The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-01-14
Minors In Fight For
 Existence

New York, Jan. 14-Josephus Tinker, former big league shortstop, but now president of the Columbus club, of the American association, ar rived in our fair village yesterday morning. He is prepared to go to the mat with the big league club owners over the draft rule, the re- organization of the National Commis- sion and several other knotty base ball problems concerning the majors and their little brothers.
 Having been out of active baseball for several years, Sir Josephus car ries an abundance of flesh about his waist line nowadays, and would now find it quite a task 10 stoop for d grounder and tag q runner at second base with the same ease and grace that he did when he was a member of the Chicago Cnhs.
 Nevertheless Ban Johnson and John Arnold H~ydler. presidents re Epectively of the American and Ma tiona1 leagues, and the other big league moguls will have some trouble in trying to convince Tinker that the draft is heroGcial to the minors rath- CT than hardship.
 The former shoTtstop was in q tur- hulent mood yesterday and there was fire in his eyes. From the looks of things it is not likely that the Dove Of Peace will he seen hereahouts un- til next week,
 TEnkc. Sounds Warning.
 Tinker was the hrss of the major leaguers to reach this town for the many baseball meetings which will be held hero within the next few days. Joe is a member of the special committee of the minor leagues, and. along with Mike Tierney, president of the ThreeI League, and F, Han!o1. of the St. Joseph Club of the West ern League. will present the Eriev- ances of their associates to the ma 5ors at the joint session al the Bilt- more on Thursday afternoon.
 The minors insist that in the re- construction of baseball the draft be abolished" said Tinker on his ar rival. For several years or more the National Association has pleaded with the major5 to do away with this baseball evil. But the majors always hadl their way in the matter.
 
 ent and we demand elimination from the drafs. I is a detriment to the minors not help.
 "A a.ther thing we ins;s- upon is the reorganization of the National Commission Practically every per Sc1l asfeoc cit.ed with Crga-izad base ball is opposed to the present tri- bunal The minor leagues will re- quest at the joint meeting that the commission in the future b. compos- ed of enc representative of the mi nors. a representa;i five Of the majors and a third representative who would not be interested either in the majors or minors.
 The elimination of the optional agreement is another thing that we are going to fight fer. Recalling ar optional player during the season has injured any number of minor league clubs. This, like the draft, is a mi nor league baseball evil and should be done away with.
 Onc-Sided Rule
 "The optional deprives club of young players who are sent to the minors for development Sometimes
 
 youngster who needs little more ex- perience. He is sent to q minor league club for that experience un- der the optional agreement. The club develops the player and then the maj jor league club recalls him. Fo1 developing the player the mino: league club receives no money"
 Pr9siden, Heydler declared tha the ma icr leagues were willing tC help the minors. and that all theiI grievances would be discussed full! by the I 6 club owners oat the meet ing on Thursday.
 "It takes time to make changes, said Heydler yesterday. Baseball hai received many hard knocks in th last five years and many leagues hav' been forced to give up. Not so len ago there were 50 minor leagues i operation. Last year there were onl nine. I believe that ali the mino ,eague grievances will be amicabl
 djusted."