New-York tribune., 1921-12-01
Minors Tired of
independence
In Many Cases
International and Major
Stars Said To Be in Open
Revolt Against Dunn
By w. J. Macbeth

Winter baseball, moro commonly
known as the "hot stove league" sea-
son, will be ushered in next week at
Buffalo with the annual meeting Of the
National Association OF Professional
Minor League Baseball Clubs. Usually
this meeting was held about month
earlier. But as hereafter the National
and American LEAGUES arc t. ~eot
jointly each December. Il was decided
best to postpone tue minor cAn,~>e .~e
to such time and place as to permit all
the hushers to attend the greater pow
WOW at minimum expense and incor-
venience.
1h.s -sar's meeting Of ths minors
will for many reasons be the most
important ever held. Il will be
nc.hing less than u general "see-to-
r.ther" conclave Of all promoters in
missioner Lands will be one of the
celebrit; ~ attending, and practically
every president of the sixteen major
league clubs will be on hand with his
associates and retinue. Landis 10 the
head of the two major leagues and that
part of organized baseball In the
minors that works In close co-opera-
tion with the big fellows-she m nors,
in short, that subscribe to the time
honored custom of draft
There is movement on foot among
the great majority of the minor league
family TO return to the ,old working
order of universal draft or the privi-
lege of all leagues drafting on others
of lower classification. The New In
ternational League. which was the ring
leader in the reputation of the draft,
as we'll as the American Association,
has . majority that is tired Of pad
ding its own canoe. The New Interna-
tional League split out because it had
designs on eventual major rating.
Dunn Dominated international
Jack Dunn, president Of the peren-
nial Baltimore champions. SO dominated
this Glass "A circuit that he was able
TO thwart the majority of his col
leagues. Dunn has gathered together
an unusually strong minor league coli
lection. He refuses to sell his best
chattels at any price. AS a result his
team so far outciasses its company
that tho New International is forced
to make circuit shifts every season
to dig up new cities and new angels
every year. Three of the eight towns
TOW represented are on the ropes and
Will not continue under existing condi-
tions another season.
Then, too, the International League
players are in open revolt. They have
called on Lands to right their wrongs.
They claim Dunn policies block the
way to their advancement in their pro-
fession. They are barred from an op-
portunity to reap the rich rewards of
the Sisters and the Speakers. Hereto
fore Dunn held out the bait Of the
little worlds series," the annual
series with the winner Of the Ameri-
can Association. But this series last
fall was distinct bloomer. The win
ming guerdon was q paltry few hundred
dollars.
Judge Landis 1. going TO the Buffalo
meeting to use his influence for the
betterment Of the game generally
throughout minor circles. Major league
baseball can stand on its own footing;
But the little fellows have been hit,
and hit hard, as result Of the abroga-
ton of the draft The great majority
of major league club owners will go to
Buffalo to assist Judge Landis in any
possible way in this missionary work.
Tie meeting also will afford them op
portunity to bid for minor league tai
ent still avsilable, as we'll as to nego-
tiase possible purchases or trades
among themselves.
Coast League Opposed to Draft
The Pacific Coast League, which was
the only one of the three Class A. A.
minors to show utter Indifference to
the draft question heretofore, seems
now to be opposed to return to old
conditions. Indeed, the circuit is on
record by vote of seven to one to
vote against the draft, according to the
statement of William Klepfor, presi
dent of the Seattle team, who called at
the Yankee Office yesterday afternoon.
From the talk of Klepfer the major
league idea of rating Is now buzzing
in the bonr.ets Of the Coast magnates
as it buzzed for the New iuternation-
efe 81 few aeaeons back
Klepfer, who owned the Oregon team
until a. few weeks ago, believes some
thing should be done TO safeguard the
interests Of minor league players 80
far as their chances for advancement
are concerned. With the majority he
opposes major league draft privileges
on his circuit, but he believes a means
mag be easily found where the same
purposes Of the draft may be answered
annually by direct sale.
Mr.. Klepfer is very anxious to en-
tice the Yankees to Pasadena, Calif.,
for spring training in 1922. The Cubs
have given up this stronghold. They
will 60 with Charlie Wrigley to Cata-
lima Island. Klepfer has a lease on
and Is anxious either to share the
park with Higgins or to subiet 1T.
Landis Decision This Week?
He is of the opinion that the cham
pions Of the American League would
reap rich harvest by exploiting Babe
Ruth and its other heavy artillery in
new territory. Kiepfer, who called
upon Commissioner lands two days
ago, while on his way East, says the
Judge intimated very strongly that he
would hand down his decision on the
three Yankee recalcitrants before the
end of tho week.
The winter league In California, ac-
cording to Mr.. Klspfer, is not going
so well. The promoters are eaten up
by salaries and overhead. The season
Is to be ten weeks. Ty Cobb is draw
ing down .s1,250 and Sislor, Hornsby
and Harry Heilman $1,000 weekly
each. Other major league stars are
paid above the National and American
League scale. In his opinion. too, the
winter league Is likely to prove a
boomerang to those Pacific Coast
League magnates who sponsor it.
"Those major stars are playing for
blood, all right" said Klepfer "All
are out for the rich money prizes that
have been hung up for individual
worth. They are simply cutting each
other to pieces in the interests of in
dividual glory. Adams, catcher, had
four ribs broken in collision the
other day. Pete Schneider was cut