Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-15
BASE BALL STRIKE CALLED OFF:
PLAYERS NOW FREE TO SIGN
President Fultz of Fraternity Admits HI
Was in the Wrong-Members Not to
Be Disseminated Against
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

| The base ball strike engineered by Dave
| Fultz has finally and completely fallen
through. Failure of the movement,
| forecasted in these columns more than
| a month ago, officially was recorded in
| New York yesterday, when President
Fultz Of the fraternity publicly admit
| ted he was wrong in trying to involve
the major leagues in the minor league
controversy. withdrew his demands and
released all players from their pledges
not to sign contracts.
| Fultzs capitulation came after con-
| tinuation of Tuesdays negotiations
with John McGraw, self-appointed peace
emissary, and followed a conference
with the fraternity leaders-Vice Presi-
dents John Henry, Bert Daniels and
Jack Miller and Secretary Ed Reulbach
Realizing their position was hopeless
| they decided to call off the strike. max
ing but one stipulation-that there be
no discrimination against fraternity
Understanding which already is
covered in all 1917 contracts
Fultz made this statement in regard
to the decision of the fraternity:
owing to the unfair position in
which the major leagues were placed
between the owners and players, the
fraternity has submitted to the own
ers the following proposal: To release
all players from their pledges not to
sign contracts upon the understanding
| that the owners will not discriminate
against fraternity players. nor dis
cipline them for their loyalty to the
fraternity in observing their pledges"
In explanation of his attitude Fultz
said:
When we first involved the major
leagues in this dispute I honestly be-
lieved ! was right. I now con-
WINGED l erred-but I made an honest
mistake. I see now that the national
commission had no power to force these
| minor league requests on the minor
| leagues"
President Tener of the National
| League cites the fact that the condi-
tions imposed on the major leagues
! by Fultz already are covered.
Il suppose Fultz has read copy of
the 1917 contract" Tener is quoted as
saying. "It says emphatically that mo
player will be Disseminated against
because of any affiliation with an out
side organization.
II believe I can best explain our posi-
ton by saying we are like an employer
of big plant who has an open shop.
When We employ a man we do not ask
him whether he is a union or non
union man. We tell him, You may be-
| long to any organization you like as
you have grievances. you must come to
US and not attempt to reach US through
your union officials
should FultZ send any further com
munications to the national commits
| sion or to the major leagues they sim
iply will not be answered, but. as to
Furnishing a player merely for follow
| ing a misguided leader. there is no
| possibility of that"
When told of the National Leagues
attitude, President Ban Johnson of the
American League said:
so far as the fraternity is concerned.
we will give no assurance. All of our
players look alike to US. Fully So per
cent already have signed. If they come
along to the training camps, well and
good. That is all the assurance the
American League will give
johnson declared the American League
heartily approved of the action of the
National League in severing all con-
nections with the fraternity, and that
his circuit formally would take similar
action today.
Yesterdays developments in New
York undoubtedly mean the collapse
of the fraternity. With no chance of
obtaining a hearing from anybody con-
nected with organized base ball, all
reasons for the continued existence of
| the fraternity cease.
Fultz's formal resignation as presi-
dent is in order next. He is working
under a three-year contract, which