The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-19
GUTHRIE GETS IN.
Secures Fort SCOTS Franchise in
Western Baseball Association.

Kansas City. Dec. 19.-The transfer
for the Fort Scott ball team and fran
chise in the Western association to
Guthrie, o. T., was effected here Sun
| day at conference between Or. d.
M. Shively, president of the associa-
| Scott, owner of the Fort Scott fran
chise. The franchise was sold to
n onn \; Neal; of Guthrie. for
City. but wired his sanction to the ar
rangement and instructed President
Shively to draw on him for the
amount.
According to President Shively, the
Western association circuit. even with
yesterdays change, Is not yet per-
manently established He says that
representation, and hints that the
opening of the 1905 season may find
| these cities included in the circuit
Oklahoma City was taken into the
sion of Guthrie yesterday the league
becomes eligible for class c repre-
sentation in the National Association
Of Professional Baseball Leagues.
President Shively favors the advance
to the higher class, but says the Ques-
ton will be decided by the magnates
at their meeting at the Midland hotel
here on January &c.
II am highly pleased at getting this
deal through" said DR.. Shively last
night, in discussing the admission of
Guthrie. II have been trying for two
years to line up Oklahoma City and
Guthrie in this league, and 1 am sat
fsfied now that it is going to increase
greatly the interest in the organization
and make it better financially. We
have been going along with the old
| circuit for the past three years and
few of the clubs have been making
much money. We came to the con-
clusion early this fall that the only
way to increase business was to get
into cities of larger population and to
this end we started on this invasion of
the territory and have seen it to a
successful finish. 1t adds greatly to
the population of the circuit, Okla
homa City alone being as large as Fort
Scott and lola together.
This change now puts us in line to
advance to class G in the National AS
ISOLATION, and this question will come
up without doubt at the January meet
ing of the league. am not certain that
this move will go through this year on
account OF the fact that some of the
managers feel that we could prosper
more in class D organization on ac-
count of the salary limits. However, the
salary limit in class c is only 5000 a
month more than in class D, the Ma
tfonal Association limit in class c, be-
ing $1,000 and in class D $780, I think
that the league should at this time
change to a class G organization. If it
will make the league faster and will
add to its Importance in the baseball
world. Then, too, the league would re-
ceive better prices for its players, as
the drafting price from class c is 500
more than it is from class d.
Mr.. Neal, the purchaser of the
Guthrie club, writes me that a stock
company is being formed to control
the club in that city and that every
one is highly pleased at the prospects.
They are going to build a new plant
that will be modern in every respect
| and located in the business center of
the city. While there are eight cities
at present in good standing in the
league, the circuit proposition is yet
to be settled finally, and there may be
more franchise dealing within the next
| busy for the next week with investi-
cations of one or two other clubs and
am still looking toward Wichita and
| Webb City. 1 have no doubt but that
one of these towns will be included in
| the circuit yet before the season OF
/ 1905 opens. 1 am in correspondence
with Wichita parties at the present
| time, and may make flying trip over
| there any day to look into the baseball
| situation. If any team falters we will
not lose much time grabbing up one
or both of these other places. I ex-
pect to go this week to Joplin and
| Webb City, and have another confer
ence with the Promoter at Webb.
| cannot say just now what will be done
but they will be given another hearing
| and there is still a chance for thi;
| city"
At present the circuit of the West
Springfield. Oklahoma City, Topeka
Leavenworth, Pittsburg, Sedalia anc
| Guthrie.