Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-01-25
LEAGUE IS FORMED,
Reorganization of the Western
Baseball Association
Perfected.
SEVEN TOWNS ARE ADMITTED.

Rock Island. Rockford. Quincy. Ottumws.
Cedar Rapids, Springfield and Bloom
ington Voted Franchises. the Eighth
Member Being Left Undecided-J. Stanley
Browne President and NJ. II. Sexton Vice.
Promoters of the national game are
in conference at the Harper house
planning the reorganization of the
Western association for the season of
1899. Those in attendance are:
Rockford-J. Stanley Browne, Ros-
coe Chapman, Harlan Babcock, John
Emke, Will Nelson and Sam H. Reck.
Springfield-E. NJ. Wright.
Davenport-O. Spaulding.
Ottumwa-E. p. Adler.
Cedar apids-Belden Hill, r. n.
Buck George 4. Lincoln.
Quincy w. F. Bader.
Rock Island-M. II. Sexton, l.. G..
Eddy, Fred Bladel.
George j. Wagner, the Blooming
ton delegate, was unable to come on
account of sickness, but wired NJ. H.
Sexton. of the local association, to
have a franchise reserved for Bloom
ington. Peoria people sent message
through V. +. Sheldon that they
wanted to be counted in when the
league was formed.
Bill Kreig, of Chillicothe, is on deck.
Meeting Called.
The meeting was called at the Har-
per house at so p. IN. by M. II. Sex
ton, who was unanimously chosen for
chairman. E. p. Adler, of Ottumwa,
| was made secretary. A circuit was
adopted consisting of Rock Island
Rockford, Quincy, Ottumwa, Cedar
Rapids, Springfield and Bloomington,
the president to select the eighth
town. either Peoria or Decatur. The
| presidents salary was fixed at 5000
per annum, the same rs last sea-
son, and the limit for teams, exclu-
sive of manager, ut 5000 per month
Each club shall put up n guarantee OF
$500 by March l that it will play
| through the season. The visiting
club is to receive n guarantee of 81
per game and $50 for rainy days. The
salary of umpires was fixed at not tt
exceed 1925 per month and travelling
ieXpenses. The name of the Western
Baseball association was readopted.
The names of Hugh Nicol and J
Stanley Browne. of Rockford, were
proposed for the presidency. Mr.
Browne was elected on the first ballo
by a vote of ) to 2. NJ. II. Sexton, o
Rock Island, was chosen vice presi
dent by reclamation, his name being
placed in nomination by George a
Lincoln, of Cedar Rapids.
Mr.. Brownies Views.
j. Stanley Browne, leader of tn,
Rockford delegation, told an ARGU
reporter that his town was red no
after baseball. Mr.. Browne is man
laying editor of the Rockford Star
He is a great lover of the nationa
game, and has personally conducted
Rockford's campaign for a berth il
the new league What we need il
the new association, said MIR
Browne, lis more activity on the
part of the president than has been
the case in the past. He should keeI
in constant touch with the town!
comprising the league. and on learn
ing of one fluttering and the interes
ldying out, should Immediately visit
that town, and proceed to put the
club on its feet-call on the business
people and show them the necessity
if they have any respect for the rep
utation of their city, of tiding theil
baseball team through the season
He should have a personal acquaint
ance with the leading citizens of tn,
towns, and they will always cooperat.
with him in maintaining the game
/ also favor a compact league, for w,
must keep railroad expenses down.