New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-18
FTJLTz RELEASES
FRATERNITY MEN
FROM PLEDGES
Head of Ball Players
Union May Give Up
His Post
Bv W. J. MACBETH


-. diving gasp Of the threatened
hail strike came yesterday in the
sis, announcement by David L. Fultz,
..;1snt OF the Baseball Players Fra
i..,i,, that he had notified all the
-.,bsrs Of his organization that they
~.-s released from their pledges not
:. sign 1917 contracts.
This action of the head Of the play
&c, union was taken q couple Of days
% when il became evident that or
.s,izsd baseball did not intend to dis
sriminste against Fraternity members.
From a source apparently close to
v,l,z Il gas learned that the present
-a.,,.ive intends to withdraw from the
tssd of the organization as quickly as
- NAV do il without appearing 70 sur
.S,r-r under nre. Fultz in announcing
~ ritbdrawal Of the strike order in
,;,sted that ne might not continue
io,s in Office. He said the Fraternity
Sonld continue as the players official
o-vsnization, but that the future OF
,bs association would depend upon the
interest and action Of the players
themselves m this connection.
Fraternity Welded Influence
Thai the Fraternity exercised GER
,,in influences at the time the strike
order was withdrawn Is evidenced by
he number Of signed contracts being
rsesived By both National and Amerl-
ran League clubs. The world cham
MON Red SoX and the Athletics were
ne only two American League clubs
hard hit BY the threatened strike.
Harry Frazee, president of the Hub
champions. announced yesterday that
Chef Thomas. catcher; McNally, in
Sslder. and Shorten, outhelder, had
added their names TO his eligible list
IN response 10 notification that all
contracts should be returned before
tbe world champions went into training
AZ Hot Springs. Ark. next month.
The death Of the strike leaves only
o.s obstacle in the path Of harmony.
This is the suit OF the hackers OF the
federal League club of Baltimore
.vsinst the so-called trust" for $780,
40 damages. The hearing will take
Mace in Philadelphia before a jury
late next month.
May Settle Suit
II is hinted that this case is quite
Gkelv 70 be settled out Of court. The
Ts5srsl League hackers it is said, are
ready 10 compromise on a small trac-
ion Of the 5000 .OOO Even q fraction o.
tteir losses would be considered velvet
row.
While Ban Johnson declares he has
rot discussed this case officially for
several months. the fact remains thar
the lawyers OF organized baseball
handling the case were in the city dur
irg the recent meetings Of the Ma
tonsl and American leagues.
The National Commission held sew
ersl secret meetings during the week
one yesterday az the Wsldorf-Astorla
Hotel. that consumed most OF the after
noon. L is believed some Of these
hours we're devoted 10 discussion Of the
ease against the fo~ner outlaws,
The near approach Of the 1917 base
ball season is reflected in the fact that
three major league clubs will depart
for training camps before the end OF
the week The Chicago Cubs Will de-
part from the Windy City for Pasa-
dena Cal. on Wednesday. The Clan:
rockies will congregate az St. Louis
Saturday for the annual pilgrimage 70
Marlin. Tex. The Yankee battery meh
and coles will leave Saturday afternoon
for Macon, Ga.
Captain T. L. Huston. Wilbert Robin.
son and z party Of Baltimore friends
vii leave this afternoon for Dover
Hall. Ga. The captain intends 70 90 70
Macon some time this week 10 inaugu-
rate campaign toward cooperation Of
the citizenry Of that Georgia city IA
dis military preparedness scheme tor
TIE players Of the American League.
The captain has been assured Of the
heartlest cooperation on the part OF
tie War Department. He hopes 70 IN
tsrest several hundred Maconites in the
scheme. as the drillmasters taken South
With the Yankees can handle several
companies as easily as they can forty
or 6fty men. II Macon shows . DISPOSE
ton 20 cooperate IL may be selected as
tas military rendezvous of the profes-
sionsl ball players who will 90 into
such a military camp as has made
PisttsbUrg famous. This gigantic
camp viii be inaugursted Immediately
after the world series.
President Joe Jackson OF the Base
BAL Writers Association Of America
has indorsed the preparedness scheme
ior his members. Jackson sent out a
+NE-fi AlyiA DtLfDAL tr-ArlNaf CaAAAIAs
Upon the seribes 20 cooperate in the
movement and 70 pledge the club
owners q ready response to the call 10
arms.
A majority OF the writers have
pledged themselves 20 60 South next
az for military drill with the players
iae majority Of the American League
players have already notified Dir. john
son and their club owners that they
WI willingly cooperate IN this great
Preparedness movement.
The Yankees have signed big
catcher named Julian Olson, Of Pensa-
cole, Pa. he will report 70 Bill Dono-
ssn a. Macon. Ga. a week from to-day.
seb Giles, who sent the sensational
~ Walters % the Yankees. had been
On On, mis- fellows trail for almost a year.
1ilkss thinks Olson quite as bright a
prospect ~ was Walters year ago.
20 catcher needs higher recCmmen.
THREE RED SOX SEND