Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-12-06
THE NATIONAL LEAGUE
CONTINUATION OF THE BAsE.na11
WAR IN THE PRESS.

League Managers Issue an Address In
INC Public in Which They Give Their
Story of the Differences with the Broth.
erhood of Players.
fhlladelphia (Pa.) DISPATCH: The com.
m.I.ee winch was appointed at the recent
a annal meeting OF the National league of
provisional ball clubs to prepare an ad.
u unes 70 the public defining the position of
.na. organization in the present baseball
controversy, has completed its labors. The
c COL consisted of A. G. Spalding of
Cnlcago, John B. Day Of New York. and
ooIn 7. rogers of Philadelphia. After
lecl!ng the fact that the league was or.
gained In 1915 for the purpose Of rescu-
ing The game from the slo gh of corrup-
ton into which it had fallen under the
Natlonal association, and that it abolished
Pool selling, betting, and drinking on the
grounds and expelled two strong clubs for
violating schedule engagements. the ad.
dress continues:
The. struggle for existence for the next
tnree OF four years was desperate. and at
each annual meeting there occurred
vacancies difficult to fiji because Of the nj.
most certain financial disasters threatening
cluos il the smaller cities. Finally. as a
check upon competition, the weaker clnhs
IN the league demanded the privilege of
reserving five players who would form the
NUCLEUS of team for the ensuing season.
This was the origin of the reserve rule. {,
and from its adoption may be dated the
development of Letter financial results.
The system of reserve having proved bene
flclal 10th to clubs and players the reserve
list WIS increased to eleven and then to
FOURTEEN. or an entire team
Ihe|address insists that except in cases
OF dlsHanding or retiring clubs the right of
release has never been transferred without
the payers cooperation and consent.
usually at his request and for his own
pecunfry emolument. 1t says the fifteenth
section was written in the contracts by the
broth9hood committee and is essential to
any lefgue, and is recognized by the new
League which the seeding players have
Temporarily organized. The address
claims the alleged profits of the baseball
buslnets have been largely exaggerated and
that 9l that has been made has been in
vestsdin grounds and improvements.
TheEaddress continues: s'The refusal Of
the blftherhood committee to meet the
leagu9ln conference at the close of the
season proves incontestably that the i'm
peratite demand for q conference in
midsummer to redress grievances that
have ntver yet materialized was mere
pretext for secession. Under false prom
ises to their brother players that they
would ! only secede in the event of
the lague refusing them Justice
they Acured the signatures Of the
latter p secret pledge or oath to
desert tA'ir clubs at the bidding of their
dissatisfied leaders Upon the publication
of theirlplot Sept. Z, 1889. they and their
abettorsl denied day after day that there
was APPROXIMATION for the story, and re-
peatedlY plighted their words that the
league hould have chance to redress
their alleged grievances before they would
order strike How false their promises
and nlflges, how evasive, contradictory,
and me1iacious have been their every act
and deed from first to last. we leave to the
readers |of the daily and weekly press for
verifcaton."
In reply to the above the Players'
brotherhood have published an answer de-
nyirg the truth of the Leagues state
mems, and accusing that body of w'lfully
misnpresenting the causes of difference
between the men and the League man
aFers.