New-York tribune., 1919-01-07
No Free Agents.,
Is the Ruline
S
AS to Players
Governing Body of Game
Defines Their Status
Defer Draft Question

CINCINNATI, Jan. 6.-Requests for
changes in the draft provision of the
national agreement, as we'll as that
concerning optional agreements on
baseball players, made by committee
from the National Association of Base
ball Clubs, were the chief business be-
fore the National Baseball Commits
sion here to-day.
Following the presentation of the re-
quests by A. L. Tearney, president Of
the Three | League and chairman
of the committee, the commission
promised to see that the matter was
presented before the Joint meeting of
the National and American leagues at
New York on January Is, but refused
TO state whether they would be in
dorsed or disapproved.
The National Commission did not
hold any election to-day. Chairman
August Hermann in his annual ad-
dress recommended that reorganiza-
ton be deferred until after the joint
meeting of the Two leagues or unit.
one of several ideas relative to q re-
organization Of the commission or
substitution Of one man commission
could be definitely determined.
Before the commission adjourned
sine die, the following notice was IS
sued:
Status Of PLAYERS
"The commission has received in
quiries as to their status from several
national agrecmc. l4l players, who
before the comlll, q the full tern.
of their 1918 con,1av.s were given
their releases and Now contend that
they are free agents.
This action by the various national
agreement clubs was taken with the
sanction of the national commission
because Of the strict enforcement by
tho Federal government of its work or
ilght order.
"All national agreement players are
notified that the priority of their re-
spective 1918 clubs to retain them for
this season, as reserved by the various
clubs, will be respected in order that
the organization of major and minor
leagues and the equipment of their re-
spective clubs may be retained and the
resumption of the game can be effected
without impairment of the interests OF
clubs or players"
The committee from the National
Association was the only body that
presented anything to the commission
to-day and the remainder of the ses-
sion was taken up IN considering the
years budget and other minor matters.
The schedule committee Of the Ma
tional and American leagues, consist
ing of President John Heydler, of the
Nationals; President B. B. Johnson, of
the American, and Barney Dreyfuss,
of the Pittsburgh club, will hold a
meeting tomorrow morning and take
forced to leave off at French Lick
Springs, Ind, owing to the absence of
Mr. Dreyfuss.
Chairman August Hermann, in his
annual report, said:
81 do not deem it advisable to dis
cuss suggested changes in the compost
tion or prerogatives of the commits
sion, or amendments to the national
agreement in advance Of the confer
ence soon to be held between the major
leagues and National Association rep
resentatiVes.
"Inasmuch as there is divergence
of views between the two parties of the
first part to the national agreement,
as to the continuation Of the commits
sion as constituted, and the qualifca-
tions of it's chairman, or the substitu-
ton therefor of one-man tribunal, |
strongly recommend that the election
of officers be deferred until an agree
ment has been reached on these points,
which in my judgment will be arrived
at at the conference between these
leagues on January 49,"