The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-07
Won't Furnish a Park or Make
Subscription.
MAY END THE MATTER.
Likely to Kill the Ball Team
Entirely.
Directors Will Discuss Changed
Conditions Tonight.


the Topeka baseball team Of the Mis-
souri, Valley association the Street
Railway company this morning an
nounced, through a letter from Presi-
dent L. z. Myers of Chicago, that no
aid or assistance in that direction
would be given, and that the street car
company has washed it's hands of the
entire affair. Mr.. Myers concluded his
letter by saying that he wished to
hear no more Of the matter. tbs step
was taken, according to the contents
OF the letter, directly because the trus-
tees OF Washburn college demanded
that an extension of the railway track
be built from it's present terminal op-
poS1te President Plass' residence to the
baseball athletic field. The distance
between these two points is about 600
Ieet ana 1t is declared that the cost of
the extension would be over 81, 200. Mr..
Myers indicated that he was disap-
pointed a the action of Washburn col
lege, and then stated that the railway
company support to the ball team,
both in the way Of the promised park,
and the promised subscription of $3.50,
will not be forthcoming.
Upon being advised of the attitude
of Mr.. Myers, Secretary Ward of the
Topeka Baseball association, at once
issued notices of a meeting to be held
tonight at the Commercial club srooms,
at which it is imperative that the ex-
ecuttVe committee and the board of
directors be present. The meeting will
be called at $3.50 o'clock. BE sure
stated Mr.<Nard, Ito announce that
ton must be on hand. This matter is
crucial in the existence of the team.
I do not want to talk about the prob
able outcome of the matter. But what
ever is DONE" concluded Secretary
Ward, must be done now, and right
now"
The park matter has been the will
o'-the-wisp of the Topeka association
since President Shiveley of the Missouri
Valley league gave the franchise to this
city. On the night of the first gather
ing, held in the Topeka Athletic ASSOC
citation rooms, Frank B. Kelly, secretary
of the railway company, with head
quarters here, announced emphatlca1ly
that the park would be provided by his
company. There need be no worry on
that score he said. Acting upon that
promise the association was formed, and
a directorate elected. Upon repeated
questions as to where the park would
be built, the railway company stated
that the matter was undecided, but that
the park would be ready in time for the
playing season, May l. The directors
constituted themselves into squads to
work the town for subscriptions. They
gathered up about $3.50 President L. E.
Myers Of the railway company then
came to Topeka and met with his board
Of directors. They decided to lease
Washburn park and fit it UP with a
good grandstand, of large seating capac-
ity and put the grounds into good shape.
Mr.. Myers, according to the under
standing of the directors, promised 10
subscribe in behalf of the railway COM
pany, $3.50 towards the team. He ap
peared at the meeting of the board of
: directors and assured them of his in
tentiOns to help out the team in every
way and indicated his desire to also
aid Washburn materially by leasing
and fixing up the park. Matters went
along Swimmingly. The WaShburn
athletic board of control signed a con-
tract with the railway company, agree
ing to lease the park for five years to
the company, on the condition that a
$3.50 grandStand would be put in. Then
the contract went to the board Of trus-
tees for approval There it met with
satisfactory treatment, only that body
thought that the company ought to
extend the street car line the extra
600 feet, out to the park. They also
asked to have the contract terminated
at any time, by paying back a per-
centage to the railway company's inn
prOvements.
Apparently the railway company did
not realize that any official dealing
with Washburn college must be sane
toned by the board of trustees before
it becomes final. The action of the
athletic board of control was merely
a preliminary act to get the sentiment
of the student members of that body.
The contract loaded with the condition
in calling for an extension of the track
was sent Mr. Myers. He was sick in
bed and the letter lay unopened in his
office for over two weeks Meanwhile
the baseball fans here in town were
Worrying over the probable outcome of
the matter. Manager Kelly cooled their
fevered brows by announcing both to
the reporters and to the directors that
regardless of the outcome of tie
Washburn matter the park would be
he
But today, comes the news that the
railway company not only withdraws
it's offer to give park, but also
cancels its promised subscription If
$3.50 And then Mr.. Myers absolutely
calls off all the railway company's re-
lations with the association.
That is the story, and 1t may mean
the abandoning of the team About $500
has been subscribed, of which $500 has
been collected. The franchise cost $500,
the protection in the National assOcia-
ton SIS, and a hundred and one small
matters have eaten up big share Of
the collections The remainder would
all have to be turned over to the Spald-
ing Athletic company for uniforms, and
to restaurants and hotels for the pre-
lirninary accommodations and expenses
OF the signed players.
1t is unfortunate that the matter has
gone so far. Manager Alberts has given
up his position to take charge of the
team. He has signed fourteen players
to be in Topeka this season. II the
franchise is thrown up, the $500 paid
for it viii lbe forfeited, and the small ex-
penses have eaten up considerably
more Topeka has had a long wrestle
in an effort to get a team, and it seems
as though about the only thing to do
is to tie crepe on the front door and
slip quietly out of the back, when a
Topela baseball team is talked of.
An effort will however be made to-
night to resurrect the matter. Some
of the directors feel that the financial
Investments and the contracts with
players, ought to be regarded and an
attempt be made to go on with the
team regardless of the action Of the
City Railway company. To consider
that matter, the meeting is called to-