Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-06-08
Bucs' No-Strike Vote
Real JOLT, but Guild
Will Continue Fight
BY the Assoeioisd Press

PITTSBURGH, June 8. - Tn,
American Baseball Guild lost {
drama packed decision last nigh
when the Pittsburgh Pirates votec
against strike for recognition, but
despite the setback, Robert Murphy
diamond union leader, declared:
This fight barely has begun. Thi
particular ball game isn't over just
because the opposition got q few
hits"
The players decision to play bal
was reached in a two-hour, secret
clubhouse meeting from which
writer's, radjomen-and even Muir.
phy-were barred.
Their announcement-made tt
Pirate field director and farm system
head Bob Rice-was only terse INC
strike" Rice was called into thu
meeting in the closed-off trainers
section of the clubhouse from Man.
ager Frank Frisch's Office.
He said he entered the meeting IA
the players request" and not as &
Representative of the management.
Rice said he just gave my views
and answered a couple of ques.
tons"
Vote Against Strike Close.
He would not disclose what these
questions" were nor specifically
name any players who made the
announcement the strike had been
called off.
They all sort of said It," Rice
smiled.
Murphy conceded the no-strike
vote-reputed to be as close as 20
to II by one would hurt a
lot" but would not end the Guild S
organizational efforts in Pittsburgh
and among other clubs in the Ma
tional and American Leagues"
Murphy was plainly puzzled and
obviously jittery after he was asked
''courteously" to leave the clubhouse
with the writer's and radiomen
when most of the Pirates had gath
cred about As minutes ahead of the
reported time of the meeting.
The implication of the players
vote was-as one veteran expressed
it and as the management believed
that the strike is over for keeps II
One of the older players who felt
no particular needs for the Guild
personally. but declared he would
go along on anything to help the
boys" said as the Pirates streamed
onto the field that Rices short talk
was conciliatory and that he be-
lieved this may have helped the men
decide.
Fight to Go On, Murphy Says.
Only Pitcher Truett (Rip) Sewell
and Infielder Jimmy Brown had
been outspokenly anti-guild during
the three tense days prior to last
nights drama. Others-among the
"95 per cent of the club" Murphy
claimed were guildsmen-expressed
some dismay at the prospects of a
strike. Still others believed a strike
was the only way to get their de-
mands.
THE fight to organize baseball
has hardly begun" Murphy de-
clared. "All baseball players recog-
nize the necessity of having a rep
resentative to deal with the club
owners so that they may have some
say in overturning the one-sided
picture in baseball"
He said he would nov know" his
immediate future movements until
I've talked with some of the players. >
He set out to do that after midnight
last night. Murphy also pointed out
that the National Labor Relations
Board has been asked to order the
club to hold an election to deter
mine collective bargaining agent,
but that he had no idea" when the
NLRB would act on his request.
Club President William E. Ben
swanger expressed qualification at
the players decision, declaring it
was an orderly process in
the best interests of the game and
the public" Later he held a private
meeting with the players-from
which the press again was barred