by the association of minor leagues, are set forth as follows:
"1.—To perpetuate Base Ball as the National Game of America, and to surround it with such safeguards as to warrant absolute public confidence in its integrity and methods.
"2.—To promote and afford protection to such professional Base Ball leagues and associations as may desire to operate under its provisions."
As one of its fundamental features, the new Association provided for a governing body, denominated "The National Board of Arbitration," to consist of five members, to be chosen by the Leagues represented in the Association. The first members of this Board were: M. H. Sexton, of Rock Island, Ill.; James Whitefield, of Kansas City, Mo.; W. H. Lucas, of Portland, Oregon; J. H. O'Rourke, of Bridgeport, Conn.; and T. H. Murnane, of Boston, Mass.; with J. H. Farrell, of Auburn, N. Y., acting as Secretary. The first President of this Association was P. T. Powers, a most energetic and competent official.
In 1902 the new American League, of which Mr. B. B. Johnson was President, determined to drop Baltimore from its circuit and replace it with New York. Consequently, since the two big leagues were at war, a raid was made by the American League upon players of the pioneer organization, with the result that no difficulty was found in capturing a team for the metropolis. Mr. Brush, however, who had bought out Freedman's interest in the New York National League Club, did not believe that the American League could secure available grounds, and he was disposed to temporize with the situation.
