The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-02-19
BITTER FIGHT FOR
/ LEAGUE Il: A FRANCHISE
Rock Island and Marshalltown Repre-
sentatives at Meeting De
termined to Land
Berth.
CLINTON rs ADMITTED
City Voted in at the Morning Session
on the Motion Of Louis
sterne Of keo-
kuk.
Especial to The Gate City.l

BURLINGTON, Ia, Feb. 19-Di-
rectors and officars of the Central
Association baseball league met here
today at the Burlington hotel for the
purpose OF framing schedule and
deciding on two of three applicants
for thu two vacancies in the league,
made by the withdrawal Of Monmouth
and Kewanee. The meeting was CALI
ed at 1900 o'clock this morning, and
after some delay the business of the
nesting was taken up. On motion
by Louis Sterne secretary of the Keo-
kuk club, seconded by Belden Hill OF
Cedar Rapids. Clinton, Iowa, was
voted to be given the franchise form
erly held by Monmouth. The vote
was unanimous.
Following the vote to amt Clinton,
NJ. w. Purcell, president OF the club
at that city, rose to thank the direc-
tors of the othsr clubs and in speech
full of enthusiasm for the prospects
of baseball at his town, explained to-
the directors the plan under which
the Clinton franchise will be oper
ated. Instead OF having an organic
ton such as is in operation in othe:
cities, Clinton has formed a STOCK
/ company with board OF control
i which looks after the interests of the
Clinton fans and contributors to the
Organization.
The speaker explained that Bert
Hough, who managed the Monmouth
club last season, has been given full
control of the Clinton club, and will
/ be allowed to handle everything as he
/ sees fit. The Clinton men have all
kinds of confidence in Hough and be
lieye that he will put a winning team
on the field for them Purcell ex-
pressed for the fans of his city the
pleasure it gave tlrsm to be admitted
4 to this league, and in well chosen
words, heartily thanked the directors
OF the other clubs for their support.
There seemed to be a great amount
OF bashfulness in coming to the next
business of the meeting, namely tina,
4 Of making selection between Mar
shalltown and Rock Island. This
business was first postponed until the
/ afternoon session of the meeting,
and 1t was nearly two O'Clock before
/ the meeting was called to order this
afternoon. Just what dodge Rock Is
land had for getting around the de-
| cision of Secretary Farrell that Rock
Island could not be admitted to the
league without the consent OF the
Three-Eye league was left for the
last minute. Early this afternoon aar
indications pointed toward a stormy
session before the business of the
meeting should ba over There was
no doubling that the representatives
from the island city had come to the
4 meeting determined to get the Ke-
vance franchise at any cost. On the
other hand Marshalltown sent seven
+ men to the mseting for the same pur-
pose. They were Just as determined
and set On getting their city repre-
scented in th,s league as the delegates
] from Rock Island.
i A canvas Of the directors from the
various clubs represented at the meet
Ing showed early that 1t would be az
stiff fight If Rock Island could con-
vince tirs directors present that they
could be admitted to the league with
out placing the matter before the
j baseball court, the national board.
/ obviously many of the directors
! pres INT preferred Rock leland over
Marshalltown on account of it's larger
population At the same time thew
were wary of showing their attitude
until the Rock Island proposition had
been submitted for fear of counting
enality from Marshalltown should it
turn out that thyy be admitted by
2:3o no decision had been made.
Marshalltown had placed its proposi-
ton before the meeting and formally
asked for the Kewanee franchis F..
NJ. Wilbur OF Marshalltown spoke on
bshaf OF his city and argued the ad
Yantages to be found there. He in
sisted that despite the larger popila-
ton or Rock Island, Marshalltown
would make the better city Of the two
Tor this league. He told OF the won
der1W enthusiasm that had been dem
onstrated by the fans Of his town,
and OF the large amount of money
raised TO rbaseball there In few
Gays. All prospects pointed toward
lengthy session, and at three O'Clock
IL looked as though 1t would be late