The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-10-08
TOLEDO IS IN FAVOR
CITY ON THE MAUMEE WILL PROB
ABLY BE GRAND RAPIDS
SUCCESSOR
IN WESTERN BALL CIRCUIT.
DIRECTORS OF THE LEAGUE MET
YESTERDAY IN THE WINDY
CITY.
MERRY MIx-UP FOR M1LLERs.
GoOdnOw's Stock, Thought to Be
DefauIted, Turns Up MOrtgaged
to u Coal Company.
Special to the Globe.

Specldl TO the GlODe.
CHICAGO, Oct. 1.-THE possible, and
very desirable substitution of anoth-
er and better city for Grand Rapids in
the Western league received consider
able attention today at the hands of
the board of directors, who held their
annual session at the Great Northern
hotel. Omaha wants the franchise, but
a strong effort will be made to keep
the club in the Michigan town, and the
matter is not likely to be settled until
the next meeting of the board on Nov.
TO-
An Omaha man was at the meeting
trying to negotiate the purchase OF the
Grand Rapids franchise. He claimed
to be backed by a syndicate with
plenty of money Nothing was done,
however, in the matter Omaha is not
looked upon witt, favor by the mag
mates as a Western league city. They
would prefer to have an Eastern city,
such as Toledo, get the franchise, as
that would help to balance the number
of Eastern and Western cities IN the
league.
Those present were President Ban
Johnson, Tom ]. Lotus, of Columbus,
who was accompanied by Gus Schmelz,
formerly manager of the Washington
National League club; M. R. Killilea,
Milwaukee; Charles Comiskey, st.
Paul; w. H. Watkins, representing In
dianapolis; NJ. P. Hayne and Z.
H. SauIpaugh, Of Minneapolis. 5. K.
KitcheI counsel of the Pennsylvania
&, Ohio Coal company, Minneapolis,
was also present at the meeting.
The discussion as to the disposal of
the Grand Rapids franchise was not
taken up officially, as Robert Fl. Lead
lev. the former owner, had not filed Of
fetal information concerning the re-
ported sale of the franchise to M. r..
Hartman, of Des MOines. There ap-
pears to be no doubt, however, of the
bona fide nature of the sale, and it was
generally understood that Mr.. Harrl.
man, who, it is said, has plenty of
financial backing, will manage the
team next year. This will be officially
brought before the board at its next
meeting, Nov. TO- and will be ratified.
Tn regard to the stock of John Good
now. of the Minneap polls club, and now
United States consul at Shanghai, Mr.
Kitchel informed the board that Good
now some time ago mortgaged his half
yania & Ohio Coal company. The
mortgage had been foreclosed, Mr..
Kitchel said, and the company has de-
termined to retain the interest in the
club and be joint owners with MesSrs.
Hayne and Saulpaugh. This, it is said,
came as a disagreeable surprise to the
latter gentlemen, who have been cher
ishing hopes of securing the coveted
stock for themselves
1,,na
when spoken to concerning the Good
now stock but expressed the opinion
that the consul generals action had
forfeited his interest in the enterprise,
and that the matter was open to action
by the magnates Later, however
President Johnson expressed the Opln-
ion that the coal company having come
into bona fide possession of the inter-
est. was as secure in it as Goodn0W
had been, and that there was nothing
in the matter for the board 10 at
upon
The Inclination was made by Counsel
Kitchel that the coal company would
probably not go into the base ball bust
ness itself. but transfer the stock to a
prominent Minneapolis enthusiast of
tried business ability. What effect the
new developments will have on the ru-
mored engagement of Gus SchmelZ, of
Washington, to manage the Millers is
not clear, but it is evident that the
HayneSaulpaugh stock alone was rep
resented when he was engaged. Should
the Goodnow interest exert itself
against Schmelz, his position would not
be an enviable one.
Buffalo, after all it's talk, did not
show up, and it will not trot in West
ern league company.
The injustice of the drafting system
toward the minor leagues was dis
cussed this afternoon. President Kill
flea moved to send a committee to the
National league meeting and endeavOr
to have the major body raise the draft
price to $1,000, and limit the numbers
of men from each club to two.
Hart had a proposition ready to sub
init, guaranteeing to finance a Chica-
go team, provided he be permitted to
put any player he choose in the West
ern league and draw him back when
ever he wanted without waiting for
the year limit. This, however met
with emphatic disfavor. Outside the
appointment of a committee on sched-
ule and one to wait on the National
league in regard to the drafting rule,
the managers have little to do. Hayne
presented a long statement concerning
the drafting system which he asked