New-York tribune., 1920-12-13
5y BRIGGS

their most powerful clubs, will oppose
draft at any price.
The major leagues and most of the
minor leagues as we'll believe a re-
turn to the draft is only fair to the
playing profession, which now does not
enjoy proper opportunity for advance
ment There are certain clubs, like
Baltimore, Of the new international
League, which have pledged their fans
not to sell players at any price. In
this way the most brilliant talent may
be stopped short of fast company with
absolutely no redress, fact that
lends credence to the charge of base
ball slavery.
Unless the big minor leagues care to
subscribe to the will of the majovity
they may find themselves ostracized by
the rest Of their colleagues. The little
minor leagues declare that unless the
Class AA leagues submit to draft by
major league clubs they will repudiate
the draft privileges these big minor
leagues now enjoy at their expense.
They point out that their chief source
of draft" income always came from
major leagues anyhow, and that by re-
pudiation of draft they would gain
nothing and lose all. 1t is possible,
therefore, that In the end the Class AA
leagues will have to scome to time;
they can scarcely hope successfully to
oppose two such strong branches of the
organization.
Commissioner Lands left for Chi
cago yesterday afternoon on the Twen-
tieth Century Limited after having pre-
! sided over the most successful baseball
conference held IN a generation and
after having apparently brought the
preponderance of major and minor
strength into absolute harmony and in
tegrity Of purpose.
The Commissioner is now launched
| fully upon his new duties and knows
just what is expected of him. AS vet
the seven years contract at s42,5OO per
anAum has not been signed, but he has
been under salary since November 12
and the contract will be Forthcoming at
the big joint meeting in Chicago on
January 12, when the agreements are
universally ratified.
Meanwhile the club owners Of tho
new international League gather for
their annual meeting at the Hotel I'M
peral this afternoon. It promises to
be stormy session, as there are two
pronounced factions and many points
Of variance.
The big fight, Of course, is expected
to center on the question of draft.
Baltimore and several other first d.
vision teams wish to operate as they
have operated the last two years,
though they have really operated at
the expense of tho weaker clubs Of
makers have been charged with vioat-
ing about every possible agreement and
in particular the salary limit As a
result the league has become top
heavy and the second division clubs
reduced to practical penury.
A spirit of great opposition to David
L. Fultz, president of the New Inter
national League, has also cropped out
effort to GUST him from Office TO-DAY
There are several candidates openly in
the field for Mr.. Fultz's job, the most
prominent being Arthur A. Irwin. late
manager of tho Rochester team Of the
New international League.
Plenty of trade talk flew fast anc
thick about the corridors Of the Com.
modore yesterday afternoon, but moth.
ing tangible developed so fur as coulc
be learned.
1t was reported that McGraw hac
offered s150,0oo for the pick of ths
Cincinnati club, an offer that wa.
spurned by Garry Hermann, who be-
ievcd Mac had either Roush or Grof
in mind. AS Babe Ruth commanded
much less than this figure this is :
rumor that may be very much doubted
Outfclder GREASY" Ncalc, of the
Reds. may be sold to the Giants bcfor,
another sundown, according to gossip
1t is also known that George w. Grant
Of the Braves, has put rabbit" Maran
Vile on the market.
Buck Herzog, inticlder Of the Cubs
was one Of tho many visitors VIII,
called at Mr.. Hcrrmann's apartment
t during the afternoon. Herzog cam
I over from Maryland to insist upon
@ clean bill Of health from tho Nationa
\ League: Herzog says he has sevcra
] him. but does not care to move Will
{ under the least cloud Of suspicion.