Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-31
DIXIE LEAGUE
DEMISE QUIET
AND PEACEFUL
to Gain Recognition and
Get Star Players Figured in
Reported Cessation.
By O. B. Keller.

T Mess our New Orleans war
correspondent has been slipped
bum steer, the nice new Dixie
league has blown up
Well If il really is time for the OBJ
sequies, We must say that we didn't
wrap chilly wet blankets around the
patient. Neither did we sit up O.
nights with hot water bags and such.
The new league in its formative
stage appeared worthy OF decent
amount of publicity, if not of active
boosting. We gave it that sort of
Zeal, and there is no remorse mixed
with the twinges of regret at the
carly demise
1t was a pretty good little league
on paper.
THE bulk of opinion seems to be
that only Atlanta and Birming-
lam, Of the six Southern League cit
les designed for double-team tactics,
would have supported two clubs. Nat
uraliy, the older and stronger league
would have survived. The experience
Of the Federal Leaguers in the Amer
lean Association towns proved that
last season--although the Feds are
reported to be sticking with fine spir-
it, if not paying any fancy salaries to
the help.
The point is, the Feds failed in
their first year to cut into the asso-
cation, and, even on the friendly ba-
sis of non conflicting schedules, did
not do enough business to warrant a
long life without lavish and generous
backing.
The Feds seem to be getting some
of that.
IF Harry n. Farr, secretary OF the
1 league that died a-borning," is
quoted correctly, he believes it inn
possible to gain recognition from or
ganized baseball and the Southern
League. He also concludes that the
fight without that recognition would
he hopeless.
Mr.. Farr is just about right there
THE original plan of the league, as
i set forth in this column was to
work in harmony with the Southern
by means of nom conflicting sched-
ule, and eventually to play the same
class of ball. with a post-season Sc
ries at the end of the regular season
for the Southern championship.
That sounded interesting. But 1t
turns out to be impracticable, Judg'
ing from Mr.. Fairs conclusion,
DROBABLY the main obstacle was
getting players.
Plenty Of players could be had, and
pretty good ones: too, at less than the
5000 a month that probably would
have represented the utmost limit or
the leagues payroll ability.
But they would be semi-pro play
ers. PLAYERS of the rawest bush league
type. They would not be KNOWN in
the sense that eX major leaguerS ana
star minor leaguers are known.
When alls said, the baseball public
patronzes baseball very largely to see
pIavers t knows, and has heard about,
and is curious to see. Cobb is per
haps the best example of that idea.
And it IS Just as pertinent to recall
The turning out of Atlanta fans to see
Bisland perform, and the sensational
Joe Agler, and the smuggling Wei
uhonce-all men who were known
It is the star idea of the theaters
over again.
co the new league had to fall
- through, it seems, though the Of
fetal obsequies still are pending
1t may not be out of place to say
that the infant circuit was proposed
decently and in order; that there was
no unseemly furry of trumpets or
threats of warfare, and that, If the
project has been abandoned, no un-
happy fragrance hovers around Its
memory.
Maybe it will come back Who
knows?