PHILADELPHIA, JANUARY-3, 1914 HEARING OF PLAYERS The National Commission and National Board Now in Position to Thresh Out the Points Raised By the Base Ball Fraternity, as the Latter Will be Represented by Players as Well as Leader CINCINNATI, O., December 31. Then other clubs claim him, the waiver When the National Base Ball Commis request is withdrawn and he is kept on sion convenes in this city on January 5 the bench when some other club would be next, that body will be visited by a com glad to play him regularly. The National mittee from the Base Ball Players© Fra League tried a rule three years ago ternity. The information comes direct FORBIDDING THE WITHDRAWAL OF WAIVERS from Fultz, president of the Fraternity, but it lasted only one season, because to August Herrmann, chairman of the magnates did not like it. It is the fairea Commission, who did not say whether he rule for the player, however. The maj will he here or not in person, but agreed object of the waiver rule is to keep pi?) ers in the big show as long as they that a committee from the Fraternity stick there, and any rule which tenc should be on hand. Doubtless Fultz will attain this object is strictly for the be here himself and the members of the fit of the athlete. There are not National Commission hope that he will cases where players are railroaded to tJ be, but they were anxious to have a minors. Athletes who are sent back likj number of ball players present also in to claim that several clubs wanted them,1 order that the athletes themselves may but this is not usually the case. They are hear the replies which are to be given to simply through and don©t like to Admit it. their requests for changes in the agree But a rule to forbid the withdrawal of ment. Several of the requests will be waivers would tend to do away with sus granted without a murmur, as they are picious cases of this kind and would harm eminently reasonable and fair for all con no honest club owner, while it might help cerned. But a number of them are so a player here and there. absurd that the Commission wishes the players to be on hand to hear the reasons The Way Smoothed at Last why they are not granted, in order that they may not be persuaded that they are NEW YORK, December 31. Presi being discriminated against. A canvas of dent Fultz, of the Base Ball Players© Fra all the major league clubs, 16 of them, ternity, has removed the chief obstacle to a harmonious meeting with the National has developed the fact that more than Commission, and has incidentally ma half the players under reserve have ver terially smoothed the way for full and bally agreed upon terms with their old free, and possibly amicable, discussion of employers for next year, but will not sign the players© demands by appointing a com until after the Fraternity©s case has been mittee to appear before the National Com decided. It is confidently believed by the mission a point upon which the supreme club owners that even if the Fraternity©s body has been insistent. In making this demands are, in part, denied, there will announcement President Fultz laid par be a stampede among the players to sign ticular stress upon the fact that the play contracts, and to obtain slices of advance ers do not protest against the protective money. It has been settled that David Reserve Rule or against the much-dis L. Fultz, president of the Fraternity, will cussed option clause in the organized ball appear before Messrs. Herrmann, Toner contract. Mr. Fultz says, over his signa and Johnson to present the players© re ture : "The Base Ball Players© Fraternity quests. has received an "invitation to send a com mittee to Cincinnati on January 6 to ap Herrmann for Open Session pear before the National Commission and CINCINNATI, O., December 31. The a committee representing the National question has been raised whether that JOSEPH J. LANNIN Board of Arbitration for a conference part of the National Commission session REGARDING THE PLAYERS© PETITION. devoted to consideration of the players© The New President of the Boston Club of the demands will be executive or open. Chair The Fraternity will probably be .repre man Herrmann will strongly advocate an American League. sented by John P. Henry, Jacob E. Dau- open meeting for the purpose of discussing Mr. Joseph -T. Lannin, tihe wealthy hotel proprietor of Boston and New York, who has bert, Ray W. Collins, John B. Miller, the players© demands, so that all players, purchased a, half interest in the Boston American League Club, is essentially