Omaha daily bee., 1901-03-10
IDEAL CIRCUIT IN PROSPECT
strong Probability Louisville and Indian
spolis Will Be in Western League.
QUESTION WILL BE DECIDED At ST. PAUL
Plan Proposes the Dropping of Denver
and the Elimination of Badly
Lop-sided Circuit-Mag-
mates Meet Tuesday.

There is more than a remote possibility
that indianapolis and Louisville will be
admitted into the Western league. Indeed
base ball affairs have taken such a turn in
the past two weeks that IT now seems
probable that the two cities mentioned will
be in Thomas jefferson Hickeys organiza-
tion the coming season. majority Of the
nagnates OF the league are known to favor
such an outcome and It Is now up to
Watkins of Indianapolis and Pulliam Of
louisville to make move.
IL these two cities are to have class
base ball this season the Western league
alone affords the opportunity. Their only
alternative is to join the Interstate league,
along with Grand Rapids, Dayton. Fort
Wayne Columbus, Detroit and Mansfield.
The Interstate league is a class Is organiza-
tion and the fans Of Louisville and Indian
epolis. used as they are to the best article
OF base ball. will hardly be content with
any such arrangement.
indianapolis and Louisville, St. Joe and
Kansas city. Omaha and Des Moines, ST.
Paul and Minneapolis. What league that
would be! How " would delight the heart
OF the Omaha fan to be able to go down to
the Vinton street reservation next summer
and see a battle on the diamond between
Bill Rourke's family and any one Of the
other teams belonging to a circuit such as
that outlined above. II would seem like
a return to the good old days when the
Western league was in its heydey.
The Western league. after numerous post
ponements and adJournments, was called to
meet in St Paul last Thursday. Just about
the time the magnates were packing their
grips and ready to light out for the meet
ing telegram came from President Hickey
announcing another postponement and set
ting the date for next Tuesday. In tho
absence OF more plausible reason 1t looks
rs though the Indianapolis Louisville ques-
tion Is brewing aud that therein rests the
explanation for this change of date for the
leagues meeting.
As aforementioned. these two cities are
IN rather a peculiar position. It's the
Western league or no class A ball-one or
the other, and your Uncle Willie Watkins
Is not going to pass up his interests in the
Hoosier capital without making a des-
perate struggle to perpetuate the snecure
which base ball franchise In that city
meaus Uncle Henry Pulliam Is in just
about the same FIX. Down in Louisville
there Is a vigorous demand for base ball
and your southern fan is not going to be
satisfied with any league that has in Its
membership vcinages in the remote sec
tions of Indiana or Ohio.
With Louisville and Indianapolis in the
circuit the Western league would be an
ideal organization. All OF the cities would
be grouped in pairs and admirably stu
ated for the formation of an excellent
schedule In the event OF their entry
into the league the doom of Denver would
be. sounded. True enough. "A franchise
has been located in Denver, but It could
easily be transferred. Mr.. Packard, who
owns the franchise would undoubtedly be
glad TO dispose of 1t If u reasonable pur-
chase price were offered him, and all of
the othnr magnates would breathe a sigh
of relief to sec the western city Topped off
and the one-sided circuit evolved into an
ideal one.
The managers are beginning to figure
out what their long jumps to Denver
will bring forth. Each team will have 10
make the trip to Denver three times and
play each time three games on the Denver
grounds. That makes total OF nine
games on the Denver grounds between the
local team and each other club in the cir
cult. 1t is extremely doubtful whether
these nine games will produce revenue
enough 20 pay actual expenses incurred on
tho trip Manager Rourke has figured
that the three trips to Denver will cost
him s2,25O, which will include railroad
transportation and expenses of the team
while enroute and lat Denver as well as
salaries. Last year in the eleven games
played at Denver the Omaha team did not
get that much money and the Rourke fam
lily was the best drawing team that visited
the Colorado capital.
With the financial status as it is the
members OF the Western league realize
that Denver is white elephant and they
will be very CAD to rid themselves OF the
burden. In case arrangements can be per,
fccted between either Louisville or Indian
apolis for the Denver franchise the rest
will be easy sailing, There is sylf-an un.
settled franchise in the league--the one
that Pueblo, Colorado Springs and Siou,
city have been ighting for. Billy Huler
owns It. but It could easily be located IL
Louisville or Indianapolis and Hulen elthel
taken care OF or his interest bought out
right.
That the situation will resolve itself intc
such an outcome looks more than rea
sonable Indianapolis and Louisville ar'