The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-11
sHIvELY is TALKED OF.
Western League Is Searching for a
New President.

Kansas City, Sept. II. 1.-The journal
says:
Western League affairs appear to be
reaching a climax, and it is very pro-
babIe that before the annual meeting
of this organization is held there VIII be
| a shaking up all along the line. A new
circuit and a new president are TWO
changes that are expected with the Ut
most confidence, and when the 1906 sea-
son rolls around it will not be vast
surprise to see DR.. D. M. Shively, now
president of the Western Association,
at the head of affairs.
Two years ago the Western League
magnates sought Doc Shively as sue
cessor to Mike Sexton, who handed IN
his resignation at the close of the pre-
vious season. Shively made no CAM
paign, and as Otto F1oto,, the Denver
false alarm was his only opponent,
Shively would probably have been
elected had not Sexton reconsidered his
resignation and consented to serve an
other year. ~.
ed last fall, and it is on O'Neill that
the campaign of opposition is now be-
Shiveiy has been approached innum-
cradle times during the current season
with requests that he became candi-
date for the Western League presiden-
Cyl and the feeling is so strong in the
league that Shively is the only man,
aside from Sexton, who could put the
IdplQlJ Q1SOOAFAt5 ACoS0C vi 40 49,,
that should his name be brought before
the annual meeting this fall as a candi-
date his election would be assured.
Shively is non-committal
Pm pretty well satisfied with the
Western Association, he said the other
day. IF the Western League people
want me, / might be willing to go in
and do what I could toward restoring
the leagues lost prestige Nothing IN
the shape of a definite proposal has
been made me yet, so that 1 am in no
position to speak,"
The only obstacle that Shively would
be likely to meet in Running for this Of
flee would be the opposition of George
Tebeau, owner of the Denver franchise
and general boss of the league. Little
friendship exists between the two, and
Tebeau would surely do all he could to
prevent Shively's election. His opposi-
ton is what caused Shively's defeat two
years ago, Sexten returning to the Of
fee at the opportunities of the other
magnates, who saw that Tebeau would
deadlock the meeting if an attempt
were made to elect Shively.
At present the campaign against
O'Neill is being carried on fiercely,
the papers of Omaha, Denver, Pueblo,
st. Joseph and Des Moines joining in
determined fight against his admin
istration. It all cones about because
of his failure to support and protect
his umpires and is aggravated by his
intimacy with the Cantillons, owners
of the Des Moines team, one of whom
he has persistently refused to discip-
line for disgraceful conduct reported
by the umpire.
Robert Caruthers, once the pre-
mier twirler in the National league.
is conceded to be the one competent
umpire in the western league who is
really competent. No rowdyism has
characterized any games which he
umpired, for the simple reason that he
would stand for no back talk. His
decisions have been respected even
when they were believed to be wrong,
because of faith in his absolute tnteg-
rity and admiration for his nerve. In
this respect he was a marked con-
trast to the other UNI pires of the
league. He is notoriously an anti
home team umpire. s. r.
Twice within a fortnight Caruthers
has announced his purpose of resign-
ing and has walked off the field on
account of the abuse of Mike. Can
tillon, manager of the Des Moines
team On each occasion he has UNI
pired through the game after ejecs-
ing Cantillon, but has declined to UNI
pire through the next.
The first occasion was at Des
Moines. where the fans, thoroughly
shouted so long and earnestly for
Caruthers' return and for the perma-
nent retirement of Cantillon from the
field that the umpire reconsidered his
intention. The second occasion was
at Omaha, when Caruthers refused to
umpire the succeeding game after
having twice had Cantillon elected
for subjecting him to vile abuse which
was plainly audible to hundreds of
women in the audience of 5000.
The charge is made that, as O'Neill
was made president through the Cam
tillon influence, he dare not discipline
Mike CantiIlon and would prefer to
lose the best umpire in the league.
Even Des MONIES is denouncing Mike
Cantillon, the Des Moines manager.
Joe Cantillon, his brother, owner of
the Milwaukee franchise, as well as
that at Des Moines, is Just as popular
as Mike is unpopular.