The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-15
MANAGERS CLASH
University Football Team Wants
Washburn Players.
Offer Half Back Lucrative Posi-
ton to Go to Lawrence.
TO BRING GAMES HERE
h. u. and Haskell Indians to
Play In Topeka.
New Baseball Park to Be Used
as Gridiron.

| There is trouble of the most serious
kind brewing in the football world be-
tween Kansas university and Wash
burn. Manager Frank Leach stated this
morning that Coach Kennedy of K. U.
was in Topeka Sunday and doing his
level best to get two of Washburn's
strongest men to play under Kansas
colors this fall.
Il did not want to say anything about
this said Mr.. Leach, because it starts
trouble. But when things are as flag
rant as they showed themselves to be
yesterday I think it is. time to tell the
story. One of my crack half backs was
offered a lucrative position to which
there is practically a salary attached.
What they offered the other man don't
know, but shall find out. That is not
adhering to the amateur rules by any
means and I want Kansas to know it.
am not going to stand for that kind
of business. l shall not mention the
names of the men who were approach
ed, for the simple reason that it places
them in a bad light. They must be
protected by all means.
Il do not think, CONTINUED Mr.. Leach,
that either one will leave, but of course
can say nothing definite on that score.
While the halfback / spoke of, would
not be eligible to play there this fall,
year and would be ready to don the
moleskfn right off. Both are good men
and Kansas would like to nave them
very badly. They joined Washburn of
sake of the sport, and because they
like our college. Kansas will have to
keep its hands off our affairs"
But that is not the whole story. All
summer long Washburn and Kansas
university have been having a great
tussle over the state in their efforts to
recruit promising high school football
players in their teams. The fight has
been warm one and a great deal of
feeling has sprung up. The woods are
being threshed out to a finish for
youngsters that look good
Then there is still more salt which
Kansas has thrown into the old wound
of intense and bitter rivalry between
the schools. The building of the Topeka
Missouri Valley League baseball park
in this city has caused Kansas univer-
Sity to arrange game in Topeka at the
baseball field between itself and the
Haskell Indians. *, Then K. u. is also
dickering for a date with Notre Dame
university to be played in this city.
These games Will be two of the heaviest
on its schedule, and the bringing of
them to Topeka is solely and unques-
tionably for the money which will come
into the box Office Kansas makes no
bones about that. Further still the To-
peka baseball association is of course
anxious to get the games here because
it means percentage of the gate re-
ceipts. The park1is not paid for yet,
and a couple of big football games with
ranging from $500 to 3 500
people would return a pretty chunky
revenue.
Now Washburn doesn't like the idea
a bit of having foreign games in this
city. K. U. is arranging these dates on
days when Washburn is out of the city. |
But the point is simply says Mana
ger Leach, that a great many people
go to football games to see the teams
which are participating, and after they |
have seen them once they don't care |
to come again and watch us play them. !
That is the acual fact of the matter. l |
shall do everything in my power to keep |
those games out of this city"
The Washburn athletic authorities
fought the idea of building a new |
The fact that it opened the way for
)ther colleges and universities in this
territory to bring games here because
IF the large gate receipts. Probably
any other school would not have wor-
RED the Washburn people so much,
put K. U. is their arch-enemy, and for
hem there is no charity.
1t is not believed that the d1fhculues
will extend to the point OF breaking
off athletic relations. Kansas has
'ound such hard competitor in the
Topeka college that the games have
,een immense drawing cards But
he feeling between the two schools is
rery bitter just now and the situation
s decidedly delicate.
through sleeper to st. Louis, Santa Fe
Leaving Topeka 4:3O D. m. and 500
t. a