Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-12-16
MAJORS ACCEPT
Def ] ] OF MINORS
ON DR. AFT PACT

3
NEW. YORK, Dec. Is Gift the
minor leagues of the country desire to
cut off relations completely with the
major and indulge, as a result, in a
free for all scrap or player scramble,
they are perfectly free to do so, the
American and National league club
owners decided late today in a, pro-
lnged joint meeting.
Responding to the initiative taken
by the minors, who are dissatisfied
with the draft system, the majors hn-
nounced that the major-minor league
agreement may terminate on January
IA, 1923, when the seven-year period
of its operations expires, if the minors
desire its cancel ellatiorl.
Despite this war like gesture, it ap-
pears likely to be a bloodless affair,
for the ma jors, at the same time,
agreed to a truce until February /,
when the minors will signify whether
or not they desire to break off srela-
tionS, negotiate a new agreement or
continue under the present system.
Meanwhile, on a status quo basis, busi-
ness will be- as usual and relations
between the upper and lower Stratas
of the game conducted under. the
terms Of The existing comHact.
The action of the majors was dis
closed after six hour joint session,
preSiQed over by Commissioner Lands
and bringing the three day baseball
parley here to an official close. It
was the climax of a protracted series
Of o1aI
for a final showdown before the
winter is over in the relations be-
tween the two principal baseball
groups.
The text. of the major league reso-
luton adopted is as follows:
Resolved that the major leagues in
reply to the inquiry. of the National
association (of minor leaguesl inform
the National association that the
major leagues are willing to have the
major minor agreement terminate on
January "A, 1928, if the National as
ISOLATION SO desires.
BY this piece of strategy the majors
unexpectedly conceded the point over
which the minors had anticipated
considerable argument, the life of the
major minor agreement. The minor
league committee, composed of John
Fl. Farrell Herman j. WeiSman and
William G. Branham, came to the
meeting with conflicting possibilities
One concerned a clause making the
agreement effective as long as Com
missioner Lands was in office. An
other Interpretation was that it ended
with the conclusion of his first seven
year term.
Waving these technicalities aside,
the majors in effect put responsibility
for break up to the minors, taking
the attitude that if the minors want
a scrap, they can have it,
After it was all over, however,
neither group displayed any particular
desire for open conflict whether or
not the minors are dissatisfied with
the draft system the prediction was
freely made that the two factions
would get together before February
and avoid a split.
Although spending most of their
session on this issue, the major league
club owners found time to adopt 18
amendments of varying Importance
to their own rules and put into effect
regulations designed to stop betting
on the games by players and check
the offering of gifts to players for
putting forth. their best efforts
against a rival club.
These player rules, agreed upon last
January at a meeting of magnates
in French Lick, Ind, are the upShot
of disclosures In the Cobb Speaker
investigation. They provide penalties
as follows:
l. Ineligibility for three years for
accepting or offering any present or
reward to the players or the manage
ment of another team for services
rendered or supposed to be rendered
in defeating competitor.
2. IneligibiIity for one year for
betting on a game in connection with
which the bettor has no duty to
perform.
g.. Permanent ineligibility for bet
ting on a game in which the bet5or
has a duty to perform.
The 'cut" of the adviser council,
or commissioners share in the world
series receipts was reduced from Is
to 10 per cent. This will provide a
bigger "split" for the player, con-
tending clubs and leagues.
The joint meeting also appropriated
SIS 1000 for the fund administered by
the Association of Professional Base
ball Players OF America foo1Tt the relief