South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-22
EXECUTIVE BOARD
WILL PASS ON ALL
LEAGUE DISPUTES
Appointment Of Three Mem
berS is Solution to Southern
Michigan Controversy and
Bay City viii Renter.

With the settlement Of the perplex-
ing problem facing the Southern Mich
igan league az the meeting held in
Battle Greek Wednesday, the eight
clubs OF the revamped circuit are max
ing preliminary plans for the opening
OF the season on Thursday. April IS.
There is but little doubt but that the
Bay City owners will accept the selec-
ton OF the executive committee which
Will practically rule the league TINS
year. The Beavers strongly objected
10 the tactics used by Frest James
Frank and IL Is thought that they Will
conclude to his remaining in office
with the three other owners having
the highest power.
II was not the wish Of Battle Creek.
Adrian or Lansing that Frank be
OGsted from office while Ed Smith
favored the retention OF the jackson
man. Eddie Wheeler. the South Bend
man who purchased the Flint club
with Bob Wells, was also of the Opin-
ion that Frank should hold Once.
Ducky Holmes of the Saginaw club.
took the position that If Bay City
dropped from the circuit it would
mean his elimination and therefore
sided with the Beavers.
According 10 an announcement as
made by Vice Prest Ed Smith yes
terday the Ducks will meet the Bend
crs at SpTingbrOOk park on the open
ing date OF the season, April IS Ed
die Wheelcr's Nehlcs Will be the Op-
pOnents of the HOOsiers i'm the first
out of town tilt The executive COM
mittee CI the league, which is COM
posed of Pres't Lowell Of the Battle
Creek club. Wheeler and Smith are
working with Pres't Frank in framing
the schedule The committee and
Frank were given full power by the
magnates Wednesday but it is prOba-
bic that all Will be given an opportUn-
ity 10 vote upon the final draft.
Louie Is "a HOldOut
Smith has received signed contracts
from all of the players who were on
the HOOsier team last year except
Louie" LOudermilk who asks more
money. 1t does not appear at this
time that Joe Grodick viii be with the
HoOsiers again, unless Tommy Nee
returns 20 the Grand Rapids club this
spring. Bul Essick is said to he on
Mee's trail strong this winter in an
effort TO persuade him TO take the
third base job. 1t is also rumOred that
the Grand Rapids team Will have a
new manager before the season opens.
Three new pitchers have been sign
ed for the HoOsiers by Smith. Van
landingham. who hurled for the We
ines last season and Hill who also
was with the Flint club. Will report
here early in April. Hill Will be re-
membered as the twirler who the day
after curt Williams made the strike
out record for the league last season
raised that record one point and still
holds the honor Noss. hailing from
Elgin, H.. and claiming to be com
er. has also been signed by Smith for
"a tryOut.
Hughey Wood. an Indianaian. will
Try for the vacancy left open by the
sale OF Stevenson. Wood is tOuted as
"A fast man and heavy with the club
but smith expects to learn more about
him when the training season is adj
vanced four OF five DAYS.
Few Exhibition Games.
Very few exhibition games Will be
played by the Hoosiers this spring ac-
cOrding 20 Smith The Milwaukee
American Association club will proba-
bly, be at SpringbrOOk for one tilt
while the Fort Wayne team also may
be scheduled.
If reports are true there may be inn
pOrtant changes made in the minor
league maps of the central states be-
fore the opening of the baseball sea-
son. Terre Haute is said To be max
ing an effort 10 secure "a franchise in
the Three Eve league while IL Is an
acknowledged fact that both Fort
Wayne and Grand Rapids are pushing
negotiations for affiliating with the
Southern Michigan.
Pres't HeilbrOnner of the Central
league has thus far failed in his at
tempt To secure suitable sixth city
FOR that circuit and this is given as the
reason for the apparent rebellion on
the part OF the other towns on the
league roster. Evansville is Of course
inn n
while Ohio baseball men are urging
that a league be organized in that
state composed of Dayton, Springfield.
Akron. Mansfield. GAINESVILLE. Steuben-
vile. Eaton and Youngstown.
The Ohio proposition looks good to
the Buckeye men because Of the short
railway jumps and the compact cir
cult. with Fort Wayne and Grand
Rapids in the Southern Michigan that
circuit would be compact and reliable
The Three Eve would probably be an
eight club circuit with Terre Haute
Springfield, Danvlle. Decatur Bloom
ington. Peoria, Davenport and Du-
huQue as the members OF the Organi-
zation.
Would solve Problem.
This shifting OF minor league
towns would solve the eternal Central
league problem would help the Three
Eve bring baseball 20 Ohio tow ms
who are anxious 10 belong 10 organiz-
ed baseball. and would insure further
stability 90 the Southern Michigan.
which appears 20 be i'm better cOndi-
ton than any OF its neighbOrs
There appears 20 be but one OBJ
lection 20 the shift. according To an
Ohio writer. and that is that Louie
Heilbrouer would he out OF a job. OF
course Evansville would be eliminated
and would probably be taken in by
the Kitty league.
MEET TONIGHT.
Interest is being shown in the has
ket ball contest between the Turner's