The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-07-21
BUGS ARE STRONG
FOR BASEBALL
Votes Not Only to Raise $500 But
to Favor Continuing the Play
Ing Schedule Until
Labor Day.
GETTING THE MONEY
Meeting Showed Old Time Spirit and
Before Adjournment Committee
Had Begun It's
! Canvass.
GETTING THE MONEY
Baseball for Keokuk? Yes.

Baseball for Keokuk? Yes.
Astounding in enthusiasm and mani
resting much of the old time spirit
that has characterized the Keokukian
in the past, half hundred bugs gath.
cred in the superior court last evening
to decide whether the city was to
retain its franchise or dispose of It at
the Central Association meeting. The
question was put plainly to them but
there was no hesitancy on their part
to answer affirmatively and vote for
continuance Of the game. Before tue
evening was over a committee to
look after soliciting was appointed
and work Of raising $1,000 was i'm.
mediately begun. Right there in tie
superior court room subscriptions
totalling several hundred dollars were
received.
Several years ago Keoknk had the
reputation of supporting baseball-it
mattered not what kind-as we'll IL not
better than any minor league city in
the country. The meeting last evening
was somewhat similar to those held
In the palmy days and it means that
more interest will be shown in tie
last six weeks of the playing season.
Not only did the fans want to see TIE
franchise retained but they drew Up
resolution instructing the Keol,uk
representatives at the meeting today
to vote for continuing the schedule
until II 70 MI N.,{ To-
talk Of ending the season on July 81.
This will be voted against by keo.
kuk.
Expression Of Fans.
Wells M. Irwin, man who would
rather see half thu city burn down
than to have baseball die an ignomin.
ious death, was made chairman of tho
meeting and practically made retain
ing the franchise certainty by his
stirring and loyal address. He recited
the advantages of baseball and said
that it is a serious proposition not for
the fans but for loyal Keokukians. lie
put it up to them as a matter of civic
pride and his speech had the desired
! effect. During the entire evening
/ there was not dissenting voice and
all seemed inclined to work out a
solution of the situation.
| Que of the serious propositions be.
! fore the meeting, after it was unani,
nous to continue the franchise. VAS
to raise the money. Secretary Sterne
reported that about $500 is the SUN
needed to finish the season and some
of 1t Is needed in hurry for the
players salaries up to July 10
/ amounts to nearly $500 which has not
been paid. The plan OF James ".
Huiskamp was to forfeit the franchise
and have it taken up by a new stock
company. Others. however, believed
that the money could be raised In the
regular manner. An excellent baseball
talk was made by John e. Craig and
4 President NJ. Il. Justice of the league
told of the things Hannibal was doing.
Myrtle Baker provided what was
generally believed to be the only solu.
ton of the problem. He said the
proposition resolves itself into the
simple one Of getting the money and
the only way to do 1t was by solicit
| ing. He believed that $1,000 could be
raised by canvass at this time II
the committee got out and the town
was districted. Thomas McManus fa-
vored this plan and 1t was speedily
put in the form of motion, seconded
by T. S. Paul. Upon this plan remarks
from q. e. Hawks, G. j. Smith and
| Frank w. Swan were made.
i Chairman Irwin appointed com
1 mittee composed of Myrtle Baker,
Frank Griffey and Thomas McManus,
which he characterized as the blonde.
brunette and red to take charge Of
conducting the campaign This COM
mittee will appoint subcommittee
and secure the money as quickly as
possible,
Question Of Seasons Length.
Keokuk wants baseball until Labor
Day. This was the sentiment express
ed unanimously last evening. Score.
tary Sterne said that he would likely
be called upon to vote on closing the
season at an early day and wanted to
be backed by the fans in what he did.
! A resolution favoring the season as
the schedule now reads was passed
and given to Mr.. Sterne to take to the
meeting today.
j