Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-01-13

Unless drastic reform measures are
adopted minor league baseball Is
doomed in the opinion of President A
l.. Tearney, Of the Three-I League,
who appeared before the directors OF
the Central Association, Wednesday, at
Ceaar Rapids, to urge pians which he
believed would revivify the game,
Some of the reforms suggested met
with the approval Of all present, while
some were skeptical as to the adoption
OF others, which appeared to them de-
signed for the benefit solely of an In
dividual league. Mr.. Tearney's sng-
gestions follow:
Redistrict the minors to make more
compact and we'll organized circuits.
Cut the players salaries from % to
so per cent.
Appoint board of three men ia
milfar with baseball to adjust all diff
culties in the minor leagues.
Abolish the optional agreement.
y Compel each club to carry numerous
young players.
Give the fans new faces every year.
Cut expenses below the gate re-
ceipts.
The suggestion which caused opposi-
ton was that providing for the redis-
| tricting of territory, and this OPPOSE
ton may have been due to the fact
that neither Mr.. Tearney nor Mr..
Hayes, owner Of the Davenport club,
who suggested a plan somewhat SINH
lar went sufficiently into detail for the
Central Association directors to under
L6tand just what they were driving at.
| Mr.. Hayes plan contemplated the for
nation of state leagues. or If necessary
| interstate leagues. to reach solution
of the problems of transportation anu
lack Of interest.
Mr.. Tearney frankly admitted that
his league was busted but his In
Terence. that the Central Association
twas in equally as bad shape was re-
lsssnted 9 His suggestion that a trade
i.hetHeen the two orga nizations might
his made Without either losing, because
tnsifhS Il = had .aas thing to offer" also
was resented for hhe Central Associa-
ton is much more stable than the old
err league and at the present time the
cities composing it are better baseball
| towns.
The impression was gained that 1t
| was, Mr. Tearney's intention to form
new league taking the better towns
Of the Central and combining them
with the pick Of his own circuit, thus
forcing some of the Central Associa-
ton cities desiring toNretain organized
baseball out of the game. Had Mr.
Tearney been more explicit there
might not have arisen such opposition
| TO his plans. 1t is not believed that
| it was his intent to create new
league, taking the lpick. of the cities
from the two leagues, and forcing out
some cities which are entitled to rep
resentation in the Central Association.
It was explained after the meeting
was over that Mr., Tearney's sugges-
ton. II favorably acted upon, would
result I'M Davenport and Rock Island.
OF the Three-I, being transferred to
the Central Association; the transfer
Of two Central League cites to the
Three-I, and the acceptance into MEM
| bership Of the Central League Of two
cities not, now represented in any
ileague. The Central Association would
be asked to surrender nothing. unless
| it was necessary to drop a member
to make q place for the new citles! ~
L IL such was MI. Tearneys IDEA. he
should have madeS known his plan peg
fore the directors and there would
have been no opposition. However.
the Central Association, or majority
Of it's members. Is not in favor Of ac-
Iceptirig into membership Thiee-l
| League cities if such action would
compel the withdrawal of present
members who desire to retain berths.
The impression was gained by some