would be separated, and at the mercy of the League; and that, as the only course left us required time and labor to develop, we must therefore insist upon an immediate conference.
Then, upon their final refusal to meet us we began organizing for ourselves, and are in shape to go 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 more intelligently under a plan which excludes everything arbitrary and un-American, we look forward with confidence to the support of the public and the future of the national game.
The National Brotherhood of Ball Players.
The revolutionary manifesto promulgated by the National Brotherhood of Base Ball Players, under date of November 4th, 1889, was answered by the National League, under date of November 21st, 1889, as follows:
TO THE PUBLIC.
The National League of Base Ball Clubs has no apology to make for its existence, or for its untarnished record of fourteen years.
It stands to-day, as it has stood during that period, sponsor for the honesty and integrity of Base Ball.
It is to this organization that the player of to-day owes the dignity of his profession and the munificent salary he is guaranteed while playing in its ranks.
The good name of this League has been assailed, its motives impugned and its integrity questioned by some of the very men whom it has most benefited.
The League therefore asks the public to inspect its record and compare the following statement of facts with the selfish and malicious accusations of its assailants:
The National League was organized in 1876 as a necessity, to rescue the game from its slough of corruption and disgrace, and take it from the hands of the ball players who had controlled and dominated the "National Association of Professional Base Ball Players."
No effort was made by the old Association to control its members, and the result was that contract-breaking, dissipation and dishonesty had undermined the game to such an extent that it seemed an almost hopeless task to attempt its rescue.
The League, upon its organization, abolished pool-selling and
