The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-07
WAR OF INVASION
WHITFIELD NOW TALKING OF OF.
FERS FROM THE LARGER
CITIES
MOVE WOULD ONLY HURRY END
Western Cannot Drop Colorado
Springs, Denver, Des MOines and
st. Joseph and Continue
Fight Against American.

Reading between the lines of the press
reports that tell of the latest moves in
the American association Western league
war, compels the belief that wild, weird
idea is permitted to receive serious at.
tention in the fight councils of President
WLitefield and his followers.
Finding their plans blocked at every
turn by the shrewd leaders of the new
association, the Western fighters now
appear about to throw common sense to
the winds before they take the plunge
that promises them an awful bump-up.
A real war Of invasion looks the latest
plan Of the defeated Western.
President Whitfield has started talking
again, and the reports tell of him de,
scribing the numerous requests from
Indianapolis and other towns of the
America circuit for Western league ball.
The Western, according to Whitfield, will
play in Milwaukee, win play in Omaha.
and the requests from the other larger
towns are receiving proper attention.
Unless the Western is really thinking
seriously Of carrying the fight right into
the circuit adopted by the American, the
magnates fighting with Whitfield should
invite their president to hold his peace.
If the Western. does not intend to drop
Colorado Springs, Denver, Des Moines
and st. Joe, Whitfield is making a serious
mistake by even announcing that his
league has received requests from towns
in the American circuit. The fanatics
in the towns Of the Western circuit just
mentioned will not be tickled to a point
threatening places In the de-
ceased list If they are COM
PEELED to believe that Whitfelds
league picked their towns as good enough
after figuring out the prospect of los
ing season in a circuit of larger towns
In talking about the possibility Of
opening next season in these larger towns
Mr.. Whitfield is also liable to lose for
his league the bit Of sympathy which at
the present TIME appears to be the only
thing holding for the Western the sup
port Of several baseball critics.
These critics have been blaming Hickey
since the organization of the American
association for his expansion ideas, and
now they are seeing the president Of the
league they are defending evidently MAX
ing preparations to follow in Hickey's
footsteps.
Would Start Finish.
The moment Whitfield takes the Hickey
trail the finish Of the Western will start
forward on q run. If new and larger
towns are taken into the Western to
make the fight against the American
more even, then other towns win have
to be dropped. Each magnate of the
Western is without doubt willing to re-
ceiVe an offer to transfer his franchise
for the Western magnates are in bust
ness a1so-but some magnates would
have to be dropped, and the first drop
suggestion made is bound to start the
trouble that can only end in a com
plete smashup.
In entertaining any idea Of moving in
to larger towns Whitfield cannot expect
and should not receive the support Of the
critics now fighting for the Western. He
will only be doing what Hickey is &C
cused Of doing, and If he attempts to
carry out any expansion idea he and not
Hickey must be blamed for wrecking the
Western.
The fanatics in the towns picked by
the American association are delighted
60 know that the coming season is to
bring them a faster grade Of ball, but
they are willing to see the smaller towns
in the present Western circuit have pro-
fessionaI ball, and Whitfield can hardly
look ahead and see an expanded Western
league receiving enthusiastic support
Colorado Springs, Denver, Des Moines
and st. Joe can and will support Western
league grade of ball. The Western
can go through a season in these towns
and come out winner at the end. II
the prospect is not bright enough for
Whitefeld and his followers they can
only blame themselves for the large bun
die Of disappointment that is sure to be
handed out to them at the close of an
expanded league season.