Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-11-22

Worry Manifesto.
PHILADELPHIA, November 81. - The
committee of the National Baseball
League has issued lengthy address to
the public, defining the position of that
organic alton in the present baseball con-
troversy. The address glorifss the work
Of the National League for the past four
teen years, setting forth at length how it
has rescued the national game from the
slough of corruption and disgrace into
which it had fallen in professional play
ing prior to 1876. 1t tells of all the re-
forms the league has accomplished, and
how it has brought baseball to @ high
standard; how the salaries Of the players
have more than trebled, and how
higher degree of skill has been attained.
Speaking Of the causes of complaint,
it says the reserve rule" was adopted
for the benefit OF the weaker clubs, as q
check upon competition, and that the
weaker clubs might have the nucleus of
team for the next Aeason. The system
proving beneficial, the reserve list was
increased. Incident to reservation, arose
releases for pecuniary considerations.
but, the address says, except in cases
of disbanding or retiring, clubs right
or clubs claim had never been trans
ferred without the players cooperation
and consent. In the exceptional case Of
the disarmament or retirement of q
league club, of which complaint was
made by the brotherhood lin 1887, a
committee of players, after conference,
were obliged to admit that such involun-
tary transfer was absolutely essential to
the welfare of the league.
The address calls attention to the fact
that the new Players League has given
the extraordinary power" of transfer
ing players, with or without their con.
sent, or the club disarmament, to CEN
trail tribune of sixteen directors, and Gays
in view of these facts, the use of tho
tenn, Slavery" "eold like sheep" etc.,
becomes absurd. At the annual meet
ing of the league, in November, 1887, the
brotherhood received recognition on the
statement of its representatives that it
was organized for benevolent purposes,
and disavowing any intention to inter-
fere with the business affairs of the
league. This contract has never been
violated by the league in letter or spirit.
Regarding the alleged enormous
profits" of the league clubs the address
says that during the past five and only
prosperous years the lesgue has known,
there has been paid in each dividends to
stockholders in the eight league club,
less than $4,000, while during the
same time the league players have re-.
ceived in salaries ever 81 100000.
The address says that the brotherhood
when they made demand FOR confer.
ence this summe--, said there was no ur.
gency Ior enc consideration of their
nd khak hn lAars
could not. without a sacrifice OF
pacuniary and other interests, con.
vene Us clubs in midsummer. They
desired refusal. and started the organ
ization of rival association while receiv.
ing liberal salaries from their employers
They secured the signatures of numbers
Of their brother players under the false
promise that they would only secede in
the event of the league refusing them
Justice, and for some time after the pub
lication of their conspiracy" Of Sep
tember 7th, they and their abettori
denied that there was any foundation
for the story, and repeatedly pledged
their word that the League should have &
Oh ance.
The address concludes from all thit
that IAN edi6ce bnilt on falsehocds hat
UO uoIdi lOuuOhblou, 6ll0 III ubt peIlHll "
it's own weight" The league will aid itl
clubs in enforcing contract rights, ant
will continue to do business as hereto
fore.
PFEFFER DENIES THE LEAGUE ALLEGATIONS
CHICAGO, November 21.-Fred Pieffer
when shown the address OF the Nationa
League tonight, denied that there is any
thing In the brotherhood contract, as al
legged by the league managers, compelling
the transfer Of players from one club tt
another.
Pfeffer has secured the signatures o
Duffy, Ryan, Farrell, Darling, Tener
Baldwin, King, Dryer, Bastian, Latham
and Williamson to play in the Chioag'
/ brotherhood team next year.