Evening star., 1925-12-12


But before the bushers got through
they made the big leagues come to
them. and now the national agreement
Is a three-party affair with the minors
represented. They do not have the
powers of the major leagues, but they
have quite power enough to run their
games in their own way and get full
protection for the players whom they
develop.
They established a fee for member
ship. How small 1t seems as compared
with now! For each club in class A
1t was $50: class B. $50; class c, $40,
and class d, SO.
Make Draft Price.
They made a draft price. 1t reaches
into the thousands ir these days Then
1t was $500 for class B. 5000 for class
c, 500 for class D. They had not got
as far as mentioning class A. OF
course. class A costs more to run and
there was more to think about, be-
cause base ball men are ever thought
full when their pocketbooks have some
thing in common with the sensation of
touch.
They adopted salary limits at the
same time. For class B 1t was $1,000
per month. That was Sc, 900. or near
ly that, for the season. Imagine run
ming a base ball club in class B for
tha sum these days! It would hardly
buy hot dogs for the boys, who have
become accustomed to some of the
nicer things of life, including jams and
marmalade.
Class A had to have 1000, 900 popu-
lation. Great Scott! How the United
States has grown since then! Glass A
corresponded to class AA now and
two cities in one of the class AA
leagues have more than million popu-
lation alone.
Next, the National Association.
which was coming into existence to
fight for its own, and to try to be
more a part Of the general base ball
organization that 1t had been. elected
Pat Powers of New York its first presi-
dent. Farrell was elected secretary,
and Farrell has been secretary ever
since and has written more letters
about base ball players than any 10
human beings in the world.
A national board Of arbitration was
chosen. Its members were Hickey of
the Western League, Sexton of the
Three Eye League, Meyer Of the West
ern Association, Lucas Of the Pacific
Northwest League and Murnane Of the
New England League.
Adjournment followed, and the men
the bushes be recognized for the first
time in base ball history went home
and waited for the storm.
II don't know how we are coming
out" said Pat Powers, when he got
back to New York. but we've, done it.
they've (meaning the big-1leagues)
kicked US around from pillar to post
We haven't had any chance to have
any say In anything. We are told that
we control our players and then we
are told that the money we paid to
control them Is no good because the
big leagues have decided there shall
be no control. We've never had a fair
shake. I don't know that we will get
one now, but we are independent. Do
you mind hearing that? Independent
Maybe 1t doesn't mean much, but 1t
sounds good after the hardships
through which bush leagues have gone
season after season. More than
that, the organization Of this associa.
ton is going to compel a little respect
for our association among our own
members. and that will help to make
base ball a much better game than 1t
is"
Behold the truth that he uttered
Within five years after that organiza.
ton was effected a man dared own a
minor league club and think he repre.
sented something, and could command
a little respect himself.