Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-29
AVE YEARS FOR O'NEILI
collected President Of Western League
and Term Of Cfice Len gthsned.
CLUBS GIVEN PERPETUAL FRANCHISE
Question of Admitting Two More
Clubs Discussed, but No Action
Taken at Annual Meeting
of the League.

CHICAGO, Dec 2S.-(Speclal Telegram.)-
The managers and owners of the base ball
clubs in the Western league met here this
afternoon and elected officers for the COM
ing year. The term of office for the presi-
dent was heightened from one year to five,
Norris l.. O'Neil being reelected without
opposition.
The office OF president was not the only
recipient of bunch of flowers. Each club
received a small package, which was de-
livered by way OF a perpetual franchise,
Instead Of a tenure from year to year So
long as the clubs live up to the constitution
and bylaws Of the league 1t will be i'm
possible to Gust any one of them from tho
organization.
Some of the representatives thought II
best TO limit the life of the franchise to
A. or ten years, but this did not prove
popular with the majority of the mag
mates. The majority argued that If a
Christmas present was the order Of the day
that It was just well TO so the limit
of time as 70 dabbe with such a small
thing as FIVE or ten years.
Two New Towns.
Two additional cities We're tentatively ad-
mitted This ends the talk about a change
in the circuit to GUST Denver and Pueblo.
In order to make the organization an eight
club league the magnates decided to draft
Topeka from the Western association and
TO put team back into St. Joseph, Mo-.
upon which territory the league has been
paying protection since 1906. This decision
may bring up an interesting condition In
base ,all. There is rule that no league
can take city from another league In the
lower class unless one Of the towns has
Lao NJ aFi fuh
class Despite the fact that no Western
league team has been drafted by a higher
league. an attempt will be made to show
the National association that the rule
works an Injustice to the Western league
by forbidding Il to take a city from another
league when might draft from lower
league while the Western league would
+. never have that chance. as II Is too much
o. a minor league FOR any of the major
leagues TO want one OF It's towns.
The Western league will pay the Western
association the prescribed $3.50 II II shall
be allowed to take Topeka. with Topeka
q Western league recruit, ST. Joseph VIII
he taken back and eight clubs instead OF
six will then make UP the circuit. Jake
Beckley OF the 81, Louis Nationals and
g. Charles Nichols. the pitcher. are both after
the ST Joseph franchise. Richard Cooley,
who owns the Topeka franchise. will con-
. ,inu, 20 conduct the Kansas team. no mat
ter % which league Il is assigned.
Z was decided to have four umplres In
,..ad OF three. The schedule COMMITTEES
yil meet IN Lincoln IN March.
The following club owners and managers
were present: Frank Selee ane n. link,
Pueblo; william \. Rourke, Omaha; W. F.
Duncan, Sioux City; William COuckyl
Hol,nes. IIncoln; George Tebsau and r. r.
Burko. Denver; Joe and Mike cantillon'
prs Moines.
Tho officers elected I'm addition to Presi-
rert O'Nein weres Vice president, Frank
y.,.e. pueblo; executive board. George Te-
Joe Cantlllon aud William Holmes