a self-mada Edward M. Reulbach and myself. It has fans and scribes may hear the arguments man. He was born in Quebec, Canada,©in 1863, went to Boston when he was 15 years old been erroneously reported that the Fra and worked his way up the ladder of fortune until today he is the owner of exceedingly ternity will make a fight against the re and understand that every request on the flourishing hotels in Boston and New York. That tells Wie story of his ability and executive list is being fairly handled. Mr. Herr capacity, as it is an adage that a man who can succeed in the complicated hotel business serve clause. There is nothing in our mann will urge Presidents Tener and can succeed in anything. A detailed and very interesting story of his career appeared In petition which in any way affects this Johnson to agree to an open session, and Mr. A. H. C. Mitt-hell©s Boston letter in our issue of December 6, 1313. clause, with the exception of the eleventh thinks that they will do so, as there is and twelfth requests, which ask that the nothing to conceal in the matter. One of veteran player, when no longer wanted in the players© requests in which they seem the classification in which he has labored for years, be released outright. As these to have a good deal of right on their side which he belongs, as is now the case with THEY SHOULD BE BINDING is that pertaining to waivers. The pur- requests are not aimed at the principle several classes of athletes. In this con in case any other club claims him. There of reservation, and only slightly affect the poS^of the waiver rule is to prevent any tention they are absolutely right, as a major league club from sending a good is a lot of merit in this contention also, operation of this clause, they cannot with man back to the minors when some other man who is not wanted: in the National though there are arguments on both sides. justice be characterized as antagonistic to major league club wants his services and League may be able to find a berth in the The players truthfully assert that many a it. We have no objection to the reserve is willing to assume his salary. The play American League, and vice versa. He club, anxious to send a player back to rule. We realize that whatever evil may ers contend, and with some show of jus should have a chance to stick in the big the minors in order to make a deal with be embodied in the clause is absolutely some minor league club, tries to secure essential tice, that this rule is not always fairly show as long as any one of the 16 major waivers as a favor, though one or more administered. league clubs want him. Another con clubs would be glad to claim the player TO THE GOOD OF THE GAME WAIVERS OFTEN WITHDRAWN. tention is that the present system of and keep him in the big show. Clubs ask We believe, however, that a player who They assert that every player on whom withdrawing waivers should not be allow for waivers time after time on the same has served 10 years with a club should be ;waivers are asked should go through both ed, but that when waivers are once asked man, whom they do not want themselves given his unconditional release if his serv- fcig leagues, instead of only the league to on a player but are anxious to send to the minors. Continued on the fifth page. SPORTING LIFE JANUARY 3, 1914 GIVING FOB READY REFEBBNOB ALL LEAGUES, CLUBS, AND MANAGERS, UNDER THE NATIONAL AGREEMENT, WITH CLASSIFICATION THE NATIONAL BASE BALL COMMISSION SOUTHERN LEAGUE. THE TEXAS LEAGUE. TRI-STATE LEAGUE. (CLASS A.) (CLASS B.) (CLASS B.) CHEATED BY THE NATIONAL AGREEMENT FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF Presidentr-W. M. KAVANATJGH, President WILLIAM R, DAVIDSON, President CHARLES F. CARPENTER. PROFESSIONAL BASE BALL. Members: August Hermann, of Cincinnati; Ban Vk Little Rock, Ark. Waco, Tex. Altoona, Pa. Johnson, of Chicago; Thomas J. Lynch, of New York. Umpires D. Pfenninger, T. Breiten- Secretary JOSEPH M. CUMMINGS, CLUB MEMBERS ALLENTOWN, Pa.. stein, M. J. Stockdale, Pat Wright, F. Chairman AUGUST HERRMANN, WIT Main St., Dallas, Tex. W. P. Coughlin, Manager. TRENTON, THE NATIONAL AGREEMENT Kudderham, J. Kerln, W. Hart, J. P. Umpires Wilson Mathews, D. Mullan- N. J., Bert Conn, Manager. ATLANTIC Wlgglns Block, Cincinnati, O. In pamphlet form at 25 cents; likewise Feifield. ey, W. McKee, Harry Howell. CITY, N. J.. John Castle, Manager. Secretary JOHN E. BHUCE, Masonlo the Ninth Annual Report of the National The Finish In 1913 Season: The Finish In 1913 Seasoai YORK, Pa., George W.