ated to use this in the most arbitrary and mercenary way.

"Players have been bought, sold and exchanged, as though they were
sheep, instead of American citizens. Reservation became with them
another name for property-rights in the player. By a combination among
themselves, stronger than the strongest trusts, they were able to
enforce the most arbitrary measures, and the 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 a club did not free
the players from the octopus clutch, for they were then peddled around
to the highest bidder.

"That the players sometimes profited by the sale has nothing to do with
the case, but only proves the injustice of the previous restraint. Two
years ago we met the League and attempted to remedy some of these evils,
but through what had been called League 'diplomacy' we completely
failed. Unwilling longer to submit to such treatment, we made a strong
effort last spring to reach an understanding with the League. To our
application for a hearing they replied 'that the matter was not of
sufficient importance to warrant a meeting,' and suggested that it be
put off until 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 concede what was fair we would
adopt other measures to protect ourselves; that if postponed until fall
we 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
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. (Signed)
THE NATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF BALL PLAYERS."

The Players' League, as finally organized, embraced the cities of
Boston, Brooklyn, Ne