Clipping:A proposal for a truce in the UA war from an AA paper
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| Date | Tuesday, July 15, 1884 |
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| Text | The Philadelphia Item, the mouthpiece of the Athletic Club and a paper that has fought the Unio Association from its inception, has the following to say in its last issue: The outlook for the prosperity of the game next seasson is by no means assuring, and at no time since it sprung into popularity and became the national game has its existence been so alarmingly threatened. Recent uterances and movements on the part of rival organizations indicate that unless a cessation of hostilities is brought about, and that soon, a cut-throat policy is to prevail which will send to the wall a number of the clubs that are now in existence. In our judgment, the time has arrived for common sense and reason to prevail. Whatever course the Item has pursued, it has always had but one object in view, and that the very best interest of the game. In defending our policy we have given many, and in return received many blows, but when in the right have never swerved an inch from the course set out. We think, therefore, that we have a right at this time, when in our judgment we deem the game to be in peril, to call out for a truce to hostilities and ask that the opposing factions reason together, and allow common sense and good judgment to have its inning. To all the organizations we would advise the adoption of the following articles of peace to which they can subscribe without sacrificing any of their so-called dignity. 1. The recognition of the Union Association as an organization with rights and privileges. 2. Reinstatement of all players black-listed for offenses against the reserve rule, and of all players black-listed by the Union for failing to keep their contracts with the clubs of that organization. 3. The appointment of a National Board of Arbitration to which each organization shall be entitled to two representatives. All questions of disputes over contracts and all grievances of players to be referred to this board, whose action shall be final. 4. A remodification of the reserve rule with its objectionable features eliminated. Our idea of this would be to reduce the number of men reserved to five, and all such men reserved to be signed within one month of the reservation, or to be free to sign elsewhere. During the reservation, to make it an offense punishable with expulsion for any club to offer terms to the players so reserved. There are a few of the suggestions that we should advocate on the general principle that they will prove to the interest of the game. In this city a series of game in April between the Athletic, Keystone and Philadelphia clubs would prove a big paying investment for all the clubs, and the same would be true in Cincinnati, St. Louis and Baltimore. The remodification of the reserve rule would allow our clubs to be materially strengthened and made more attractive. The only issue that has divided the American and League on the one side and the Union on the other has been the reserve rule, and it might as well be understood now as later on that the reserve rule is a failure, and will be fought by those who were the most eloquent a year ago in advocating its claims. Base-ball has become more than ever a a business, and must be managed on business principles, if it expect to continue prosperous. |
| Source | Cincinnati Enquirer |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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