The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-02
ALTON THOROUGHLY IN
E.AND
ROURKE LOSES HIS ONE CHANCE
Nothing Left for Western to DO but
ReOrganize Six-CIub League
American Has Made
Good.

Kansas City-right under the nose OF
Whitfield, president of the Western
club collection-and before the day was
counted out perfected an organization so
strong that even the enemies OF the
Western encounter a feeling of pity when
they think of the future of the little
league guided by Bill Rourke, Jimmie
Manning and Whitfield.
When the magnates who are now
claiming membership in the new assocla-
ton of professional ball clubs met In
Chicago they plunged into the new ven
ture clutching an olive branch in each
hand. They were willing to hold pro-
tecting wing over the reorganized West
ern league, and they were also willing
to request admission to the national
association Of minor leagues.
The blame cannot be located, but some
one fooled with the trouble clouds, and
before Hickey and his enterprising
friends realized it the storm clouds tore
open. Bill Rourke and A. 3. Beall start
ed as members of the new organization,
but these two magnates rubber legged
and bounced back into the Western.
The Western held a melting at st. Joe
and for a time the air was filled with the
wild whoops of war. The Western was
to fight this new organization in every
town of the old circuit claimed by
Hickey and his followers The Western
was to have the backing of the national
association of minor league clubs, and
later even Mr.. Spalding, not having
trouble enough of mis- own in the East
was to mix in and plant several finishing
kicks against the frame of the Hickey
organization while the Western league
and the national association of minor
leagues sat upon the two extreme ends
of the American.
1t is now UP to the Western league to
make good these claims
The Whitfield league must now show
the fanatics of the Western baseball
world that it has a right to claim a
share of heir attention.
The American association started it's
life an abused organization. Critics
fighting for the Western demanded at
once that the Hickey league make good
every claim made. The Western league
started out in this fight claiming the
support of everything in sight, and
claiming everything in sight The
critics fighting for the Western overlook
ed all these claims.
American Has Made Good.
Now the American association has
made good. 1t has organized. it has an
nounced its circuit, it has announced the
owners of the different franchises and
has furnished the names of all PLAYERS
signed or claimed up to date
The Western league has not ATTEMPTED
move since its St. Joe meeting. It
sun claims st. Paul, Minneapolis and
Milwaukee, but the franchises for these
towns are still being shield up Manning
declares he is going to Kansas CITY.
but as yet he has not secured a site for
park. Beall appears to have the Den
yer franchise in the Western and the
western is ready to mix things with the
former Minnesota magnate.
Inc Kansas City meeting of the Amer
lcan association really ended all hone or
seeing the Western league appear next
season as anything other than a six-cIub
league Inc Whitfield following are now
plnnIng their hope to the meeting Of the
national association of minor league
clubs, which will be held at Kansas CITY
Jan. IA, but that meeting cannot save
the western, for the American is now
too we'll started.
Rourke had one chance to compIicate
things, but he overlooked this one
chance. Perhaps Rourke cannot ne
blamed for this mistake, for when he
should nave been on the move he was
talking things over with Manning ana
Whitfield
Rourke, by appearing at the meeting
OF the American magnates Monday. could
nave made good his claim to member
snip in the new organization. Several
Gays before the meeting President
mickey remembering Rourke's claim
mat he was still a member of the Amer
lcan, notified the Omaha man to appear
at the meeting in Kansas City Dec y.
Roufke was also instructed to bring with
him the $500 to be deposited as an evil
dence of good faith.
The American, met according to BRO
gramme in the Baltimore hotel. RourKe
was in Kansas City when the meeting
was called to order, but the Omaha man
contented himself with a seat in Mr..
Wmti1eld's office in the Star building.
The American magnates were ready to
admit Rourke to the meeting, but the
Omaha man did not appear to demand
admission
BY needing the advice Of his friends
Rourke presented the American mag
mates with the chance they were look
ing for. It is needless to deny that with
Rourke an avowed friend Of the Vest
eTn the American did not want him.
Rourke Out of 1t.
They did not want him, but at the
same time thee were compelled to ao-
NIT that he had right there. If
Rourke and his $500 walked into the meet
ing the other magnates would have been
compelled to recognize him. but he failed
to walk in, and, failing to appear, the
1ISW OASdIIlHdllOn UNANIMOUSLY voted
that he was no longer a member Of the
American, and prepared to dispose Of the
Omaha franchise elsewhere.
And in disposing of this franchise the
new association landed q telling BODY
blow upon the fighting Western. The
franchise went to Frank Bandle OIL
Omaha. The Western in the past held
that with Rourke in Omaha the Amer
lean could push in, if it really wanted
to waste money. Rourke was pointed
out favorite with the Omaha fanatics
and with Rourke favorite, the Western
was willing to see the American attempt
a start in the Pat Grove town
Now all this looks different Bandle Is
an old Omaha man. Like Rourke he is
an old ball player. Baseball fanatics OF
the Nebraska town insist that Bandle
will be the favorite any time popular>
ity contest is started with Rourke run
ming on the opposition ticket.
The American association in awarding
| the Omaha franchise to Bandle cleared
up all the troubles going with its cir
| cuit The American is willing to have
! Rourke carry his claim to the Omaha
! holdings to the courts, for, ANTICIPATING
! trouble, they awarded the franchise 20
! Bandle in what they claim was proper
| form. Bandle was selected as the man
! for Omaha, but the franchise was heI0
up until the last minute while the mag
mates waited for Rourke to appear. He
| failed to appear, and at the stroke of
| midnight Bande secured the right to
| represent the new association in Omaha.
| A study of the situation viii prove to
| the fanatics just what chance there is
| left for the Western if this war is con-