The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-12
ST. JOE IS BUSY.
That Town Recruiting Western
League Team.
Old Time Player Will Be Active
Manager.
0'NEIL GIVES DETAILS
Tells How the Deal for Topeka
Vas Made.
Regulation That Stood in Way
OF the Draft.
l'NEIL GIVES DETAILS

St Joseph, Mo. March 12.-"St JOS
eph viii have cne-two-three team in
the Western League this summer
Shively may become an outlaw, as
he inreat s, bu- Topeka wfIl be in the
Western League, with Dick Cooley at
its head.
Every cent necessary to carry the
81 joseph team through the season has
the local baseball sports to get enough
to carry the team through the sum-
mer.''
The foregoing is a little of the base
ball dope handed out by n. L (-Tip'D
O'NeiI. president Of the Western
League. He was sitting in the ST.
Charles hotel, with E. ]. Archambault
of Milwaukee, part owner of the team,
and Fred MCGUIRE Of Chicago, secre-
tary-to-be of the rehabiIitated Saints
It was the gladdest and the straightest
dope that has been handed out con-
corning the local situation for many
a day, and the few faithful who had
heard of O'Neil's coming and who had
journeyed 10 the hotel to greet him,
rejoiced, and were glad theIeat.
You can say that the manager of the
Saints viii be one of the best men in
the Western League today. and one OF
the finest little players at his position
that l know" continued ONeH- We
are going to have player-manager
and he Will own an interest in the
team. From that you can see that he
up their best article of baseball. and
il the Saints don't make the circuit
take notice, 1 miss my guess We have
some of our best players lined up al
ready and the others VIII be rounded
up soon"
Questioned as TO the present status
of his fight TO get Topeka away from
the Western Association. for upon that
important consideration rests the only
chance of keeping team in St. JOS
eph, O'NeiI said:
Negotiations with President Shively
of the Western Association have been
conducted by Secretary Farrell of the
National Association. as I would have
no authority to deal with him Farrell
met Shively in Buffalo some time ago,
and. pursuant to my Instructions, gave
him $500 for the Topeka franchise. al
though the regulation price Is $500
paid s.. 500 in the form of a New York
draft. and gave Farrell promissory
note for $500. due in May, to cover the
remainder of the sum.
The regulations under which We
act provide that no league can draft
town from minor league unless
vacancy already has been created in
the dra fling leagu by similar treat
ment on the part of superior organ
Ia ton. Now, could wait Until
doomsday before the American league
or the National association drafted
from the Western league. on account
OF SeGEl2 = Dicat Gls<1C4atlNS&S6Sr - sly
nothing of all sorts of other consider
The rule On the face of il is
unjust. and its unjustness is admitted
IN 4 decision of the national commits
sion, which met to- consider the mat
ter. In that decision, IL is admitted
that the national commission has a
right to concern ITSELF in the affairs of
bodies. although Shively
says that it has not The commits
sion in its decision. asks the national
board to adjust the irregularity. SO I
that our lea que can draft from su5or- !
dinate circuits. but the national board /
the proposition, saying I
that it would prefer TO wait until next
year before taking final action in re- |
gard TO changing the rules. l think |
that in paying the regular draft price !
for Topeka. and acting on the implied
IDEAS of the national commission. am
acting within the laws Topeka is |
willing TO come in. and if Shive.y and
the rest Of his bunch want TO go out
law they can If he does go outlaw. IT
will indicate that he realizes the jus
tice of my contentious and that he
doesn't intend fighting them before
the national commission
The decision handed down by the
national commission. follows:
The application CT the western
Ieagu for permission to draft from a
lower class was taken up and a hear |
ing given President O-NeiH of the
Western league. President Powers I
and Secretary Farrell of the national /
association and Mr.. 7. H. Murnane
and Mr. Burt of the national board.
The commissions decision was I'M
animous that ii did not care TO pass
On the question of jurisdiction at the I
present time. but that as the legisia-
ton was enacted without notice to the [