St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-11-05
ON THIS THEY STAND.
The National Brotherhood OF
Ball Players Promulgate
a Platform.
ALI They Ask Is to Be Judged
Solely by Their
Work.
They Aim to Elevate the Game
and Give Honest EXhi-
billions.
IlI-Treated by the League
Magnates. They VIII Go
1t Alone.

NEW York, Nov. 4.-The council of
the brotherhood of base bail players,
which was held to-day at the Fifth Az
enue hotel, lasted until after o'clock.
The first few hours of the meeting were
taken I'D By routine business, and when
the delegates assembled after short
recess. Messrs. Andrews. ORourke'
Hanlon and Ward were appointed
committee TO draw up statement de-
filming the position Of the brother hood
towards the National league. That 1t
took long time TO perfect the docu-
ment was evident by the fact that dur
Ing the afternoon nothing was done OIt-
side of that business. The statement,
which is the first official word from the
brotherhood on the difficulty with the
league. is as follows:
At last the brotherhood OF Baseball play
ers feels al liberty TO make known It's inten-
lions and defend itself against the asperSioiis
md lnlsrepreseniations which for weeks 1t
has been forced 10 suffer IN silence. IL Is no
longer q secret that the players OF the league
have determined 20 play next season uioer
different management but tor reasons Wnich
viii we think. be understood, u was Oct med
advisable TO make no announcement OF me
intention until The close Of the present Sea-
Gus remnants are over, and the terms OF our
contracts expired, this is 10 longer reason
for holding Il. IN taxing this step we feei tnat
we owe it 10 the public and TO ourselves TO
explain briefly some OF the reasons by Whlch
We have been moved. There was time
when the league stood fer integrity ana falr
dealings. To-day, il
STANDS FOR DOLLARS AND CFSTs-
Once ii looked 30 The elevation OF the game
End al honest exhibition OF me sport 10
Gay It's eyes are upon the turnStle. Men
have come into The business with no otner
motive than to exploit IT for every dollar ~
sight Measures originally intended for the
good Of the game have been perverted luto
Instruments tor wrong. The reserve rule
.,nd the provisions Of the national agree
Isent gave the managers unlimited power
r3i they have not hesjtated 10 use THIS IN tne
I.uSl arbitrary and mereeBsry Way. PIayerS
hsVe been bought and sold and exchanged
es If they were sheep inSt6 so Of American cll
aeus Reservation became with them an
other name for property right IN the players
By a combination among themselves strenfer
than the strongest trust, they were able 70
enforce the most arbitrary measures ana tue
player had either to submit or get
out Of the profession IN which he had
spent years in attaining proficiency. Even
the disbandment and retirement OF ciuo
did not free the players from the octopus
clutch, for they were then peddled around TO
the highest bidder. That the players prohteo
by the sale has nothing 70 do with the case
Bub only proves btlc liJloSt4SC VA hoSSO " 80
but though what has Ieen politely called
''leagIIe diplomacy We completely failed.
Unwilling longer to submit 20 sueh treat
nent, We made strong effort last spring 70
reach an understanding witnthe league. To
our application for hearing. they replied
that the matter was not of sufficient imlnrt-
ance to warrant g meeting and suggested
that it lie put of until fail. Our com
that the league had broken faith
with them, that while the results
might be of little Importance to the man.
ayers, they were OF great importance 10 the
players That if the league would not con-
Cede what was fair We would adopt other
means 10 protect ourselves. That If pot
poned until fall we would be separated ana
at the mercy Of the league, and that as the
only course left Us required time ana labor
TO develop we must, therefore, insist upon
tn immediate conference Then upon this
FINAL REFUSAL To MEET Us,
re began organizing for ourselves, and now
are II shape TO 20 ahead next year under
new management ana new auspices We
believe il is possible to conduct our national
game upon lines which win not infringe
upon individual and natural rights. We ask
to be judged solely by our work, ana believ-
ing that the game can be played more fairly
and its business conducted more lBtelligenLly
when it excludes everything arbitrary and
uD-American, we look forward with con-
fdence 10 the support Of the public and the
future of the national game.
PLAYERS.
The adoption of this statement as the
sentiment of the brotherhood was, Pres
ident Ward said, the sole business of
importance during the entire session.
On Wednesday the first annual meeting
of the Players National league, as the
new organization is called, viii be held
at the Fifth Avenue hotel. There the
final disposition Of clubs and players
will be made. Everything is virtually
arranged, and the only action will be to
give the list official sanction. 1t is def
nitely settled that Brooklyn and Buffalo
will take the places of Indianapolis and
Washington. and it is stated that the
players of these clubs will be distrib-
uted between Brooklyn, Buffalo and
Pittsburg. The fact that John NJ. Ward
will manage the Brooklyn team is also
pretty well assured.