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Danville, Ky., April 26, 1894
To the Secretary of the Ky. Inter-Col. Ath. Assoc'n. [Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Association]
Dear Sir:
On behalf, and by authority, of the Centre College Athletic Association we desire, through you, herewith to lay before the K.I.A.A. our notice of withdrawal from its membership.
In explanation and justification of this action of our association we beg to remind you under date of Feb. 28, 1894, our executive committee sent a circular letter to you as Secretary of the K.I.A.A., and to each of the college associations in the league, calling attention to the reports then current that professional ball-players were being matriculated in some of the colleges, and declaring our intention to confirm strictly to the regulations of the league and our purpose to demand the same conformity on the part of others. In this letter it wa further said, in conclusion, that we should "reserve the right to withdraw at once from the league in case of any violation of agreements or regulations." We thus did all in our power to anticipate and prevent the recurrence this season of unseemly dispute, and to protect ourselves in advance against the unfair advantages which it was reported other colleges were taking or were intending to take.
For our part we have strictly observed the regulations referred to and challenge contradiction of the statement that our league team is an out and out college and non-professional team; but we have conclusive evidence that other colleges are violating
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the rules in this regard. This evidence consists of subscribed and sworn statements of persons who of their personal knowledge declare that various members of other teams in the league are either now receiving compensation for their services, or have previously played professional ball in connection with such clubs and leagues at the Pleasurable ball club, The "Triangles," the Charleston (W.Va.) and the Huntington (W.Va.) ball club, and the Northwestern League.
The provisions of the constitution under which we have been organized, and the distinct understanding at the outset, having been thus disregarded and violated, we can do nothing else than proceed to exercise the right of withdrawal which we expressly reserved to ourselves before entering into the league arrangements for the season. We certainly cannot in fairness be required nor expected to stay longer in the league, bound by its limitations and its rules, while other teams, with which we have to compete in single games and in the league championship contests, secure unfair advantages by disregarding those restrictions.
In the two games already played this season, both of which are included in the championship contest, professionals, or remunerated players were employed, and our interest in the said championship to that extent prejudiced. We hold, moreover, that inasmuch as it is only the regulations and agreements mutually accepted which have bound us in association with other members of the league, and inasmuch as these regulations have demonstrably been violated, the league is thereby of itself already dissolved.
All our recent experience of inter-collegiate contests has but strengthened the conviction to which we had been gradually coming, and that such contests, of whatever kind, under league auspices, are productive of harm rather than good; and our reso-
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[top of page torn - word(s) missing] has been confirmed henceforth to keep clear of all such embarrassing associations, apt, as they are, to result in difficulty and dissension.
We beg, in conclusion, to say that whatever other members of the league may choose to do, the action we have taken is the only proper or possible course for us to pursue, and to add, the expression of our good will and best wishes for the other colleges with which we have been associated in the league.
Very truly yours, W.D. Berry [Walter D. Berry]