Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-30
STATE BALL LEAGUE LIKELY
Hastings Takes Immediate Action or
Proposition.
PLANS TO FORM CORPORATION
Assurances south Omaha is willing
to Join and Fremont, Grand
Island and Nebraska City
Are Ready.

HASTINGS. Neb., Jan. 2~9.-(Special.) y
The movement for the organization Of a
state base ball league was given additional
impetus at a largely attended meeting Of
Hastings fans in the city hall last night,
Preliminary steps were taken for the form
alton of a local corporation to control the
Hastings team and a committee was namsd
to begin at once a canvass for the sale
of shares.
The most notable feature of the meeting
was the unanimity of the demadn for
organized base ball. 1t was the sentiment
Of all present that Hastings and several
other cities over the state have outgrown
independent base ball and that IL a league
cannot be maintained the game must be
abandoned. Recent assurances that Ere,
mont is ready to take a place in a state
circuit has made It practically certain that
a league can be satisfactorily formed, as
Hastings, Kearney and Grand Island have
been in this mood for a long time. with
these four towns as q starter It Is believed
here there will be no difficulty in muster
ing two other towns to make up a six-club
the two remaining places are South
Omaha, Council Bluffs. Columbus, Ne
braska City, Beatrice, Norfolk and Fair
bury.
1t is understood here tina Nebraska City
already has a fund of $500 available for
base ball this year. The manager OF the
South Omaha stock yards team has been
in correspondence with the promoters OF
the league and has given encouragement
that a league team would be well supported
there. The mention of Council Bluffs as
a prospective member aroused, considerable
enthusiasm last night. a number of the
- AATNA4. 49, =
even than South Omaha.
Rising Tide of Interest.
The meeting disclosed a rising tide Of
base ball interest and 1t was apparent at
the outset that the funds necessary to put
over the local end Of the enterprise will
be easily forthcoming. The association OF
last year has a balance of S5O3.55, which
is available, is a nucleus TO the league
fund This money was held by Treasurer
J.. c. Williams, who recently died. but last
night II was turned over to William Mel
meyer. who was elected as his successor.
At the suggestion OF Herman Stein 1t was
decided to form a corporation following the
enlistment of the necessary capital to ex-
plot the Hastings team. Shares will be
made in the sum OF s. and the financial
committee, composed OF Messrs Charles
Nastine. Phillip wager and William Mel
meyer, will give certificates TO the sub
s%cribers, these to be taken later in ex-
change for shares OF stock. Although nc
effort was made to raise funds last night
a number OF persons present announced
subscriptions for a total OF more than 1C
shares and others said they would give
Mbetal aid. The committee expects to
bring the stock sale up to 5000 by Mon
day afternoon, which, with the amount
already in the treasury, will give a fund
I of $500.
The financial committee will also cores
pond with other towns where league base
ball has been agitated and suggest that
similar steps for organization be taken al
once. They will. advise local endorsement
Of the league proposition in the various
towns. immediate solicitation Of funds and
action toward local Incorporation.
No delegates were chosen to attend the
meeting In Grand Island on February {
for tile reason that II is believed here II
would be wiser to hold the meeting In one
OF the eastern towns. preferably Fremont.
The western towns need no urging, but