The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-11-27
THE NATIONAL LEAGUE
CONTINUATION OF THE BASEBALL
WAR In THE PRESS.

League Managers Issue an Address tn
the Public i'm Which They Give Their
story of the Differences with the Broth
erhood of Players.
Philadelphia PA dispatch: The COM
mittee which was appointed at the recent
annual meeting of the National league OF
professional ball clubs To prepare an ad
dress 20 the publ, defining the position OF
that organization in the present baseball
controversy, has completed its labors. Tho
committee consisted of a. G.. Spalding OF
Chicago, John B. Day Of New York, and
John / i. Rogers OF Philadelphia. After
recting the fact that the league was or
ganized in 1876 for the purpose OF rescu-
ing the game from the slo gh OF corrup-
tion into which it had fallen under the
National association. and that IL abolished
pool selling, betting, and drinking on the
grounds and expelled two strong clubs for
violating schedule engagements, the adj
dress continues:
1.-THE struggle for existence for the ne Y :
three or four years was desperate, ana at
each annual meeting there occurred
vacancies difficult TO fiji because of the al
most certain financial disasters threatening
clubs in the smaller cities. Finally, as a
check upon competition, the weaker clubs
in the league demanded the privilege Of
reserving five players who would form the
nucleus of a team for the ensuing season.
This was the origin of the reserve rule,
and from its adoption may be dated the
development of etter financial results.
The system of reserve having proved bene
fetal both to clubs and players the reserve
list was increased TO eleven and then to
fourteen. or an entire team.
The address insists that except i'm cases
OF disbanding or retiring clubs the right Of
release has never been transferred without
the players cooperation and consent,
usually at his request and for his own
pecuniary emolument. ItSays the fifteenth
section was written in the contracts by the
brotherhood committee and is essential TO
any league, and is recognized by the new
league which the seeding players have
temporarily organized. The address
claims the alleged profits of the baseball
business have been largely exaggerated and
that all that has been made has been in
vested in grounds aud improvements.
The address continues: "The refusal Of
the brotherhood committee TO meet the
league in conference at the close of the
season proves incontestaby that the i'm
perative demand for conference in
midsummer TO redress grievances that
have never yet materialiZed was a mere
pretext for secession. Under false prom
ses TO their brother players that they
would only secede in the event of
the league refusing them justice
they secured the signatures or the
latter to a secret pledge or oath to
desert their clubs at the bidding of their
dissatisfied leaders Upon the publication
of their plot Sept. Z, 1889. they and their
abettors denied day after day that there
was any foundation for the story, and re
peatedly plighted their words that the
league should have chance TO redress
their alleged grievances before they would
order strike. How false their promises
and pledges, how evasive, contradictory
and mendacious have been their every act
and deed from first to last. we leave to the
readers of the daily and weekly press for
verification. P"
In reply TO the above the Players
Brotherhood have published an answer de-
nying the truth of the Leagues state
ments, and accusing that body of wlfully
disappearing the causes of difference
between the men and the League man
ayers.