Morning journal and courier., 1889-11-05
BASE BALL.

BASE BALL.
The brotherhood Will Go II Inds-
pendent Of the National League Next
Season-Everyshing. Definitely Set
tied.
NEW YORK, Nov. 4.-The session of the
council of the Base Ball Brotherhood lasted
until 7 o'clock this evening. The only Inn
portant business transacted was the prepare
ton of an address to she public defining tho
position OF the order toward the National
league. 1t says:
There was a time when the league stood
for integrity and fair dealing. To-day it
stands for dollars and cents. Once 1t looked
to the elevation of the game and an honest
exhibition of the sport. To day its eyes are
the business for no other motive than to ex-
plot it 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 provis-
ions of the national agreement gave
the managers unlimited power, and
they have not heeitated to use this
way. Players have been bought, sold
and exchanged as though they were sheep in
stead of American citizens. Reservation be-
came with them another name for property
right in the player. By combination among
themselves, stronger than the strongest trust,
they were able to enforce most arbitrary
measures, and the player had either to sub
nit or get out of the profession in which he
had spent years in attaining proficiency.
Even the disbandment and retirement of a
club did not free the players from the octo-
pus clutch, for they were then peddled around
to the highest bidder. That the player some
times profited by the sale has nothing to do
with the case, but only proves the injustice
of his previous restraint.
Two years ago we met the league and at
tempted to remedy some of these evils, but
macy" we completely failed. Unwilling to
longer submit to such treatment, we made
strong effort last spring to reach an under
standing with the league. To our application
for hearing they replied that the matter was
not of sufficient Importance to warrant a
meeting and suggested that it be put off I'M
til fall.
Our committee replied that the players
felt that the league had broken faith with
them; that while the results might be of little
Importance to the managers, they were of
great importance to the players; that if the
league would not soncede what was fair We
would adopt other means to protect our
selves; that if postponed until fall We would
be separated and at the mercy of the league,
L anu bQAJ hS 6uo OILY C0UT5o lckb ACNulIcu
time and labor to develop we must, there.
fore, insist upon an Immediate conference.
Then upon their final refusal to meet us
we began organizing for ourselves, and now
are in shape to 60 ahead next year under new
management and new auspices. We believe
that it is possible to conduct our national
game upon lines which will not infringe upon
individual and natural rights. We ask to be
judged solely by our work, and believing
that the game can be played more fairly, and
| its business conducted moro intelligently
under plan which excludes everything ar
bitrary and un"American, we look for
ward with confidence to the support of the
public and tho future of the national game.
(Signed)
THE NATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF BASE BALL
PLAYERS.
On Wednesday the first annual meeting of
the Players National League, as the new Or
ganization is called, will be held at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel. There the final disposition
| of clubs and players will be made. Every
thing is virtually arranged and the only &C.
ton will be to give the list official sanction.
1t is definitely settled thas Brooklyn and
Buffalo will take the place of indianapolis
and Washington, and it is stated that the
players of these clubs will be distributed be-
tween Brooklyn, Buffalo and Pittsburg. The
fact that John NJ. Ward will manage the
| BROOKLYN team is also pretty we'll assured.