Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-10-26
B.. B. PLAYERS UNION
GOING AREAD
CBy United Press.9


ago this column announced that the
major league ball players were form
ing a union to secure a more equitable
form of contract with the club owns
ers and TO obtain a representation oil
the national advisory council.
At that time all the high officials
of baseball ridiculed the reports in
public statements, saying that the
players would not be foolish enough
to shoot at the well known goose,
During the fall meeting of the mag
mates in Chicago they looked upon
the reports more seriously, however,
and they discussed the subject at
length.
Shortly after the meeting, reports
began TO spread that Raymond J.
Cannon. the Milwaukee attorney
who defended several members of the
"Black SoX" and who was retained
by some of tn players to form the
organization, was going to use the
union to force the "Black SoX" back
into baseball Other stories were cir
culated that the players were going
to call a general strike next spring
for increased salaries,
Perhaps the club owners had moth
ing to do with the circulation Of these
reports, but it seemed rather coinci-
dental that they all started after the
meeting of the magnates.
Cannon denies that the players have
ever considered general strike or
or an organized effort to boost salar-
les. Many of the leaders in the move
ment are satisfied with the money
thy are drawing at the present time.
but they want contract that viii
guarantee them justice when they
start to slip.
The "ten day" clause in the exist
ing form of contracts between the
players and the club owners hos al
ways been a subject of diSsatiSfac-
ton to the players. In effect it is
no contract at all, because the play
ers have no recourse outside of an
appeal to Commissioner Lands.
Here again the PLAYERS object to
the personnel of the national adviS-
orv commission. which deprives them
of representation or a voice in set
Ting arguments which concern only
the PLAYERS and the club owner.
So far Commissioner Lands has
wisely held aloof from salary areT,-
ments. but he will be forced into the
controversies eventually and the pres
ence of a player on the board would
not make his task any more diff
cult.
Cannon claims that he was retain
ed only to oct the money coming to
several Of the "Black SoX" and that
he never entertained the notion OF
getting their Jobs back.
In spite of the general sentiment
AGAINST them. most of the fair mind
ed fans agreed that Comiskev had
no legal or moral right to withhold
the money that was coming to the
wavward PLAYERS under the contracts
which he had signed.
Names of the PLAYERS Interested IN
the organization of the union ana
the PLAYERS who have signed Tor
memberships have not been made
public and it viii be a surprise when
they arc published. The organiza-
tion viii rot lack dignity when the
membership is made known.
Propaganda coming from rather
unknown sources is being directed
AGAINST Cannon for no inst reason.
He &c a vnnn~ attOrrnv who fou"ht
for his educotior opd is now fighting
TO get ohoad in his rrofession He
accented retsinAr with the BLACK
Sox" because he folt th"v had a lust
case and he should not he condemned
for fighting for his clients.