The reserve rule and the provisions of the national agreement gave the managers unlimited power, and they have not hesitated 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.