The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-08
PLAY in BOTH LEAGUES
TROUBLE BREWING AMONG THE VA
RIOUS BOWLING TEAMS.
Meetings Called for This Week-Tvvo
Games Too Many for
One Night.


approaching a crisis. For some time there
has been a growing feeling against mem
bers Of team in one league playing in
a team in another league A few of the
teams in both the Indianapolis Bowling
League and in the Tenpin League are COM
posed largely of the same players. Thus far
no Official action has been taken on the
subject, but the matter has been informally
discussed in both leagues and a bitter feel
ing mas been growing so rapidly over it
that the game is now suffering from it, At
the beginning of the difference the Ten
pin League accused the Indianapolis Bowl
ing League of being the instigators of it,
but its claim was suddenly confronted with
a call for special meeting and signed by
three of its own team captains, to take ac-
ton on the subject. This meeting has been
called for Wednesday evening at the Pas
time alleys. That evening was selected as il
was generally understood that the directors
OF the indianapolis Bowling League had
called meeting for yesterday afternoon
at o'clock. While this impression was gen
eral, no official demand or call for the
meeting was issued. A number of the direc-
tors OF the indianapolis Bowling League
met, but no formal action could be taken
ana II was understood that formalities
would be complied with and the official
meeting held on Thursday evening This
on the Tenpin League.
The members of both leagues are divided
on the subject. Those who favor permitting
q, member to play in both leagues say that
the movement to prohibit it has been
started and is being encouraged by members
have members of both leagues plavine and
that the intention is to so weaken such
clubs SO as to enable those with members
or one league only to improve their stand
ing. Their claim is that it is subordinating
the interests or the game to those of the
clubs; On the other hand those opposed to
members playing in both leagues claim that
10 permit 1t is putting bowling too much
In the professional column, when the idea
OF both leagues is to promote the game as
an amateur sport. The feeling on both sides
mas been so rapidly growing that some of
those who play in clubs in both leagues
say that If action is taken by either or both
OF the leagues towards barring them from
doing so they will withdraw entirely from
both leagues and organize third The Jeal-
ousy and feeling is being augmented by de-
lay and the main idea Of both leagues now
Is to get speedy action on the disputed ques-
ton and settle it at least for the season.
evening expressed themselves as being in
favor OF the appointment of a committee
at their meeting on Wednesday to meet with
the indianapolis Bowling League directors
on Thursday evening and see if some plan
cannot be decided upon by which good feel
ing can be preserved and the game saved
from injury. 1t is more than probable that
this will be the action taken, although the
question may be settled by each league in
be that players barred from playing in
both leagues it will probably result in the
dfSbandment of possibly two clubs in the
indianapolis Bowling League and in such
an event the season will be continued with
but eight clubs Such a decision will cause
a general change in some of the clubs of
the Tenpin League, and just at present the
members of both leagues are wondering If
bowling will be continued with good feeling
or not Another question which will be con-
sidered. particularly by the Indianapolis
Bowling League, will be the shortening of
games. AS the games are now played, two
games of ten men each in each evening, it
is almost midnight before the last game is
finished. and as a result players are worn
out and spectators are rapidly becoming
fewer The game is receiving harm from
this arrangement and the members OF the
league are practically unanimous in favor
of change. Just what that may be is not
yet decided, but the plan received with
greatest favor is to play two games. each
evening, but instead of ten-men teams to
have five-men teams. This plan, with a
rule prohibiting any man from playing in
the second game who participated in the
first, will give two complete games, but will
enable each team to have ten men roll each
evening. By this plan no question as to the
prizes offered could arise, as the scores of
the ten men from each club could be taken
as the basis for the prize for the club max
ing the highest total. No prize is offered for
the highest individual score.
Another plan proposed is that the games
shall be three, of teams of five men each,
and thus reduce the time of playing just
one-fourth instead of one-half as would be
the case under the first plan Still others
favor games between teams of ten men
each but reduce the number of innings. No
change will be made until the close OF the
first half of the season, which will be in
December, but between that date and the
first of the year, meeting Will be held
and a change from the plan now in vogue
will be made.