New-York tribune., 1921-01-06
Prepared to Go to Any
Extreme to Have Issue
Settled by Referendum
By w. ]. Macbeth

The majority of the minor leagues,
which favor a restoration Of draft all
down the line Of organized baseball and
q working agreement similar to that
which was abrogated at the instigation
of the Glass AA circuits, are prepared
to go to any extreme to have the issue
settled on majority vote proposition.
This was learned from q man who
has been prominent in major and minor
league baseball for the last thirty
years, and one who will manage a
minor league club in the Ea st the COM
ing season. For obvious reasons the
informant did not wish his identity dis
closed.
"The majority of the minor leagues" ,"
he said. "indeed, practically all of those
from Class A, do not favor return to
majors on the minors and by minors
upon minors Of lower grade, with per-
haps q just revision in draft prices in
keeping with the increased cost OF cp-
GRAFTON over ten or fifteen years ago.
Certain it is the small minors will
never submit to be drafted upon by
Glass AA leagues that will not IN turn
submit to major league draft.
Soon Disseminated
when the old agreement was abro~
gated to satisfy the wnims of couple
of Glass AA circuits the little fellows
were all led to believe they would suf-
fer no hardships. The Glass AA's
practically promised to take the place
of the major leagues in the draft mar
ket Flattering draft prices were
named as scale from Glass A. A. to
Class D ball. But the small minors
were soon disenchanted.
The Class AA leagues drafted prac-
tically nobody think only one or two
the first season. They were content to
recruit entirely from the discards sent
back from major company. In order
for them to hold these dscards per-
manently rules were passed by the big
minors that they could not accept
major turnbacks on agreements for
optional recall though they insisted
upon optional recall from leagues Of
lower classification.
you can figure the result for your
self. Since the national agreement was
abrogated the Class AA leagues have
and majors in the matter of player
advancement. Not only this, but the
market for obscure talent has been
closed, practically, and upon the sale
of players the small minors naturally
depend as a source Of revenue. The
Class AA leagues have been prompted
by innate selfshness in their present
attitude The small minors know il
better than any one else and will nc
longer permit any standing in the way
of their own rights.
at is this attitude Of the Class IA
leagues which has put minor league
operation in such precarious condi-
ton. With the draft gone and the way
barred to advancement there is small
wonder that trade leagues have been
able to attract SO many good minor
league players. There are almost as
many ineligibles Chose who have
jumped to the steel and trade leagues
as there are men on minor reserve
lists"
Majors Must Be Firm
Just what steps the small minors
who are in the majority, will take tc
bring their big brethren into line re-
mains for next weeks important con-
ferences in Chicago. hint, however
was dropped by we'll known baseball
man of this city yesterday.
"The major leagues" said he "should
assert themselves in this crisis. The
majors are in sympathy with the small
leagues which is the planting grounds
of the big league harvests, such as
they are. The major leagues never got
anything off the Glass A. A. leagues
without paying q fancy price.
Il understand that the National and
minor leagues a renewal of an agree
ment to come in under the Landis rule
The Glass A A leagues dissenting will
be permitted to paddle their own
canoes. If they decide to act indc-
pendently the rest of organized base