The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-29
q" WHERE ARE WE At?
DIR. ID. VI. ShiveIy Tells Why Topeka Is
in Western Association.

Kansas City, March 29.-The contro-
versy between the Western association
and the Western league over the terri
| tory of Topeka, Kan, which has been
| long drawn out, has been one of the
most interesting subjects to the fans of
Kansas City and the middle west all
during the off season. Next to their
hopes for winning club in Kansas
City the local fans center their atten-
ton on Doc Shively's league and few.
if any, lovers of the game in this city
are unfamiliar with the workings of the
prosperous circuit, known most famil-
iarly as the Shively league. Doc"
Shively in talking of the case last night
said:
All winter long the Western league
has been busy in an effort to secure the
territory of Topeka and no means, fair
or unfair, have been spared by Tip
O'Neill, president of the Western
league; George Tebeau. owner of the
Denver club. and Mike Cantillon, part
owner of the Des Moines club. They
have tried everything from bribery TO
the legitimate, but up to date have not
succeeded in any of their efforts. Dick
Cooley, erstwhile comedian and vaude-
vile artist, and last years manager of
the Topeka club, has played in with
them.
while the Topeka controversy has
been interesting to the Kansas City
fans 1t has been perplexing to the base
national scope and has furnished much
material for the diplomatic corps OF the
national organizations. 1t has caused
all of them to scratch their heads and
has made a few of them take to the
tall and uncut"
Topeka is still in the Western asocia-
ton, at least that is what Doc Shive-
ly says, and Doc generally knows
whereof he speaks. Tip" O'Neill says
Topeka belongs to the Western league.
Tor Of National
sociation, who ought to know, has been
quoted both ways. President Shfvely
says he has had no personal word from
Farrell either way, but at least two or
his club owners have and the national
secretary assured both of these that
Topeka was still in the association Far
reu had a story under his signature IN
The Sporting News of st. Louis last
week in which he said the same thing.
According to President Shively four of
the seven members of the national board,
not including himself, and he is one of
the other three members, have pledged
themselves to him, as have two OF the
three members of the national commits
sion.
"O'NeilTs weakness continued
lis shown in a dispatch from
published last Tuesday
in which he is quoted as say
cision by the national board. O'Neill
has been claiming throughout that the
question had been settled.
1.-THE Western ISOLATION is stand
ing upon it's constitutional rights, and
to anyone familiar with baseball law
the Western league, it is cknowledged,
has no chance. The laws of the Ma
tional association and the national
agreement, which govern the two great
baseball bodies. to-wit. the National
association and the national commits
sion, arc plain.
THE national agreement, the in
strum ent of the national commission,
which outlines its relation to the Ma
tional association, provides that the
National association shall govern it's
own affairs. In other words, it gives |
the minor leagues body the privilege
of regulating its own organization, and |
this body two years ago passed a law !
which prohibits the taking of towns |
from a smaller league by higher |
class organization without the formers /
consent. Despite this fact the West |
ern league has attempted to draft the |
town of Topeka. and. having been |
turned down by the minor leagues !