Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-12
TURBULENT TIME AHEAD !.
FOR BASEBALL LEADERS
Minors Havo Made 1t Plain That
They Consider Old System Of
Drafting Players Dead.
WILL FIGHT FOR DEMANDS
National League Club Owners Have
Turned Down Proposition to En-
ter Into Agreement Desired, and
Baseball War Seems Imminent.
ny JAMES j. CoRBETT.

has see; seen some turbulent times during
cations are that the end is not in
With the crushing Of, the Federal
tional game figured they had swept
the last. cloud OF trouble from the
horizon for some moons to come, and
states got into the world war and
baseball ,aS iapsed into a state OF coma
patriotic business.
A the outset of the 1919 season ex-
press!ons OF optimism for the success
Oh inc game as national insistution
Keeling despite tho fact that at a meet
ing between the majors and minors in
New York last January verbal UNI
derstandng was reached whereby tho
national agreement. framed in 1903. was
to be abrogated and new working
agreement. eliminating the draft put
There was much talk carly in the
E itssnhs OF a a. shake-up in the National
HERMANN was supposed TO retire az
chairman and new chairman selected
tCy committees from the two big
Majors Committees Inactive.
AS time wore on the major league
coninittees became noticeable because
OF 5neir inaction No move has hecn
ma b 20 reor,ganize the central govern.
tthough Il is expected that the ques-
lion viii be taken UP once more at
the coming winter. the Veteran Ign ""@ eowes
errors" OF the pastime continue in
power. AZ
II The minor leagues, however. have
accepted al "watchtul waiting policy
lin, regard TO the drawing UP OF a
whereby their verbal understanding Of
Z. =, % nary might be put down in black
from fnu VIII ;ib., Ealing to hear favorabiy
national commission. the minors GnaIlv
; Deva me M, resticss. and at a recent meet
poiicH in 1"c s,a,., 1hsy outlined their
were forwarded TO each big league az
In ,h s 80 ,hs s ot I'm G BODY
out that inasmuch as il had been
agreed 10 abrosate the National agree
e meni' thG ~ lei; free TO take affairs.
entirely into their own hands.
Consider Old Custom Dend.
They made Il plain that thev co,-
slaer the ancient right of the majors
10 10 ara dra't Players from them was dead
they expect to dispose OF their pIayers
henceforth as they see Mt /, WAS also
pHtn,Sd -, out by the minors that they
custom. 's' 'he
In due time the National League got
call from President Heydier. The
cGommun lea ton from the minors. out
WIRE their plans and requesting q
League acknowledging their ;ndepend
ence, was taken up.
me National League promptly
turned down the proposition to enter
communication to the minor league
6a th lea r1ss5den, aeydler stated
NJ
u draft Players.
This reply was somewhat of bomb
s nei.i,,o IL The minors had entertained
friendly toward the proposition Of
granting, them complete independence
PEI re- they felt sure Of it after hear
demands if need be.
na i}ayid Fnstz. presiden, OF the Inter
s;atemen, on bcha ffeH Of th ISSUED @noa
league committee. in which he made it
plain that the minors will not submit
10 tae further drafting of players.
Mny Mean baseball War.
This means another fne little base
naii war II the majors attempt to take
players through the medium OF the
draft this fall, and. to say the least.
the prospect OF some sort OF a hub.
hub is interesting.
Ii is my opinion that for the GOOD
or the game. now that IT Is facing an
other season of prosperity at the turn
sO!es. the majors and minors should
amicably and sail the baseball ship OF
state In true course
The minors should have better
i w9rkinS ~, conditions with the big fell
leagues: not TO mention dozens OF in
dviduaI clubs. have gone broke dur
Continued on Tenth Page)