The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-18
5000 BEST OFFER
M0GtJLS MAKE FOR
DRAFTED PLAYERS
Landis to Present Propo-
sitioh to Nondraft Mi
nor Organizations.

NEW YORK. Dec. 17.-Bsit was
thrown into the minor league waters
today in the final attempt Of the
major leagues to land the draft.
In the final session OF a busy
week OF baseball. the American and
National leagues instructed Com
missioner Lands to offer the draft
to class "A, for $1,000. and class
A league, for $4,000. with the pro-
vision that rejected player would
be returned for half the price.
The following statement was is
sued by the advisory council:
The question has arisen what to
DO about the draft? II is a princi-
pie OF baseball that the player
must advance in his profession ac-
eording TO his skill. To secure to
him and the game this result. the
draft rule was devised and re-
msined In force until 1918 Since
the baseball reorganization of one
year ago. certain leagues have de-
clined 10 subscribe to the draft.
These leagues are: The American
Association, New International. Pa
clfc Coast. Western and Three I
leagues.
Recognizing the existence and
operation of the draft as a funda-
mental. and believing a deviation
from IL anywhere. or to any extent,
to be a menace to the right OF the
player and the welfare of the game.
the National and American league
clubs have authorized the commits
sioner to present to the leagues
mentioned above the following as
fair basis for settlement OF this
grave question:
One Player Eligible.
Il. One player Of each "A or A
club shall be eligible to selection
or draft after the close of its sea-
son each year. the selecting club
TO pay in cash upon exercising the
right the sum of $1,000 to the "A
club and $4,000 TO the A club.
20. In the event any selected
player is released by a major
league club within one year of his
selection, the clubs of the IA and
A leagues shall first have the
right to secure his services upon
paying TO the releasing club one
half the draft price paid by that
club.
The commissioner has a very
deep conviction that this is in hsr-
rnony with the principle now sub
scribed to by the major and all
other minor leagues, and always to
be borne in mind. that the player $
right and the welfare of the game
require that his services shall be
available to clubs of the very high
est classification"
lands is confident that the new
terms will he accepted by the
minors.
IT'S got to come. That's all there
is to It There is no argument
against IT." Lands said. after the
meeting.
Baseball men. however. did not
agree with the commissioner.
Opinion was more general that the
American Association. the Pacific
Coast League and the international
League would hold out against the
draft to the end.
sexton Refuses to Comment.
NJ. II. Sexton. president of the
minor leagues. would not comment
on the terms. However. it is known
that he has his doubts.
Sexton intimated that the origi-
nal compromise offer of $500 for
2 drafted player would have had a
better chance of getting over than
the approved price.
All through the conference the
delegation of minors refused to talk
definitely. claiming they lacked the
authority TO do business for the lit
tie fellow
The new terms will be presented
by Commissioner Lands to the
minor leagues the first of the year
Several major league managers
predicted that there would be little
drafting even II the new terms are
accepted by the minors as the half
price on return puts teeth into the
rule.
When it costs $4,000 to find out
what a player can do in the big
leagues the club owners won't be so
anxious to find out" one manager
said.
Practically all of the out-of-town
owners and managers had gone be-
fore the last session Of the advisory
council. and those who did remain
grabbed trains Immediately after