The Minneapolis journal., 1906-08-13
STAGE IS SET
FOR FINAL ACT
Professional Baseball In Mime
apolis on Trial with It's Sup
porters Just Now.
BY O'Louqhlln.

The stage is set for the final act Of the base
ball comedy of the American association, 'Wiu
We Drive Tacks In Kelley's Face" 1t VIII
be presented at Milwaukee on Aug 22, and L.
A. Lydiard, secretary Of the Minneapolis club,
and NJ. J. Kelley. president and manager, are
probably booked for slaughter. @aA~ 81.
Local opinion is to the effect that Lydiard and
Kelley viii be expelled from the league for
an alleged connection with the Owens trouble.
So firm is that belief entrenched that 1t Is
common expression that the holding Of the meet
ing at Milwaukee is superhuous @e,..
The directors Of the American association,
headed by Havenor, Lennon and Tebeau, have
been after Kelley all season, and Joe D. O'Brien
has been performing valiant labor in the role
Of Investigator.
Local followers Of baseball have made pro-
fessional baseball in Minneapolis popular and
possible from a financial standpoint from q
feeling that it home team and home men
in control. Tebeauism, Havenor control and
Lennon opposition to Kelley have rallied a
strong support around the Minneapolis manager.
That he has made mistakes his friends admit.
He is only human, and within the past year has
been goaded to a point where human endur-
ance gives way.
The idea is held locally that Kelley is being
made the butt of the association for his every
act, not because of any of his actions, but be-
cause he, in his fight for his rights. took base
ball Flaw" into court and showed that 1t was
worthless. He ''showed up'' some of the base
ball leaders in bad light. He has never been
Minneapolis, one Of the best cities In the
American association, has suffered much In base.
ball and paid good cash for the inhiction. For
years the city struggled along with series
Of teams which would put Tebeau's Kansas
City NUTS to shame. Then along came W. 81.
Watkins and gave the city high-priced team.
He was unfortunate last year in that in the
middle of the playing season some of the men
| laid down like dogs before fireplace at time
when the team should have put forth every
effort TO cinch the pennant. and permitted it to
go to Columbus, inferior baseball organisa-
tion. ,.." '..
This year Kelley took hold Of the team and
after a series OF early season troubles got them
to going In splendid shape. Then came the
| sending Of Owens to Minneapolis, Thru raw
ness in his field work in the opening game with
Columbus he precipitated double disturbance
with himself as the object and the consequent
| trouble.
Minneapolis fans are tired Of the whole busi-
| ness. They angry at seeing one Of the best
cities on the circuit ruined and crippled to
| satisfy spites and grudges. They will not
| stand for more Of It, II Mike Kelley is
"sloughed" by the board of directors without a
full review Of the whole affair, without an
open, fair and impartial hearing, on that day
professional baseball becomes dead cock in
the pit in Minneapolis. Kelley could organize
an Independent team and do more business in
Minneapolis than could a Tsbeau- Havenor domi-
mated team playing in the circuit parks.
The Milwaukee meeting Of Aug. 22 is looked
! upon in the light Of farce. The directors of
| the American association not legally bound
| to take or receive any evidence save such as
| may suit their purpose. Fair play is all that
| is wanted by the local followers Of baseball,
| and the day that It becomes evident that It is
| not to be had professional baseball goes to the
dump in the mill city.
| The whole scandal in the American associa-
| tion should be placed before tribunal where
fairness and equity is assured to the Hayenor-
| Lennon triumvirate, as well as to Kelley and
| the Watkins faction. 1t is in sad muddle.
The ghosts and phantoms of the affair still
walk. There are affdavits and counter a ftl-
davits and the whole unsavory mess should be
| settled once and for all. .-szs-
| II there was conspiracy IN Minneapolis to Dc
up Owens it should be aired-but esta blished
! by something more tangible than the word Of
man who skulks behind an alias to tell of his
virtue. The findings of board Of, directors
! based upon such evidence, will not go far tc
soothe populace already ready to turn atten
tion to lacrosse or Independent and vacant lot
ball -.-- E. T. %: - FF# r" r :,