Evening journal., 1889-11-05
ONE CENT.
THE BR0THERHO0DCARD.
League Slaves Tell the Public
,... Their Troubles.
SOLD AS IF THEY WERE SHEEP.

They Have Formed League Of Their
own, aud VIII Take in Brooilyn and
Buflalo. Leaving out Washington and
indianapolis.
NEW York, Nov. 5.--The session Of the
council Of the Baseball Brotherhood called
at the Fifth Avenue hotel lasted until z
o'clock last evening. The only important
business transacted was the preparation Of
an address to the public defining the position
of the Brotherhood toward the National
league The men who met composed the
grand council Of the Brotherhood. They
were: James O'Rourke, Of the New YorSs;
Ed Hanlon, Of the Pittshurgs; Lawrence
Twitchell, Of the Cleyelands George E.
Andrews, Of the Indianapolis, A. A. Irwin,
Of the Washingtons; Daniel Brouthers, Of
the Bostons; Fred Pfeiffer, Of the Chicagos,
and Jarles Fogarty, of the Philadolphias
This address is as follows.
The Brotherhood's Address.
'iAt last the Brotherhood Of Baseball
Players feels at liberty TO make known its
intentions, and defend itself against the as
weeks 1t has been forced to suffer in silence.
1t is no 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 an
nonncemont of this intention until the Close
Of the present season: but now that the
struggles for the various pennants are over,
and the terms of our contracts expired,
there is no longer reason for holding it back.
In taking this step we feel that we owe it to
the public and to ourselves to explain
briefly some of the reasons by which we
have been moved There was a time when
the League stood for integrity and fair deal
ing.
Matter of Dollars and Cents.
"Today it 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 turnstle Men
have come into the business for no other
motive than 60 exploit il for every dollar IN
sight Measures originally intended for the
good Of the game have been perverted into
Instruments for wrong. The reserve rule
and the provisions Of the national agreement
gave managers unlimited power and they
have not hesitated to use this in Che most
arbitrary and mereenary way.
Sold Like sheep.
"Ilayers have been bought, sold and ex-
changed as though they were sheep instead
of American citizens Reservation became
with them another name for proprietary
right in the players BY combination
among themselves, stronger than the strong
est trust, they were able to enforce the most
/ Al
either 70 submit or get out Of the profession
in which he had spent years 10 attaining
proficiency. Even the disbandment and
retirement Of a club did not free the players
from the octopus clutch, for they were then
| peddled around 70 the highest bidder. That
the players sometimes prohtcd by the sale
has nothing to do with tho case, but only
| proves the injustice of his previous restraint
Struggles for Freedom.
1.-TWO years ago we met the League and
attempted 20 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 a 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 q meeting and sug-
gested that it be put oif until fall Our COM
mittee replied that the players felt that the
League had broken faith with them; that
while tho results might be Of little impor-
tance to the managers, they were Of great
Importance 20 the players; that, il the
League would not concede what was fair,
we would adopt other means to protect our
selves; that il postponed until fall we would
be separated and at the mercy Of the League
and that, as the only course left US required
/ timo and labor 70 develope, we must there
fore insist upon an immediate conference
They Resolve 10 Go 1t Alone.
'rhen, upon their final refusal 60 meet us.
we began organizing for ourselves and now
are IN shape to go ahead next year under
new management and new auspices
''We believe that il is possible TO condu ct
our national game upon lines which will not
| infringe upon individual and natural rights.
We ask 70 be judged solely by our work and
believing that the game can be played more
fairly and its business conducted more in
telligently under a plan which excludes
everything arbitrary and un-American, we
look forward with confidence to the support
Of the public and the future Of the national
game "NArIoNAL BROTHERHOOD
or BALL PLAYERsn
Ward to Manage Brooklyn.
| Tn wednesday the nrst annual meeting OF
the Players National league win be held, at
which the final disposition Of clubs and
| players viii be decided upon. Everything
is already virtually arranged, and it IS only
necessary that official sanction be given to
the plans tits definitely settled that Brother
hood clubs will beplaced in all of the present
League cities except indianapolis and Wash.
ington, whose places will be taken by Brook
| lyn and Buffalo 1t is also an assured fact
that John NJ. Ward win manage the Brook
lyn team.
The Western Association.
MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 3.--The Western Base
ball associations annual meeting was con-
cluded here. Mike Roche, secretary Of the
st. Paul club, was chosen secretary. Fol-
lowing are the committees appointed; Com
mittee ON schedule, Dave Rowe, Of Denver,