    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book I)]
    [January 26, 1995]
    [Pages 102-103]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Baseball Strike
    January 26, 1995

        America has been living without baseball for far too long. Now, as
    the strike drags on, it threatens the start of the 1995 season. It could
    well damage the economies of the spring training States. It is
    imperiling the livelihoods of tens of thousands of workers whose jobs
    depend on baseball. And it is trying the patience and depressing the
    spirits of millions of baseball fans--including me. It is time for this
    strike to end.
        It has always been my belief--and it continues to be--that the
    baseball strike, like any labor dispute, should be settled through good-
    faith bargaining between the parties. It was with this principle in mind
    that I endorsed the Secretary of Labor's proposal to appoint the best
    mediator around--former Labor Secretary Bill Usery--to help the parties
    sort out their differences.
        Over the last 2 days, I have spoken with Secretary Reich and with
    former Secretary Usery about the status of the strike negotiations. We
    discussed all of the alternatives. I remain convinced that the best way
    to get baseball back for America is for the parties to reach their own
    settlement. But we cannot wait indefinitely.
        This morning, I asked Bill Usery to bring the owners and the players
    back to the table and to step up the pace and intensity of his mediation
    efforts.
        I have asked him to report back to me by February 6 with the
    progress they have made. If the parties have not reached an agreement by
    then--or are not on track towards a speedy settlement--I have asked Mr.
    Usery, if he believes it appropriate, to put forth his own
    recommendations for a proposed settlement between the parties.
        I hope it doesn't come to that. I urge the owners and the players to
    give their full support to this mediation effort and to settle this
    unfortunate dispute themselves. It is time to put behind us the rancor
    and cynicism that are shadowing the American ideal of baseball. It is
    time to let all the excitement that the 1995 season can offer sweep away
    that tarnished image. It's time to ``play ball.''

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