The Washington times., 1917-02-12
.MOGULS TO CRUSH
UNION THIS WEEK
cIubowner Says Henry Is Guilty
of Conspiracy and Should
Be Barred.
~ JOE villa q

~ JOE villa.
NEW YORK, Feb. 12-Baseball
magnates representing the National
and kmerican Leagues. also the lead
in minor --rcuits. are headed this
way today. Before the week ends
these promoters will make several
important moves to crush the life out
of the players union. which Is keep
ing about eighty major leaguers on
strike for the purpose OF sqeezing as
much money as possible out of their
| employers.
Overtures from the unions leader
| for q conference with representa-
tives of organized baseball have been
discouraged. The magnates, who
have received q circuIsr letter asking
| for q hearing with the idea of set
thing the strike, at least for the time
being, have decided to ignore II.
They will not so much as send .
| reply.
They figure that II the union's
leader could obtain a hearing. he
would promptly notify the strikers
| that owing to the present crisis in
the affairs OF this nation, the union
had decided to declaDe q truce until
next winter and that unsigned play
ers therefore were at libetry to re
turn to their clubs.
Could Prepare Again.
"In that way the union, winch is
on the verge of total collapse, could
be perpetuated." said q National
League club owner yesterday, for
the players would prepare for an
other strike next winter, and would
continue to pay SIS each into the
unions treasury.
The marnates. therefore. VIII havs
no further dealings of any kind with
the union They intend to adopt
measures that will kill the strike for
all times.
The National League schedule meet
ing will be held at the Waldorf to-
morrow and II will not be surprising
of q resolution. TO limit each club
championship season Is adopted In
that case. the American League.
which convenes here at the Hotel
Wolcott. on Thursday. doubtless will
vote for similar player limit Both 4.
leagues also will enforce the rule
compelling all players TO sign con
tracts before reporting At the train
ing camps.
Would Drop Thirty-tws.
With an eighteen-player limit in
effect the National League would drop O.
thirty-two men into the minors before
May is, while the American League
would turn lose fifty-six at the same
time.
According to the latest information
from the magnates about fifty Ma
tional League players are on strike.
with at least thirty American Leag-
uers are holding out until they receive
word from the union that they are
at liberty to sign.
The National League, IL the season
opened today, could put 1I5 signed
players on the field The American
League also would have 135 In uni
form. Each major circuit, governed
by the eighteen-player limit, would
need IA men to equip its team
sNo promlse,-Herrmann-
There WIN be no compromise with
the union," said August Hermann,
chairman OF the National Commission. .
at the Waldorf yesterday. II strongly
favor the adoption OF an eighteen
player limit in both major leagues.
In fact, I believe that q team could
get along nicely with sixteen men,
The players who are holding out have
been misguided.
'As soon as they realize that they
haven't q chance to control the sit
uation they will readily sign, but
|
services no longer are required, and
that they must go to the minors-f
there are any minors in existence
when the month of April arrives"
John Henry, of the Washingtcns,
who Is threatened with Punishment
from the American League because Of
his activity in behalf OF the union,
may find other recalcitrants in the
same boat with him
Several players, already under con-
tract, have been urging the strikers
to stick it out. They are charged with
disbopalty, and their employers seem
determined to square accounts with
them. When President johnson, cf
the American League, announced last
week that he intended to make an ex-
ample OF Henry, the union leaders
raised cry Of conspiracy"
Guilty of Conspiraey.
Henry and other strike agitators
are guilty of conspiracy" said a
prominent club owner yesterday.
"They have been plotting to ruin their
employers, and they care nothing for
the welfare of the sport. Then why
shouldn't magnetes give these fellows
a dose of their own medicine?
"If 1t is fair to conspire against the
men who pay salaries, IL Is equally
fair to get rid OF undeSirables in base
ball. Henry has been warned re-
peatedly, yet he has tried to induce
his fellow-plsyers on the Washington
team to hold up the club for exor-
bitant salaries.
by dropping a half dozen ring
leaders out OF the major leagues in
retaliation for their unfair treatment
they have received the club owners
cannot be blamed. The time has ar
rived to convince the members OF the
union that their employers no longer
will stand for intimidation"
Looks for Trades.
As usual the rival team managers
will try to arrange some deals.
Huggins, of the Cardinals, Is pre-
pared to trade Snyder, Doak, Beseher,
Iark Miller, Wilson, and other players
II he can get a fair return for one
or all OF them. Uncle Robbie Is ready
to swap several Robins and Matty
may trade Catcher Wingo TO the
Cubs, IL he can secure a left-handed