The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-11-12
TUESDAY TO Be
MOMENTOUS DAY
FOR BASEBALL
Big Meeting of Magnates
To Be Held At Louis
vile, KY.
MAY CHANGE WHOLE
MAP OF THE GAME
Efforts to Form New
League May Develop
Big Controversy
(By Associated Press.l

NBy Associated PreSs.D
pr6@ 2dsS' to- be Sy the MOS MOST important
meeting of the National association
of professional baseball leagues in
several years will begin Tuesday,
and continue three days. H.
Interest will center largely about
proposals to change. the whole map
of organized baseball, so far as the
minor leagues are concerned, and as
the plan will meet opposition the ses-
sions may develop into exciting af-
fairs.
In this connection the proposal
about which the greatest amount of
gossip has conferred and which seems
likely to produce the bitterest con-
troversy is the plan to form a new
lean association and international
league. The proposed league would
include Louisville, Indianapolis. Col
umbus and Toledo from the American
Newark and Baltimore from the In
ternational league. The four clubs
in each league which would be left
out in the cold under this arrange
ment are expected to furnish all the
opposition to the project of which
In addition demands will be made.
1t is said, by interests in the West
ern, Pacific coast, Texas, Three-I and
Central leagues, the Southern asso-
ClatlOn anu several olneI ORGANIZE
tions for a realignment of their ter
ritories.
Among the specific changes said to
be desired is the addition of Shreve-
port. a Texas league city, to the
Southern association, and the trans
fer of Seattle from the Northwestern
league to the Pacific league.
In addition to these changes others
would probably be forced by the sue
cess of any effort to form a new
combination from parts of the Amer
lean association and international
league. Otherwise there would be no
berths for some of the best minor
league towns in the country.
Preceding the meeting, the West
ern league will hold a meeting. The
foregather. The American associa-
ton will hold it's annual meeting
Tuesday, on which day the national
board of arbitration will be in ses-
sion.
May Suspend In Minors.
A movement may be launched to
suspend operations in several smaller
minor leagues until the close of the
war. Practically every organization
from the big American association,
International and PACING Coast
leagues down, suffered seriously last
season. Twenty-Five minor leagues
started the season, and only about
half of them finished. Only five
leagues went through without
changes in their circuits.
The blows to the minors began to
fall early in the season. The Viz
ginia league disbanded May Is. Two
days later the North Carolina league
gave up and three days later saw the
cult. Early in June the Central Texas
league gave way. The Dixie league
and the Northern association sus-
pended early in July. The Three-I
league, which had weathered all
kinds of conditions for seventeen
years, was obliged to suspend on July
s. The Northwestern league held on
for a week longer, and the Central
association managed to continue ur-
til August 4.
change its alignment, and split its
season in July to stir up new inter
est. Even the American association
began to slash expenses early in the
season because of the heavy losses
due to postponements, resulting from
unseasonab BILE weather conditions.
Favor shelving Baseball.
Presidents of several minor leagues
in the middle west are whole hearted
ly in favor of putting baseball on
the shelf for a year and possibly two.
They favor releasing all players and
starting anew at the close of the war
on a less expensive operating basis.
Continuation of present salaries OF
minor league players, they contend,
is out of the question. The unset
tied conditions in the minors, how
ever, are not entirely due to the war
in the league, in the opinion of
Harry w. Stahlhefer, president of the
Central league. He believes the small,
inexpensive motor car has seriously
cut down the attendance in the small
Auto Hurts Baseball.
From my study of the situation,
have concluded that the factory
worker, who, in former years spent
a quarter or fifty cents for a seat in
a baseball park on Sunday, has
bought a small automobile which
takes his spare money. We usually
counted on these patrons for regular
of going to a ball game, he takes his
family for a ride in the country. And
at present day prices for necessities
after this fellow gets through buying
motor supplies, he has nothing left
to lavish on baseball. .,,,---.--
Golf also is contributing cause.
Men who used to patronize baseball
in Evansville, Ind, my home, are
taking exercise themselves instead Of
watching ball players get it."
Would Re-cIasBify Leagues.
A. r. Tearney, president OF the
Three-I league, will lead movement
at the national association meeting
for a re-classification of all minor
leagues, and a reduction in the mem
bership of the national board OF
arbitration. TeaTney wants the mem
bership of the board slashed from It's
present number of eleven to three.
THE board is unwieldy," he said.
"Its members, presidents of leagues
and in some instances former presi-
dents who are entirely out of base
ball, are scattered all over the coun-
try. III an important piece Of legis-
lation requires immediate action, 1t
hn Ss
sue to be submitted to the entire
board.
ct is my purpose to propose a ma
tional board composed of three men
either TO serve with salary, or vol
unteer their services. They could de-
vote their entire time to the minor
league situation. The national COM
mission has backed me in my recon-
mendation."