Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-02
BASEBALL BOOMING.
Meeting of the Western Associa-
ton Representatives
Yesterday.
SEASON TO BE OPENED MAY 2.

Two Divisions Made of the Circuit-Rock
ford to be the First Club to Meet Rock
Island at Home-Posting of Guarantee
Deferred Until March Usage Ready to
Sign Players.
The Western Baseball association
for 1899 is secure, and the prospects
for warm chase for the flag and n
successful season, both in point of
interest and financially, are exceed
ingly promising. according to the re-
ports received from the meeting held
At the Hotel Fey, Peoria. yesterday,
and which was attended by President
NJ. Ii. Sexton and Secretary l.. G.
Eddy, of the Rock Island club, who
| returned nome last night. Those in
attendance representing the other
seven towns that compose the circuit
were: w. c. Bryan. Peoria; G. w.
Holt, Rockford; NJ. w. Wright and
Pat Wright, Springfield; William
Brown, Quincy; Belden Hill. Cedar
Rapids; A. w. Kohler and William
Kreig, Bloomington; f. p. Adler,
Ottumwa. and President j. Stanley
Browne, of Rockford.
While the primary obiect of the meet
ing was to call for the $500 guarantee,
which each club is TO post as an evidence
of its intention to play through the
season, disposition was strongly APP
parent favoring the granting of fur
Their time in this matter, and = was
decided by the association to post
pone the call for the guarantee until
March Is, by which date n certified
check for the amount stipulated must
be in the hands of the president of
he league, who was instructed on
the failure of any town to live up to
the letter of this rule to place the
franchise elsewhere. In former years
the posting of n guarantee was looked
upon by some as nothing more than.a
formality; that even if q club should
withdraw before the close of the sea-
son it would not be compelled to part
company with the $500. To over
come such an impression, the presi-
dent was authorized to have drawn in
legal form an instrument binding the
officers of each club in the sum men
toned, the executive of the associa-
ton having authority to cash the
check should the club cease playing
ball previous to the date of the close
of the season.
To Open May 2.
1t was decided to open May 2, and
close about the middle of Septem-
Der. Two divisions were made of the
circuit, Rock Island, Rockford, Cedar
Rapids and Ottumwa on the north,
and Peoria, Springfield, Bloomington
and Quincy on the south. The clubs
of each division will play the opening
series of six games between them
selves. Rockford, it is expected, will
be the first team to come here.
The meeting was an enthusiastic
one. Not discouraging word from
any town was heard. The admission
of Peoria was approved. President
Brownies 81, 500 bond was approved.
He was also instructed to prepare a
schedule.
Doc Sage will soon begin forward |
ing contracts to players for the Rock |
Island team. He has eleven men,
several of them top-notchers, who |
viii come here whenever notified.
The canvass for funds was resumed |
today. The Rock Island club needs |
at least $500 more in order to start |
the season in proper shape, and there
is no reason who this amount should |
not be readily subscribed.