The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-19

Oklaho ma City's present troubles
are to be regretted. 1t is an awful
has been having. Poor attendance and
consequent indebtedness seems to be
responsible for most of it. Jimmie
F'rick would never have been sold but
for an empty exchequer. Then Speck
Hurlburt had to get on his ear, and
was fired from the team. So a double
difficulty confronts the owner of the
Nets, depleted treasury and disor-
ganized and badly weakened team. 1t
is a matter of great regret that the
people of Oklahoma City have not
realized that, the first year of their
baseball existence, they have probably
the best team in the circuit. Yet with
all their Wanted enthusiasm. their
claim that they never do things by
half, their repeated statements that
there is mo town like Oklahoma
City they have actually not given
their baseball team enough support, to
keep it alive. 1t is probably due right
now only to the indefatigable energy
of Gene Barnes that the Nets are still
in Oklahoma City. The newspapers of
that town ouught to put their Shout
iasm in the town to keep the club.
Unless som ething is done pretty quick
ly the fans in the territory town can
make up their minds that some other
towns will be only too willing to take
the franchise. Here is the last doleful
wall from that direction. This time it
comes from the Oklahoma State Capt.
tai:
Oklahoma City, July 17.-According
to reported statement by Manager
Barnes of the Oklahoma City team of
the Western association, it will be de-
cided at the conclusion of the present
series with Springfield and Joplin, end
ing here on the 10th, whether or not
the management will accept the propo-
sition of lola, Kan, and repurchase
the team. It is said that the expense
r. x,e, ax,11
proportion to any other team in the
circuit, that. it is impossible to make
it. a paying enterprise. The week day
patronage accorded the team here has
not been as good as it should, and the
Sunday games could not pay the ex-
penses incurred during bad business.
lola has made the management a
proposition, and in case it is accepted
season. This will probably mean that
Oklahoma City will have no first class
baseball for some time to come, if ever.
It is said that the local manag cement
is in the hole $1,7o0 now, and it is esti-
mated that it will take $500 more to
finish out the season.
Gus aAlberts had the "big-st X al
ready for the Sedalia team. After
Saturdays rumpus, which he umpired,
it was stated by Dick Rohn that Pitch
| err Westcott had sent Gus Alberts a
I1etter to this effect: eff you come out
on the ball field Sunday. afternoon we
will assassinate you Gus went out to
umpire on Sunday and the Shoplifters
kicked so hard that he was not used
and players substituted. That made
the little old veteran mad. When he
heard about the sending Of the. letter
he got ready for business He watch
ed for it all day Monday but it never
came. On Tuesday he went to the
United States attorneys Office and to
Postmaster Guthrie and asked if a let
ter addressed to him had been taken
out. The postmaster said. may, nay"
so Gus concludes that the Westcott
! got cold feet "Had he mailed that
letter or any of the rest Of that gang,
I certainly would have sworn out a
eraI officers. I would have fixed that
bunch good and proper. would have
held that whole team here. 1t is lucky