Omaha daily bee., 1906-05-23
CRISIS IN WESTERN LEAGUE
Affairs Of the Organization Come to 4
Sudden Head,
RowDYsM OF DIES MONIES TEAM CAUSE
Rourke says Change Must Take
Place at once or Omaha WIN
Drop out of the
Circuit,

W. A. Rourke. owner of the Omaha team
Of the Western league, has taken the hrst
step in a movement that will either end
rowdyism in the Western league, or will
end the league. After the disgraceful eN-
hibition on the Omaha grounds yesterday
afternoon, for which Mike Csntillon, owner
Of the Des Moines team, is solely respon-
sible. Dir. Rourke determined that the time
for action had come.
Il was never so Inundated in all my
life, he said last night. "For the first
time in all my base ball career l wished l
was out of the game. l do not mind the
loss Of the game but to have my friends
and patrons so insuted as they were yes
terday is more than ] can stand. In the
future I will have decent ball on my
grounds or I will have none. | would rather
lock my gates and disband my team than
to 20 through another such exhibition. l
have laid my case before the other team
owners in the Western league, and expect
an early answer of some kind. Cantillon
and his team must be restrained and the
affairs Of the league must be placed on a
business basis. or 1t will end right here.
"I have tried to give Omaha good ball
and have been rewarded by most liberal
patronage ever since I came into control
Of the team here. This l appreciate. and
III return pIOpOSt 10 plbltNN NY RoNANAie
II possible. The Omaha players invariably
behave themselves, at home or abroad, and
visiting players must behave themselves
on the Omaha grounds. l realize how seri-
Gus this matter is. and l am fully deter
mined to take any action necessary to pro-
tect patrons and players from such indecent
assaults were made yesterday
Letter to weHtern MREnRtes.
- h., Intt SAINT ont
last night by Mr. Rourke to managers
of Western league clubs. asking for
meeting Of the league to take action to-
wards strengthening out the affairs of the
league:
OMAHA, Neb.. May 22-Mr r. r. Burke
Denver Colo: Dear Sir-I want to call
your attention to the disgraceful action OF
Cantillon, the manager Their conduct has
simply become unbearable. both to the
public and myself, and something must be
done, and done quickly, or the league VIII
be broken up. The feeling of our patrons
here is intense and they will not attend
the games II this rowdy conduct OF the
Des Mones club is permitted much longer.
The same conditions exists in other cities.
The president is responsible to a great
extent for this condition of affairs. In the
first place, he is Incompetent and is notoTt-
ously partial to Des Moines in all matters.
In the second place he Is now absent a ana
supposed to be on the coast, 5000 miles
away from his league during the playing
season Third he has never given a bond
| to secure the league and he handles all
| the moneys of the league; and further, he
| has never furnished an itemized statement
! Of last years business. In word, he is
unfit to act as president of this league,
and It is about time we get together and
call meeting, elect a new president who
! will attend to the business Of the league
| in a busnesslike manner. l am tired OF
| this horse play.
Umpire Keefe states positively that O'Neil
| instructed him not to fine player. and
| claims that he has no authority TO fine or
| put a player out of the game. The result
| Is that he has no control of team like
| Des Moines. This team kicks and runs at
| the umpire on every decision, makes the
game farce, drives the decent public from
| the grounds, and killing the Western
league as fast as they can. I would sug-
| gest that you wire ONeil to call a meet
! ing at Omaha at once. have written the
! other cities in our circuit on the same
| lines, asking them to do the same ! am
| also wiring ONei to the same effect.
! | hope you will give this matter your
| prompt attention, and save the league now,
| before it is too late. Yours truly,
w. A. ROURKE.
The collision between Cantillon and Nor
ris ONel. the Joke president of the West
ern league, is apparent as to be COM
mon talk. Last season Cantillon drove
Bobby Caruthers out of the league because
he could not bulldoze him into giving Des
Moines everything On one occasion Car
uthers absolutely refused to umpire a game
pose himself to the abuse Cantillon in
dulged in At Denver Stats Davis proved
a stumbling block to Cantillon, and so
when Des Moines was coming to Omaha
Davis was ordered TO Lincoln in order
that he might not be in the way of the
leader of the hoodlum champions. The
situation is such as TO demand prompt ac-
ton, and the hope of the loyal fans OF
Omaha is that ONeil will be removed and
a president installed who will enforce base
ball laws and rules and secure good be-
havior.
Doyle IL Suspended.
! CHICAGO, May manager Jack Doyle
OF the Des Moines base ball team was
tonight indefinitely suspended by President
o'Neill of the Western league Doyle's re-
tirement to the bench is because of dis
turbance he created today IN game be-
tween Omaha and Des Moines at Omaha.