The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-01-23
THE TEXAS BASEBALL LEAGUE
MEETING AT THE AVENUE
YESTERDAY.
THE SEASON OPENS APRIL 18TH.
San Antonio is Admitted to Membership
and Committee Appointed to Sc
lect the Eighth Town-An
Interesting Meeting.

was called IN the parlors of the Avenue
hotel at 10 o'clock yesterday morning,
with the following representatives pres
emit:
Austin-Geo. W. Blackburn, j. A. Bar
bisch, W. L. Vining and G. Villeneau.
Dallas-J. G. McNealus.
Fort Worth-W. III. Ward.
Galveston-W. L. Work.
Houston-W. j. Carson and S. Taub.
Sherman-S. L. Heard and w. Il. Van
Dresser.
San Antonio-L. II. Cooley.
Shreveport, the eighth city in last years
league was not represented, which was
expected, as it will not be an applicant
for membership in the league for '96.
The committee on credentials, consist
ing of Messrs. McNealus, Vining and w.
l.. Work, reported the above named gem
tlemen entitled to recognition in the meet
ing. Jno. l.. Ward was chosen as tenn
porary chairman and w. j. Carson sec
rotary.
The discussion of the San Antonio fran
chise being raised, Mr.. Brophey made APP
plication for said franchise personally,
while l.. III. Cooley, as representative of
the San Antonio Baseball association,
asked that the franchise be granted them.
After brief discussion, the franchise
was. unanimously awarded the San An
tonic Baseball association.
The question of protection money to
be paid the National team was brought
up and the chairman reported that all
the necessary money for protection of the
Texas team had been secured and for
warded.
Considerable time was consumed in the
discussion of n suitable city to take the
eighth club necessary to the Organiza-
ton of the league, the cities named being
Waco, Corsicana, Paris and Denison.
A discussion of this matter resulted in
a statement that some difficulty would be
encountered in the matter of Sunday
ball playing in Waco, as they were strict
ly "agin'' such proceedings in that little
village. 1t was stated that if this Sun
day obstacle could be overcome, Waco
would be an excellent ball town. A mo-
ton was finally made to leave the fran
Waco and Corsicana, and to accept the
town making the best proposition. 1t
was here suggested that it was a question
as to whether Corsicana could support
team. McNealus also stated that Paris
was out of the question, as the parties
who were interested in ball playing there
would not agree to ball playing unless
the games We're fixed as to the winner
beforehand and the Texas league wanted
none of that.
Mr.. Carson stated that the Denison
! Street Car company had offered $500
bonus, grounds free and assured Il CAPT.
tai stock of $1,000 and he was in favor
of Denison as the eighth city.
Mr.. Vining favored leaving the matter
open between Denison and Waco, and
rather favored Waco, saying that the
Sunday playing might be overcome by
taking up q collection on that day in
stead of charging admission, thus over
coming the Sunday admission fee.
Mr.. Van Dresser said Denison was
deeply interested in ball playing, and that
Sunday ball playing was a go there at
all times.
After some further discussion COM
mittee of two, consisting of Messrs.
Work and Carson, were appointed to
ascertain which would be the best town
to select for the eighth city in the league.
This committee is granted plenary pow
ers, and they are to report to the presi-
dent of the league on or before February.
as to which city they consider the most
suitable and the league is then to accept
this city as the eighth in the league. On
motion Mr.. Taub was added to the COM
mittee.
Mr.. McNealus stated that eX-Secretary
Jim Nolan of the club of 80 had num-
Der of the leagues records which he re-
fused to return and he moved that pre-
emptOry demand be made on him for all
records in his possession, which motion
was adopted.
Mrs. Work was appointed special
committee of one to call on Mr.. Nolan
and secure the records, constitution and
bylaws, and also the personal players
record book.
Mr.. McNealus raised lively discus
sion by introducing a resolution setting
forth as the sense of the meeting that no
two National league clubs should be per-
mitted to play ball together on Texas
teams grounds but on the contrary
shall only be permitted to play match
or practice games with Texas teams, and
ceive so per cent of the gate receipts.
Mr.. McNealus, in speaking to his res
olution, stated that he offered it for the
protection of the clubs in the Texas
league who were last year robbed by the
National teams in the mater of playing
games, the visitors taking all the pie,
using, the home boys grounds and giving
in return nothing save the marble heart.
He cited the fact that it was the inten-
llOll VI Illc ~. lIoulS lcuih W plaIti,C ul
Dallas this spring, the Louisville team
at Houston and the Chicago team at Gal
weston, and that unless the league took
some action in the matter these teams
would use the Galveston or Houston ball
grounds to play match games between
themselves and would take all the money
and shut the home team out entirely.
He said that he thought the Texas
league should set down on all such pro- |
ceedings, and that the visitors should |
be made to understand that if they want |
to play ball in Texas they must share the |
gate receipts with the home teams. Mr. |
Vining was opposed to the resolution,
inasmuch as it was an infringe
ment of the rights of the. local
management. That if the Nation |
al team wanted to pay the. home |
team 10 per cent of the gate receipts for |
game between two National teams and |
if the local management wanted to ac-
cept such a proposition, he saw no reason
why the State league should object to 1t.
Y Mr. Carson stated that he was recently
in receipt of a letter from National team
asking for the use of his grounds for TINS
season, but they stipulated that they must
receive 100 per cent of the gate receipts,
street car fare gratis and the MAJOR por,
ton of the earth thrown in. He replied
to him offering a straight 5O per cent
,aronosition and had not heard from him
since. i'll, Nv Mo