Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-09-10
Interest of the Base Ball Men
Is Centered In the League
Meeting Next Week
WILL, BE IMPORTANT GATHERING
Many Things of More or Less Vital
Importance VIII be Brought UP For
Discussion, and Radical Changes in
the Circuit Are Sure to Result
President Norton Up For Reelection.

Pressing close upon the heels OF
the closing of the Iowa State League
season is the important fall meeting
which President F. c. Norton has call
ed to be held in Ottumwa on Wednes-
day, Sept. IA. For several ssaaasons
this will be the most importapas meet
ing ever held by this circuit acities,
and at it many weighty matters of in
terest to the league will be brought
up. Just what this gathering will
develop remains to be seen, and can
not b.. foretold with anything like ac-
curac,y, SO far in advance. Whether
the presidency will develop contest
is moi; known, but so far as can be
s. learned there is no other candidate ac-
lively engaged in a scramble for the
place. Some opposition to President
Norton has become apparent. but it is
doubtful If it will be of sufficient force
to bar the way to his election.
Now that the season, and the battles
Of the, diamond are past, and it is all
over, the seriousness of professional
n1sre to those who have been inter-
ested IL the individual clubs. Several
of the owa towns have for the first
lime had experience in league base
ball. They have been learning things,
land the knowledge acquired should
prove useful during the coming year.
So mach so that there must be rad
ical changes in several things if next
years schedule is to be played thru.
However optimistic one may feel as
to this years results in the Iowa State
League, under the same conditions,
and all other things being equal, there
is no assurance that next year would
witnesIs the same outcome.
, This is due to several reasons, first
among, them being the fact that league
base hall was a new thing. Next year
1t will be an old story, and whether
all things remaining the same, the
patronage would be accorded which
has fallen to the different clubs this
year, remains In doubt. It is matter
OF doubt If all Of the clubs would be
able to stand up under the light re-
ceipts of year like the first one has
been. This year fans" have dug into
their pockets for the deficit, will they
do so again. They might, perhaps,
IN those towns where the craze of the
game is at white heat, but there is
no way to SO quickly put a damper
on mans enthusiasm as to make
him dig for the wherewithal to keep
the thing going. For that reason it is
safe t., presume that things must take
turn and be rearranged If next year
is to prove successful one in base
ball way.
Regs rdless Of how much 1t may be
denied by the press of the towns inter-
ested there is no question but that the
direct receipts from attendance at the
annmes have not been sufficient to foot
seasons bills. Ottumwa, possibly,
mas made the year break even, but this
was due to the sale of players and not
to the income derived from the games.
In all the other towns there is a de-
felt ranging In the case Of Waterloo
from many hundreds of dollars to a few
hundred in others. Marshalltown has
lost approximately, $1,000 or $1,000. The
exact figures are not known and will
not be until the affairs of the associa-
ton are wound up for the year. This
city got away lucky compared with
some Of the others. AS a money MAX
ing proposition, league base ball. in
towns the size Of Marshalltown, is a