Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-05
OUT OF THE LEAGUE
Brotherhood Players Declare
independence.
BASE BALL BOSSES BOLDLY DEFIED

ohOb ~ MN DOo0A@o 41O1bol I'LL ALL
The Managing Msgnstes Arraigned ms
DespotIc and M.rcensry and their
Combine n Raging Octopus-startiing
Pact Made Public That the League
Barons are In the Business for Money
The Reserve Rule Roasted.
NEW YoEK, Nov. 5.-The base ball bomb
has exploded. and the smoke having cleared
away shows a new organization in the field
ready to scoop in the nimble half dollar.
which the enthusiastic base ball crank Is
ever ready TO sacrifice on the altar OF the
national game The town is alive with the
fraternity and the managers and would-bc
managers thereof, and brick couldn't be
thrown in the neighborhood OF the Fifth Az
snue hotel without hitting one OF them
The cause of the gathering was the first
otilcis meeting of the men who form the
Brotherhood OF base ballists, which meeting
was expected to formally announce the
Strike" against the League magnates; and
IL did the work in great shape, leaving the
League the bag to hold but mighty few ex.
pert ball manipulstors therein.
Star Players ON Hand.
Among the crack players present were
o'Rourko, Hanlon, Irwin, D. Brouthers, the
great Pfetfer, and the greatest Kelly, every
League club being represented. They con-
stituted when met 10 solemn conclave the
council OF the Brotherhood, and were the
observed o! all observers. The small boy
who now thinks that TO DO a mighty pitcher
is bstter than 10 be president of the United
States Toasted his eyes on the manly
forms OF the fraternity of willow
wielders-when he got chance-and
Gotham felt that the eyes of the nation
were upon her on this eventful day. A sec
ond declaration OF Independence was to be
prepared and hurled defantly in the teeth
OF those tyrant oppressors, the League
monopolists The meeting of the council
was called to order at noon, and continued
in session until p. m. the business trans
acted bsing the preparation of an address to
the public.
Declaration of Independence.
The document defines the position Of the
brotherhood toward the National League
ami is as follows
AT last the Brotherhood of baseball plav-
ers feels at liberty to make known its inten-
tons and defend itself against the asper-
SONS of misrepresentation which for weeks
it bias been forced to suffer in silence 1t is
NJ longer a secret that the players OF the
League have determined to play next season
under different management; but for reasons
which will we think be understood, it was
deemed advisable TO make no announce
msnt of this intention until the close OF the
present season; but now that the struggles
Tor the various pennants are over, and the
terms OF our contracts expired there is no
longer reason for holding it back
The League Arrsigned.
10 .l~t -
% the public and TO ourselves 20 explain
/ briefly some OF the reasons by which we have
been moved There was a time when the
League stood for integrity and fair dealing
| To-day 10 stands for dollars and cents. Once
| It looked to the elevation Of the game and an
honest exhibition of the sport To-day its
| eyes are upon the turnstile Men have come
into the business for no other motive than to
exploit IL for every dollar in sight Measures
originally intended for the good Of the game
have been perverted into instruments for
wrong.
That Odious Reserve Rule.
the reserve rule and the provisions of the
national agreement gave the managers I'M
limited power. aud they have not hes tated
o. use this IN the most arbitrary and msrce-
nary way Players have been bought. sold
aud exchanged as though they were sheep
instead OF Am 'rican citizens Reservation
became for them another name for property
right IN the player; by a combina tiOn among
themselves, stronger than the strongest
II ust, they we're aDle to enforce the most
arbitrary measures, and the player had
either to submit or get out OF the profession
In which be had spent years in attaining
proficiency. Even the disbandment and re-
tirement OF a club did not free the PLAYERS
from the octopus clutch, for they were then
pedded around % the highest bidder That
the players sometin-s profiJed by the sale
has nothing to do with the case but only
proves the injustice OF his previous re-
strainL
unavaiIing Negotiations.
Two years ago We met the League and
attempted to remedy some Of these evils,
but through what has been politely called
League diplomacy we completely failed
Unwilling to longer submit TO such treat
ment, we made strong effort last spring to
reach an understanding with the League.
To our application for a hearing they re-
piled that the matter was not OF sufficient
Importance to warrant meeting, aud sug-
gested that 1t be put of until fall Our
committee replied that the players felt that
the League had broken faith with them:
that while the results might be OF little i'm
portancs to the managers, they we're of
great Importance TO the players; that, il the
League would not conceds what was fair
We would adopt other means to protect our
selves; that If postponed until fall we would
be separated and at tue mercy of the
League; and that, as the only course left US
required time and labor TO develop we
must therefore insist upon an immediate
conferences,
Revolt the Only Remedy.
aThan ,tpot, THAR final ,.,.., -
We began organizing for ourselves, and now
are In shape to go ahead next year under new
management and new auspices. We believe
that " II possible to conduct our national
game upon lines which viii not infringe upon
individual and natural rights We ask to he
jud led solely by our work, and, believing
that the game can I've played more fairly. and
is business conducted more intelligently I'M
der plan which excludes everything arbi-
trary and I'M American, we look forward
with confidence to the support of the public
ard the future Of the national game
"IHE NATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF BALL
PLAYERS
The Meeting Tomorrow.
Tomorrow the first annual meeting OF the
players OF the National League will be held,
at which the final dispositions of clubs and
players will ba decided upon. Everything
is already virtually arranged, and IL is only
necessary that official sanction DO given to
the plans II is definitely settled that
Brotherhood clubs will be placed in all Of
the present League cities except Indian
spoliS and Washington, whose places will be
taken by Brooklyn and Buffalo II IL also
an assured fact that Johnny Ward will
manage the Brooklyn team
base hall Litigation.
SYRACUSE. n. Y, Nov. ST. matters do
NOS tske different turn the prospect is that
the legal fraternity will in few years adj
minister on the estates OF the base ball az
gTsgatoDs Litigation between the League
and association on ole s,is and ths Brother
hood On the other seems imminent and now
tie Iuteru ational uracticallu sarvaa notica