The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-19
TEE}E'S THE RUB.
WHAT the Trouble Is i'm Western
League.
Two Factions Are Fighting for
Control.
ONE AFTER SHIVELEY.
Other FaVOrs Reelection of
O'Neill for President.
Upon This May Turn the Future
Of Topeka.
ONE AFTER SHIVELEY.

TOpeka's position on the baseball
map viii be determined on Friday at
Chicago when the Western league
holds its annual meeting. The gather
ing was slated for Omaha on that date
but has been transferred to the Lake
city.
President D. NJ shiveIey of the
Western association has been cutting
some hay during the last few weeks.
ana now since it is drying, its color can
be determined. It develops right now
before the Chicago meeting that big
fight s. on between W. A. Rourke, the
owner OF the Omaha franchise, and w
=. Duncan Of the Sioux City franchise
against the Tebeau interests. The
three years agreement under which
the O'Nelu circuit has been playing ex-
5ired at the close of last season and
now comes the tug of war to wipe the
Colorado towns Off the map.
Rourke and Duncan have long advO-
Gated a closer and more concentrated
circuit. They have cried long and loud
that the jumps to Denver and COLORADO
SPRINGS were too long and ate up too
much additional expense in the way
of railroad fare. Now they are rally
inR every force at their command to
knock out these two towns and get
new places further east
Sc they have set UP q new idol for
president and he is D. NJ. Shiveley Of
Kansas City, Kan, now president OF
the Western association. II they can
knock out the Colorado towns and
gain control of the meeting, it is given
out on good authority that their slate
reads as follows: ELECT Shiveley in
the place Of O'Neil FOR president and
secure some OF his towns, to make up
Moines. Lincoln. st. Joe, Topeka,
Wichita and Joplin"
This is the actual programme. But
there is a man to be figured with and
the Denver and Pueblo franchises He
wants them to stay in the Western
League. He wants to retain ONeIlL
He wants Topeka and Wichita in his
circuit, but he wants the Colorado
towns retained much more he ana
EhfveIey are personal enemies. But
he has enemies in his own circuit and
they are led by Rourke of Omaha,
with Duncan Of Sioux City as lieu
tenant St. Joe is expected TO hgnt
him at the drop of the hat.
So Des Moines is the deciding fac
tor The Cantillons own that fran
cliae. Though Joe and Pat have been
bosom chums for years, 1t is SAID that
the former too is opposed to longer
retaining the Colorado towns because
they eat UP so much railroad fare. So
there is some heavy euFFyiug being
done, and Des Moines is the horse. Its
vote is crucial in the contest.
should Rourke win out, then there
viii be but four towns left in the
Western League may. It is his hope
to have an eight town circuit, Just as
it Is the hope of Tebeau. Both want
to see things look like that next year.
But &c Tebeau is out of it. then Shive-
ley becomes a factor. Three of the
towns in his circuit are wanted in that
contingency, Topeka, Joplin and
Wichita. BY a compromise, that of
making him president, these three
cities can be secured. Ergo: that's the
slate.
What Tebeau will do, if he wins, to
get Topeka and Wichita, both of
which places he wants very badly, is
hard TO figure out. The Shiveiey cir
cult IS protected for another year. But
The Western League wants new blood.
BUT Tebeau's further existence in the
OlJeIlI circuit worries him most and
3ust at present he is paying it all of
his attention. But after Fridays meet
ing a more definite story can be told.