, as the option that I possessed was not worth the paper it was
written on, and that there was never any intention on the part of A. G.
Spalding and his confreres to let me get possession of the club. It was
not until several men who had promised to aid me backed down squarely
that I realized that there was an undercurrent at work, and that the
option, which it was often denied at that time that I had, had been
given to me in bad faith and just for the purpose of letting me down
easily, but when once convinced that such was really the case I gave up
making any further effort in the matter.

Later I accepted a position as manager of the New York Club, being
assured that I should have full control of the team, but at the end of a
month finding that there were too many cooks to spoil the broth I
resigned, accepting only the amount of salary due me for actual
services, though offered a sum considerably in excess of the same. This
ended my actual connection with National League base-ball, and its
mismanagement.

In spite of the fact that I have been connected with the Chicago
Base-Ball Club for twenty-two years as an active player and for
twenty-four years as a stockholder, I have never attended a meeting of
that organization until recently, and then Mr. Hart and myself were the
only stockholders present. Again, in spite of the fact that my contingent
fees were to be paid on the showing made by the books, these books I
have never been allowed to see, nor have I ever been able to get any
statement as to my standing with the Club, and that in spite of the fact
that I have several times made a demand for the same.

That being the case, how can I be sure that I have had all that was
coming to me, or that I have been honestly dealt with by that
organization?

In all of my club dealings I trusted implicitly to Mr. Spalding, at
whose solicitation I left Philadelphia and came to Chicago, and that I
made a mistake in so trusting him I am now confident, as it is a poor
plan for any man not to look closely after his own business interests.

In regard to my financial dealings with the Club I might be much more
explicit, but I feel that it is not a matter of great public interest,
and I therefore refrain from doing so, believing that what I have
already said will serve to show how I stand and how I feel in the
matter.

CHAPTER XXXV. HOW MY WINTERS WERE SPENT.

How do the members of the base-ball fraternity spend the winter se