Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-01-30
CITY INVITED TO MEMBERSHIP
IN CENTRAL BASEBALL
ASSOCIATION.
TO SUCCEED kEWANEE
OR MONMOUTH CLUB
6eIden Hill Urges Marshalltown to
Fill One Of Vacant Berths, Hoping
That Clinton May Take the Other
Baseball Meeting TO Be Held Mon.
day Evenins-opinion Divided.

In a message from Belden Hill. man
ager of the Cedar Rapids club OF tn 2
Central Baseball Association, to A. p.
Strub, an invitation was extended
Thursday to Marshailtown fans to ac-
cept franchise in the league, filling
one of the berths made vacant by the
retirement OF the kewanee and Mon
mouth clubs. Clinton is sought for the
other berth, but has not as yet given
a definite answer What action, ii any,
is taken here, will depend on the senti-
ment of fans expressed at a meeting
which is TO be held at the Marshall
town Club next Monday evening. Mr.
Strub sent Hill word that he would &c
the matter before local enthusiasts az
soon as possible.
Believe Conditions Are Changed.
1t is tn eopinion of MIR. Strub and
several other fans who were seen
Thursday night and today, conditions
have changed in Marshaltown to such
an extent that a better patronage could
be counted on. When this city frs.
entered the old Iowa league the attend :
ance was equal to that Of almost any
other city on the circuit Marshall :
town proved a good week day city, bu.
the Sunday crowds. as rule. were nos
w 70 those Of other cities. During tn.
fl, st season the Week day crowds aver
aged about 400. while the SUNDAY
crowds averaged only about 500. In
other cities the week day crowds Wers
small, while on Sundays the attendant
climbed TO 1900 or $500.
Street Car Limo Aids.
It is believed that the extension .:
the street car line to the park would
swell the receipts materially and Mr.
Strub has asked the management of the
car line what might be expected from
it in the way of assistance. 1t was
said that the company would aid. but
to what extent could not be stated un-
til after the matter had been taken ul
with the head office at Cedar Rapids
In the latter city the company assists
greatly.
The surrender of the franchise In the
old Iowa league was not so much due
to lack Of interest IN the game as 1t was
the result of poor field management
The misdirected efforts Of the clus
:, manager was largely responsible fol
the conditions which led to a slump II
the club and decreased attendance.
Fans Would Assist.
Baseball fans who were consulted
| late Yesterday and today were OF varied
opinions as to what success might be
expected to attach itself to new ven
ture in the league. Many believe tha
the city has been so long without pro
| Sessional ball that the venture wouif
| proye a good one. Practically all are
| agreed. however, that If clubs are per
! mirted to exceed the salary limit. a:
| they were in the Iowa league, there !:
no hope Of maintaining basehaH clut
| in this city. If, however. the salarl
limit is strictly adhered TO. there Is
j general belief that a plan can be de
yised whereby the club can be made {
self-sustaining venture.
Plan to Finance Club.
! One OF the stockholders OF the OLD
/ club said that. in his opinion. the ven
ture would be success If 100 ran:
would pledge s25 each with no though
| of having the money returned to them
but making the donation with the ob
| iect of maintaining team: the ald O.
the street car company. and the re
| ceipts of the game. the team wopld b'
able TO support itself He declared tina
better roads and the general use o
| the autom obile in the smaller town!
! and country would increase the attend
apce so per cent over that OF the OIL
! club.
| Does Baseball Pay?
Many cities maintaining baseball
clubs in minor leagues do not expec
| any financial return. but are willing +
! nav for the maintenance OF team a.
an advertising medium. ~ the hop
| that the team will draw business L
/ the city The wisdom OF this course j
problematical, but many cities are TAX
ing this course year after year and .'e'
lieve 1t is a good investment.
| Baseball in a small city can be mad
| to pay. however, if properly conducted
In proof of this one has only TO lool
over the record of the teams manage
! bv Ned Egan. who has been identifief
with the Iowa league and the centra
Association from the beginning. EgaI
! has found baseball profitable in towns
like OttuInwa and Burlington. H.
makes his club a training school foi
the major organizations, and his sal
of players has some years brought IN :
sufficient amount OF money 10 Ma.
/ paid the running expenses Of his clur
for the year.
Good Management Necessary.
Under proper management 1t is be
. lieved to more ardent fans the gam
NAV be made to pay in Marshalltown
! but some difficulty might be expert
enced now in securing the right kim
Of a pilot this late in the season. Ke
| vance and Monmouth have droppe'
out Of the league because of loss o
4 money. but neither town supported tn
clubs as Marshalltown did in the oil
Iowa league. and neither has the popu
! iation to draw from that this cit.
would nave.
4 Mr.. Strub is arranging today for
meeting of fans at the MarshaiitoWl
Club rooms Monday evening to discus
the matter, and all who are intereste
r,.;Il he 1x-a1rorn ed