInpaugh
and Lee Magee, Of the Yankees, for
example. They are directors OF the
fraternity or union Peckinpaugh's
contract for this year which he sign
ed in 1915 calls for $500. MagSe's
contract signed a year ago stipuIztes
that he must receive 5000.