The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-11
STRIKE OF PLAYERS
PROVES A FIZZLE
SOx and Cubs Demand More
Money; Threat to Call Off
Series Brings Surrender.
DELAY GAME AN HOUR
Participants Yield After Long
Wrangle "fOr Sake Of
Game and Fans.r
DELAY GAME AN HOUR
Special Despatch 10 THE sUx

BosToN, Sept 10-A new chapter
was written into worlds series history
to-day, when for more than two hours
at Fenway Park the Red Sox and the
Cubs struck for a bigger share OF the
| receipts. A crowd OF about $4,000 sat
out in the New England sunshine and
wondered what It was all about rend-
ing the air from time to time with cries
Of play ballr'
No such situation ever before had
arisen in worlds series competition, and
ended. as have most baseball insurrec-
lions Of the past. In summary rout or
the players. Their demands were
thrown overheard by the National Com
mission. The players were told that II
the series were not completed IL would
be called OF ana the money taken in
at the first four games would be divided
between the Boston and Chicago club
owners after 10 per cent. had been
donated to the Red Cross and another
10 per cent. awarded to the National
Commission.
Players Issue Statement.
The players. losing their demand for
more money. agreed to continue the
series only on the promise that their
statement would be made pu nllc. 1t
was given out by the Red Sox captain.
Harry Hooper. who acted as spokesman
for both teams. Hoopers statement fol-
lows:
I'VE will play not because we think
we are getting a fair deal. because we
are not But we will play for the sake
u the game, for the sake OF the public.
which has always given US Its loyal
support, and for the wounded soldiers
and sailors who are in the grand stand
waiting for u.s."
The game was more than an hour
late in getting started. In fact. at game
time 80, Stuffy McInnis, the Boston
first baseman. was the only player on
the field in uniform. The public was
absolutely in ignorance of what was
going on in the National Commissions
box. and there were grave fears OF a
eiot among the big crowd II the game
were called off.
The police were prepared to handle
the situation. as several wagon loads of
reserves were rushed out to the park,
while a squad Of mounted police picketed
the outfield in front OF the centre and
left field bleachers-
sympathies Evenly Divided.
The players consented to go on with
the game at , o'clock. when IT was an
nounced by megaphone that the game
would get started in about fifteen min
utes.
The crowd seemed to be fairly evenly
divided In its sympathies. for when the
players headed by the Cubs, finally put
in an appearance, they were greeted by
a mingling of boos and cheers. --
The source OF the strike may be
traced back TO last winter when the
National Commission offered a new sug-
gestion of splitting worlds series gate
receipts, by which all first division play
ers would participate. This scheme was
approved by both the National and
American Leagues. To-days strike was
to prevent other first division players in
the National and American League from
getting any OF the money.
Before the game. the players presented
an ultimatum to the National Commits
sion that they would not go on with
the series unless the winners were guar
anteed 81 500 each and the losers 81 900
each. This practically would have elm
mated the sum set aside for other teams.
New Division of Money.
Taking the players share Of 1917.
which amounted 10 s152sss5s. as a
tHe national COMMISSION de-
cided last winter to give nat sums of
$4,000 to each member of the worlds
championship team and sl400 to each
member of the vanquished team. The
rest was to be divided among the other
first division players.
However, the players share. which
amounts to GO per cent OF the receipts
Of the first four games was down to
s69,52770. the lowest 1t has been in
wears. The commission therefore an
rounced the winners would get $1,000
apiece and the losers $500. which started
all the rurnpus.
A players committee. consisting Of
Hooper and Charley Wagner OF the Red
Sox. and Leslie Mann and Bill Killefer
OF the Cubs. waited on Garry Hermann
of the National Commission in the morn
ing, asking that the players purse be
split as in former years. 60 per cent
to the winners and 40 TO the losers
Hermann promised the players to rem
der a decision before the game.
However. on comforting with Presi-
dent Johnson OF the American League
and Secretary Bruce OF the National
Commission, Hermann said he would
render his decision after the game The
players heard of this when they reached
the clubhouse and refused TO put on
their uniforms II was then that the
players delivered their ultimatum.