The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-21
In INTERSTATE LEAGUE
wATkINs's CLUB NAY e. SECURE a
DESIRABLE BERTH.
President Meyer and MIR. watkins
Here from Fort Representations
Holds the Territorial Rights.

President w. III. watkins, OF the lnuldn-
apolis ball club. returned from Fort Wayne
yesterday, accompanied by President VIII
liam Meyer, of the Interstate League. and
last night MIR. Watkins gave out the in
formation that indianapolis will in all
probability be a member of the Interstate
League the coming season. He seemed TO
be pleased over the fact that the West
ern League magnates had seen fit not To
take in indianapolis and Louisville as
members of that organization. He says
that with the greatly reduced mileage In the
Interstate League the clubs will be able
TO give a better article of ball than in the
Western League, as the money that will be
expended I'm the Western League for rail-
road transportation can be used to better
advantage in the Interstate League clubs
for better players.
when the demise of the American As
ISOLATION was announced in New York at
the meeting of the National League" said
Mr.. Watkins last night, II went before the
board of arbitration and secured terri
torial rights of the cities in the Interstate
League and also for indianapolis, Louis
Vile. Detroit and Milwaukee. These rights
were granted TO me until such time as Mr..
Ruschaupt and myself could affiliate with
some other organization or had protected
our property. 4 made this plain TO Presi-
0Chl VI II btdc e cAa
also to Charles Strobel, of the Toledo club,
before leaving New York.
TELEGRAM FROM MAUTNER.
Week before last L received a telegram
from President Mautner. of the Fort Wayne
Club. asking If the Indianapolis situation
had been settled. / replied that could
give him no answer until the following
Thursday. L received no notice of a meet
ing being called of the Interstate League
to perfect the organization, but did receive
notice 70 go to ST. Paul TO attend the meet
ing of the Western League. Matters were
not arranged In the Western League where
by indianapolis was to Join that organiza-
ton, but while | was in St. Paul the Inter-
state League was organized. When l went
to Fort Wayne Monday L pointed out the
fact to President Meyer that the Interstate
League had no territorial rights, as the
rights had been granted to me. This neces-
STATED the calling OF another meeting of
the league. and il Will be held the latter
fRisslr! oil TINS week. probably IN in'ianap0-
the purpose of consulting with John Il.
Brush, chairman of the board of arbitra-
ton, regarding the territorial rights of the
Interstate League, and Mr.. Brush con-
flrmed the statement made by Mr.. Wat
kins. President Meyer said last night that
he had forgotten about the rights Of Mr..
Watkins when the league was reorganized,
but now realized that these rights will have
to be considered. as ii will be impossible
ter the league TO secure protection under
the national agreement as long as Mr..
Watkins holds the territorial rights To the
cities desired
1t is our desire to affiliate with the In
terstate League said MIR. Watkins, land
] believe that this can be satisfactorily ar
ranged. While l hold the territorial rights
i will only go I'm as a member of the league
and turn the rights over to the league alter
II Is reorganized.
THE COLUMBUS MEETING.
When the Interstate League was organ
lied, at Columbus. last Friday. the circuit
was made up of Fort Wayne. Toledo, Day.
ton. Mansfield. Marion. Anderson, Wheeling
and Columbus. The league will now have
TO be r~eorganized in order to admit Indian
apolis and Louisville and possibly Grand
Rapids, and the circuit may be composed of
Indianapolis. Louisville. Grand Rapids.
Fort Wayne. Toledo. Dayton, Columbus
and Marion.
President Watkins believes that a strong
league can be organized, and says Indian
apolis will see as fast ball as during the
days OF the Western League and as excit-
ing as seen last season. The mileage OF
this league will be only about 5000 miles,
which Is very low. compared with other or
CARNATIONS indianapolis has been connect
ed with. All cities will have Sunday ball
with the exception of indianapolis.
When IL is taken into consideration that
the Interstate League turns out more stars
than the Western League, il will be seen
that the league, strengthened. as ii will be
this season. VIII be a first-class organiza-
ti0n and fast ball will be witnessed. Such
men. now National and American League
stars, as Heidrick, Catcher Donohue. Beck.
Flood. Kruger. Stahl. Hickman. Farrell.
Moore, Flick. Dobbs. Criger. Hemphfl and
many others are graduates of the Inter-
state League. Many fast players are sent
to the National League from the Interstate,
and this year the league will be very strong
with talent.
President Meyer said last night that the
playing season viii be five months. and Will