Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-31
SPORTING GOSSIP OF WEEK
Western league Circuit Matter is Still
Up in the AK
sHNtLtY LEAGUE CONTROLS TOPEKA CASE
Vnicss Western Association Consents
No Way f. known TO Get Kan
Has Capital Into Higher
Grade OF base Bail.
Up I'm the air.

Up I'm the air.
II now appears that the Western leaRue
may not get Topeka after all This has no
reference to the dcsirabilty OF the deaf. nor
has Il any regard for the merits of the
case. II Is simply that the inagnates of
class 9, to which the Western association
bol0ngs have control over the class mag
mates, and have determined that Topeka
may not advance. The shiveley league has
voted to refuse TO allow the sale OF To-
peka; DR.. Shiveley says he aid not inau-
ence the vote which was to 1, and dis
Nciaims any responsibility for the refusal
f9e says Topeka Will be In the Western
association or nowhere during the coming
season, and that appears TO end #. This
IL one, OF the kinks OF base ball law that
appear = little strange TO the lay mind but
II is there, and all the Western league
magnatq5 can do is to abide by IT, Here is
the situation in a nutshell: Topeka wants
TO get out OF the smaller circuit into a
= bigger one; the place In the bigger circuit
is open; the men who run the little circuit
have Il in their power to say yes or no to
Topeka, and they have said no Under the
law their say is final, and no way is known
. 10 compel them to give up the territory. All
requirements OF right and justice are in
favor OF Topeka's being allowed to ad-
vance The dog-in-the-manger policy or
the Western association magnates Is sure
to prove ruinous in the end. II is not at
all likely that the people OF Topeka will
patronize the class ball when they have
been denied class A ball that was open TO
Them. This will make Topeka a dead ONE
or the summer, and will probably end the
lie Of the Western association, which has
depended on Topeka as It's main support.
E tJext year, then, Topeka will be available
for he. -
consent of the Western association, for
there will be no such league.
Western Leagues Position.
Some Of the writer's who have discussed
this question have put the Western Ieag,,e
in the attitude Of big boy trying to take
something away from smaller This is
not correct But II the smaller has some
thing that IL of no use 70 him. and the
bigger offers him value in full for 1t, the
pansaction would seem to be fair and the
sf1an boy wrong II ne did not sell. That
Is what the Western league did II went TO
the Wetsern association and offered TO pur-
chase Topeka The Western association
refused TO sell Dick Cooley. who owns
the Topeka franchise tried 10 buy his re-
lease, and was turned down The case
was taken to the meeting OF the National
Association Of Minor Leagues, and there
the leagues below class A voted TO keen
Topeka from advancing. Then appeal was
taken TO the National commission. and 1,
was sent back TO the National board. as
being a matter that concerned the minors
alone but with recommendation that the
minor board change the rule as to drafting
so that Topeka could be drawn by the
Wctsern league. The minor board met
with Shiveley. who is a member, present
and after a conference. at which Shfveley
put his own price on Topeka, recommended
that the Western association sell Topeka
to the Wetsern league. The money was
sent by o'Neil to shiveley, but the little
fellows refused TO sell. In all this con.
2 troversy the Western league has acted foT
the best interests OF organized ball, and
the Western association has acted against
not only its own interests, but the inter.
ests Of all other clubs. Refusal to sell 6
town to a higher class is Just the same al
refusal 10 sell a player. team owner
who. would prevent player from advanc
ing would be considered small. and a Law
exists whereby he can be compelled to par
with the services Of a town. but the prin
ciple Is the same. The Western league hal
acted fairly and the Western association
unfairly throughout the entire controversy
six-Club Circuit Again.
The Western league has prospered for tw,
seasons with six-club circuit, and car
stand II for another. The towns now In tn
league are all live ones. and certain o
support for their teams. Each has a stron
band OF players to put into the field at tn
opening of play, and while Topeka an
ST. Joseph will be missed. the assuranc
OF good ball for the patrons OF the Wester
league Is made certain by experience. !
II not impossible that shiveley and hi
followers viii yet permit Topeka to b
taken over, but II they don't the Wester
league win Jos along with its six-club cir
cult for another season. and WIN deal on