South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-03-23
mo- PROGRESS IN
BASEBALL DEAL
smith Gets No Prospect of
Lease Longer Than Year and
Possibility That Team May
Be Shifted Still Remains.

No concessions had been made on
either side up until noon Tuesday in
TIE problem TO keep berth for south
&bend m the South Michigan league
<ouring the coming summer Mgr.
smith stated that he had heard Moth
ing from the local street railway COM
pany ia the matter OF extending his
lease. while smith stands pat on the
p OPPOSITION that ne wants a lease for
more than one year.
In the meantime IL is understood
Muskegon business men and baseball
Fans are out 20 ,aise money 20 assist
IN landing the team in their city
Mgr. smith said he expected TO
hear something definite from Muske-
son probably by tonight.
Wants Longer Lease.
The aspect presented by the existing
situation is not favorable for the peO-
pie Of South Bend. 1t appears that
he club II practically lost, that is.
4uniess the Chicago. South Bend and
*Northern Indiana Railway co. can be
Jpersuaded 10 grant Smith a lease
which provides him with "A ball park
OF period Of years. Smith does not
sk the present grounds at Spring
Brook park but appears to be willing
% accept "a lease IN which he is guar
lnteed some satisfactory place TO
IpIay after this year
1T would be foolish for me 10 take
4 one year lease here, says Smith. 4
would not be able TO finance the ball
Tub under such conditions. II anyone
wants 10 try it 1 have the best minor
eague ball club i'm the country for
bale and for sale cheap. / want TO
|stay IN South Bend. / have no kick
gainst the people They support
baseball and South Bend is good
town. 1 am going 10 have team this
SEASON that viii either win the pen
rant or cause some other broken
backs in losing IT,. But ] cannot az
ord 60 take a one year lease on the
present park and depend upon verbal
promises that 1 viii have a park fur
-nished for the club next year 1t
would be running too much of a
| nance"
Wants To Stay Here
Smith appears 10 be exceedingly
anxious to remain in South Bend and
hopes 10 make some ARRANGEMENT
| hereby he may prOfitably keep the
Tub here A number of business men
|have also contributed their influence
10 keeping the team in South Bend
bud il is probable that Smith viii At
| end the meeting of the fair associa-
i ION which will be held at the Oliver
hotel Wednesday night.
Officials of the street railway com
Smith a five year lease upon the park
Dor the reason that il would place the
Ground in his complete control and
3 ght interfere harmfully in the car
Dying forward of plans ~ the fair as
6Ociation. II is the plan of the fair
association to erect an auditorium at
The park and some of the ball ground
|Wiu be needed if this is done, accord
ing 10 the promoters.
Plans have been outlined showing
yhat il is not necessary TO deprive the
bark of the ball grounds because OF
|he proposed auditorium. Both are
possible anl practical but it is under-
|tOod that the railway company is UNI
willing to give smith any written
Guarantee that he will lie provided
Eith ball grounds after Nov. I of this
lear The railway officials say that
/ ball park ill be provided but as
bet this has never been Incorporated /
L. a lease for Smith. An agreement /
l. this effect would solve the problem /
Ind keep the club i'm South Bend.