Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-01-04

->oi toI 4uinii, dIlIlO no lIhilHS Oh the
attitude of Bunny directors as to the
annual election has been permitted to
leak out. This leaves Mason City as
the only Justice, or doubtful club.
keokuk being considered as out Of the
association.
i Berth to Fort Dodge.
4 Some of the sports writers add an
other vote 70 the. Norton tota-tiat OF
Fort Dodge. There is no one close to
| the situation who believes that keokuk
will send delegation to Burlington
The Indians already have been cc9n.eA
out.
Justice apparently is stalking all on
the Rock Island situation, hoping to
come to the Burlington gathering with
the announcement that Rock Island
will take over the keokuk franchise
If Justice could effect this, it would
serve double purpose. 1t would serve
as basis for his fight for election,
and would add the Rock Island vote
to his strength. Justice has long hoped
to claim Rock Island for the Central
association. He claims TO have put
good money of the association
into the deal, and he carried his fight
for title to the meeting of the national
association at San Francisco.
Islander Case Is Delayed.
The national body, however, failed to
award Rock Island territory either to
the Three-I league or the Central as
sociation, altho at the meeting the year
before it was declared that if the
Three-I did not operate the territory
during the season of 1915 title would
be vested in the Central association.
Justice returned home in the hope
that the matter would be determined
in a few days, but a meeting to de-
termine the ownership of the Rock
Island territory was set for Jan. TO- just
two days prior to the annual meeting
of the Central association.
H Meanwhile club directors grew tired
of the old Rock Island fight, and when
II Rock Island was mentioned for
L Wemhersh!p they were inclined 10
Throw their support to the Dodgers.
The effect of trying to keep Mason
II City out at the annual meeting Of 1915,
when Rock Island and Quincy were
urged for membership, had not been
i forgotten.
"Four.Vet" Rule Bugaboo.
II Conceding that Justices chances for
reelection are SLIM and that Fort
Dodge will be the eighth city in the
league this year, the dopesters are
again turning their attention TO the
four-veteran rule, urging tha. old
bugaboo as the main issue before the
meeting.
Conceding, for the sake OF argument,
that the veteran rule might be held
valid, there Still remains doubt
whether. under the new order of
things, the measure could be forced to
passage. Marshalltown and Waterloo
cd =
is at least dissatisfied with the rule,
and Clinton is open to argument
Mason City suffered more than any
other club from the enforcement of the
rule but is inclined to favor its re-
tention. Fore Dodge, very likely would
oppose the ruling, and Burlington
writer's. who see the transfer of many
of their players threatening to dis
member their team, declare the rule
had the effect of saving the league
from financial ruin year ago, but that
it's application might not be the proper
thing for 1916.
Thus tits that the league generally
is looking forward to a new order OF
things which, it is to be hoped, will
work to the betterment of the sport.
Rock Island Can't Enter.
Assurances that Rock Island would
not enter the Central association this
year were received from Rock Island
today. These advices come on such
good authority that there is no dis
position to question them here The
Three-I league masnates have given
the people Of Rock Island and the Off
Gals Of the Central association to
understand that they consider Rock
Island territory as still subject to
Three-I league control, and. should the
Central association attempt to press
the issue, the Three-Iis prepared to
carry the fight to the courts, and tie
up the territory in dispute for an en-
tire season.
II Furthermore. the Three-I league has
q lease or the Rcck leland baseball;
park and proposes to keep it Just SO
long as is necessary to convince the
Central association that there is no
place for the younger organization in
the Illinois city. Should the Central
association force the fight for territory
to decision and win. the Three-I, ac-
| cording to their threat, would retain
the lease on the Rock Island baseball
park. thus preventing the Central from
entering the city this year, and bar
ring the league from claiming It's
rights next year without great ex-
| penditure. From the Three-I view
paint the Central association does not
exist as far. as the Rock Island situa-
tion is concerned.
Farm loana william. Fattsn an