The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-15

Enid, Ok, Aug 15.-The Guthrie ball
team of the Western league has been
transferred to Enid and the first game
on the Enid grounds will be played
with Leavenworth. Lack of patronage
and too much outside business by man
ayers at Guthrie is said to be the cause
or the teams transfer. w. A. Cozart,
the new manager, is backed by plenty
OF local capital which agrees to pay
one months salary to the team, amount
ing to about 81, 100. in consideration of
which the team. franchise and the $500
forfeit money deposited by Guthrie
shall be transferred to this city, but all
Sunday games to be played at Guthrie
the balance of the season.
This announcement is distinct dis
appointment to the officers of the West
ern association. When the season began
President Shiveley rested on his oars
after a strenuous winters work, con-
tent in the hope that he had a circuit
this year at least, which would not have
to be changed, and which would be
able to play through the regular five
months without change or even a
transfer of games. But since the mid
die of July it has been seen that Guthrie
and Sedalia were both failing to up
hold their end of the programme. Some
time ago when Shiveley was in Topeka
he announced that the Oklahoma cap
ital was providing very poor attendance
and that it could under no conditions
be in the league again next year unless
a decided brace made its appearance at
once. The resurrection has not been
forthcoming, and today'S dispa tches
bring the statement that Enid will take
Guthrie's place in the circuit for the
remainder of the season.
From present indications Sedalia is
also in a. bad hole, although the Shop
litter town has in reality been to the
bad much of the season The sedalia-
wichita games scheduled for the Mis-
souri, town will probably be transferred
to the Windy City. From the Sedalia
Capital the following clipping shows
that the teams future there is in the
balance and a transfer of the franchise
may have to be made unless 81, 500 can
be raised:
1t has almost been decided that owing
to the small attendance here the last
series between the Goldbugs and the
Wichita Jobbers would be transferred
to Wichita, and if such is the case the
Sedalia baseball lovers will miss one
of the greatest series of games of the
season, as it will probably be stand
off between those two teams for the
pennant The collection committee of
the Sedalia Baseball association will
make the rounds today to get the
money that is needed to assure a team
for Sedalia in the league next season.
1t is not exactly known what amount
is needed of the $500, but it is esti-
mated that about half of that amount
is yet to be raised and the association
needs it at once, and will proceed to
either sell the required number OF
shares to get the money or something
definite will be given out in the next
few days as to the future Sedalia base
ball club There is little doubt in the
minds of the committee that the Sedalia
people will come across with the money
and that they will support the team IN
the future, but if they don't do 1t there
is nothing to be done but to sell the
franchise to some other town and step
down and out
From these two conditions can be
gathered clinching evidence on the state
ment printed in the State journal some
time ago, namely that Sedalia, Guthrie
and Oklahoma City would all lose their
franchises at the end of this year and
other towns be in their places in 1905.
ShiveIey knew that their existence
though he felt that he might in some
way keep them on wheels long enough
to roll along until September II, when
the last game is played. he stated,
though not for publication, that sedalla
and Guthrie were in every way distinct
sufficient attendance to warrant their
remaining in the circuit. he tact
that Guthrie must drop out because OF
small crowds he said, will mean tnat
Oklahoma City also cannot remain pc
cause it would not pay us next year to
Jump to the territory for JUST one series
of games" Gene Barnes, owner or the
Oklahoma City franchise, said over
month ago: It know we won't be IN
the league next summer. Guthrie is not
keeping up. Oklahoma City is not
drawing by any means as it ought to-
understand that next years plans
contemplate the removal of my iran
chise to Kansas City, Kan, in case spec
iaI dispensation can be secured TO allow
the Western association to play lnere.
So the transfer of the Guthrie franchise
is NOT a surprise The failure of Sc
dalia to stick through the season, al
thought that is not likely. VIII also not
cause ANYBODY to say, We'll or, "Oh,
is that so?" 1t is to be hoped tnat ENG
can at least be able to draw enough
sftendance to pay for the carfare and
hotel bills of the towns which still nave
10 ulay down there. There are about
z 900 people in the place and most or
them are baseball fans, if you can be-
Iieve the frequent dispatches sent out
from that place as to how they have
been longing and praying to get into
fhe ShiveIev circuit. The fact that base
hail will be a novelty there. and that
fTa season will only run about month
longer will probably keep the gate re-
CENTS large until the season is over.
According to the present plans, Kan
sas CITY. Kan, Hutchinson, Kan, and
Ct Joseph. Mo, will be the three towns
10 take the places of Sedalia, Oklahoma
Citv and Guthrie next year At least
this is the programme which. Shiveley
has mapped out and which ne mas Inoi-
Gated to his friends in confidence. Next
January he will attend the CALIFORNIA