The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-03

O--~@SEsffsAvv IN ana the magnateS
expect the horizon
to clear soon and to see everything moving
along merriy.
Columbus has not given out yet wheth-
er 1t will enter the Southeastern league or
become member of the old Southern
League. This seems to be the whole trou-
BILE and the success of the league is said
to hinge on this
Mr.. John Flournoy, president of the Col
umbus Street railway, and the owner of
the Columbus franchise in the Southern
League is keeping very quiet and will not
state in which league he intends to put
his club. Mr.. FlOurnoy is evidently wait
ing to see what the Southern will do at its
meeting next week and his decision and
action will doubtless be based on the out
come of this meeting.
A strong fact that seems to have been
overlooked by the Southeastern people,
and Mr.. Flournoy, Is that Columbus can
not enter the Southern League If a club
from that city is put in the Southeastern.
When the Southeastern was organized
1t was recognized by the National League
and protection secured. By protection is
meant that no city which is a member of
the Southeastern League can have a club
in another league, and the latter league
be under the protecting wing OF Nick
Young.
1t might not be amiss for the Southeast
ern people to impress this fact upon Mr.
Flournoy, and let him know that If he
does not enter the Southeastern the fran
chise of that city will be given to other
parties, and club put in the league. This
would shut out Mr.. Flournoy altogether
as to entering the southern is concerned
n ~ erfv coin ,I,ts..
the choice of entering the Southeastern
or of not having base ball at all
OF course. the magnateS do not care to
do this, and, even If they did, there might
be some trouble in getting the Columbus
people to put out a club If Mr.. Flournoy
was antagonized, but at the same time 1t
might serve to show the Columbus gen,
tleman, as would be termed in street par
lance, that he is not the only grape on
the bunch.
The Morning News is informed, how
ever, through a reliable and what might
be termed an official source, that it is not
the intention of Columbus to enter the
Southern League, and that the end of this
week will see Columbus organized In the
Southeastern and hustling for manager
and players. The fact of the matter Is
that Mr.. Flournoy is in a delicate posi-
ton. He does not like to desert the
Southern League while there is a POSI-
bility of it being successfully organized,
and at the same time he knows this is
an impossibility and wants to enter the
Southeastern.
The Southern League was to have met
a month ago for organization, but for
various reasons, best known to Henry
Powers, the meeting was not held. Sew
eral dates have been set since then, but in
each case the meeting has been postponed.
President Powers has now called a meet
ing to be held in Montgomery Jan. 4, and
another attempt will be made to resusci-
tate the almost if not quite lifeless body.
1t is almost a certainty that the league
will not be organized, and 1t Is doubtful
if the meeting will be attended by a quo
rum of representatives. Memphis and
Nashville have about abandoned the idea
of a Southern League and are working
to form a central league. Little Rock is
reaching out the same way, and this
leaves only New Orleans, Montgomery and
Birmingham. New Orleans is the only
good ball town of these three cities, and
the prospect for the organization OF the
league seems, to a man up a tree, any
thing but bright.
The Montgomery correspondent of the
Sporting News, in writing to that paper,
says that Montgomery has not yet decided
whether it will enter the Southeastern or
the Southern. If anybody has invited
Montgomery to enter the Southeastern
the fact is not known here in Savannah.
The owners of the Savannah franchise
know nothing about ii, and the corre-
spondent seems to be laboring under
very wrong impression Montgomery
would not be taken into the Southeastern
under any circumstances. First, because
it is a poor city for base ball, and, Sec
ondly, because it would not fit into the
circuit.
Macon has been a little slow in organic
ing, but 1t can be stated that the Central
City will be in the league and the people
Of that city are only waiting to see what
Columbus will do. Atlanta, Augusta and
Charleston are all right, and as soon as
Columbus Is heard from definitely the
league situation will be clearer.
Should Columbus not enter steps viii be
imediately taken to place a club in Col
umbia. S. C., but the league would much
prefer Columbus.
Director Lamar is resting on his oars
just now waiting to see the turn of events,
but states that he hopes to see the South
eastern as it was originally organized
An Atlanta dispatch TO the Morning
News last night said that President
Bosche of the Southeastern Base Ball
League closed a contract yesterday with
Frank Selee of the Bostons for the Au
gusta grounds from March IS to April /,
after which the Bostons will make a cir
cult of the league. President Bosche mas
contracted with the Richmond (Va.) team
on the Charleston grounds; the Baltimores
on Macon field; the Norfolk (Va.) in At
lanta, and the Pittsburgs in Savannah Tor
practice games. Other eastern teams are
applying to the president for practice
grounds.