The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-15
BASEBALL FUTURE.
Peace With Foderals Means
Much to Minor Leagues.
Continued Warfare May Cause
TOpeka's Elimination.
REARRANGE LEAGUE CIRCUITS?
Glass IA Leagues Also Affect.
ed by Continued War.
Majors Not Buying Young Play
ers-Fear Loss by Raids.

Baseball fans in the smaller towns
of the Western league should be deep
ly interested in the proposed peace
meeting between the Federal league
and organized baseball. which has
been spoken of as a possibility. Ac-
cording to information gathered here
and there, organized baseball officers
and club owners are willing to meet
the Federals half way and 1t is said
that in the near future an effort will
be made to bring about peace which
will Quell the disturbance that has
prevailed all this year.
The present season is admitted to
have been the most disastrous ever
experienced in baseball. OF course,
the conditions in Mexico. the Europ-
can war, the crop and other condi-
lions in this country, all have been
interest But it is admitted that these
conditions would not have greatly af-
fected the gate receipts had there
been no baseball war. The Federal
league operations have predominated
all other interferences Il probably
ninety per cent of the trouble is chalk
ed up against Messrs. Gilmore, Weeg-
ham, Tinker and others.
The gate receipts Of the major
league club have been greatly reduced,
The real loss and suffering has been
felt by the minor leagues and this is
where the smaller towns of the West
ern league have been made to suffer.
All Of them have lost money this sea-
son because major league clubs have
not bought youngsters.
Not only have these clubs been af-
fected by a big reduction in gate re-
ceipts, but they have been robbed of
the revenue usually derived from the
sale or draft of players, which has
been collected every year until this
season. The Pittsburg National
league club is the only one in the
major leagues that has ventured a
chance on young recruits. Barney
Dreyfuss has taken a chance on sew
have not. Three or four players have
been sold to the Pittsburg club from
the Western league. The drafting sea-
son opens today, but a small list is
expected.
John Holland of the st. Joseph
club. claims to have sold Catcher Bob
bic Schang and Pitchers Sterzer and
Vance to this club, and the Sioux City
club claims to have sold Sheldon LIE
Jeune. the outfielder and leading hit
ter of the Western league to the same
club.
peace agreement between the
Federals and organized baseball will
insure the continuance of a club in the
smaller towns in the Western league,
but this is doubtful unless a peace
agreement is made.
Rearrange Baseball Circuits,
Ever since the middle of the season
there has been talk in all parts of the
country of a re-arrangement of base
ball circuits. 1t has been generally
forecasted, and according to rumor
two towns of the American association
are to be given major league fran.
chises while two towns of the Western
league, will go to the American asso-
citation to fill the vacancies. 1t makes
no difference what towns of the West
ern go to the Chivington circuit, such
action would practically wreck the
Western league.
1t is said that at the fall meeting OF
the Western league. or at the meetine
of the National association of minor
league clubs. which will be held in
November in Omaha, an effort will b<
made to buy the Topeka and Wichits
clubs and franchises and transfer
them to larger cities. But this is only
report and there appears to be M