Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-07-11
NO THOUGHT OF QUITTING.
Rumor That Fort Dodge Would Sur.
render Franchise Unfounded.

Rumor That Fort Dodge Would sur
render Franchise Unfounded.
Fort Dodge, July 1.-THE finances
Of the Fort Dodge Baseball Association
of the Central Association are In ex-
cellent shape and II the fans of the city
continue to support the club, as they
have been since it's opening, baseball
will be made paying proposition here.
II a division of the season into two
schedules Is made, and 1t Is probable
that such will result, added impetus
will be given the sport and the finances
all thru the league viii be good. Ru-
mors that the club may be disbanded
as the result of an attachment are un-
founded.
Recently the Fort Dodge Baseball
Association had receipts attached,
caused by members of the 1915 base
ball association. A bond will soon be
placed to release these funds and the
matter threshed out in courts.
J. r. Files. president OF the 1917
baseball association in an interview
this morning, fully explains matters
1T has been persistently rumored
during the past few days that the Fort
Dodge baseball club is about to dis
band on account Of the suit that has
been instituted against the associa-
tion," said Mr.. Files. Such result
is not being considered by the club.
A delivery bond will be put up very
shortly by fans who wish the game OF
baseball to live in Fort Dodge. The
funds of the association that have
been tied up by bank attachment Will
be released l don't want to try out
our lawsuit in the newspaper, but in
justice to the people who have been
generous in their patronage and sup
port of baseball, l will merely say
this:
1.-TWO years ago Fort Dodge had no
franchise: 1t had no membership III
any league: it didn't have organized
baseball 1t was represented by
semi pro team which played accession
al games with teams from other towns
that had not organized baseball The
season didn't pay. Those who backed
that team signed a note for sl.250
which mas never been liquidated.
That note was paid and taken up at
or arter maturity by new note being
given. 1t was displaced by another
new note in November, 1915. Last year
Fort Dodge entered organized base
ball A new organization was formed,
charter taken out and a franchise
received from the Central Association,
The old debt of 1915 was never adopted
by the new organization, altho the
officers of the semi pro club continued
to sign renewals Of the old note The
Fort Dodge Baseball Association" and
did so as late as November l, 1916.
Last year, with miserable weather,
poor attendance and it being the first
year in organized baseball, the season
was not financial success. This year
the club determined to incur no new
Indebtedness, and to ask no donations.
Every bill has been paid so far, and a
number Of last years bills. We have
been just as anxious as anyone to see
the eye-sores of old debts eliminated,
but we couldn't do it by going sim
body pulled together this year, and
made this year financial success, we
could then wipe out past debts. We
are in a fair way to succeed. The
attendance has been fairly good, and
the team has now been immeasura bly,
strengthened. and prospects are
splendid for the best year financially
the town has ever had.
Those who signed notes last year
have taken no steps to embarrass
organization and last years officials
have Loyalty co-operated. All have
realized that the only way the game
could be made to pay those debts was
to keep the game alive rather than
to bankrupt it. Major league scouts
have been looking over and have made
reports on four members of this year S
team. One player has been practically
sold with a possible consideration OF
$500. If the team were to diSband
on account of suit drought on a
note given by a separate organization
entirely we would lose all property
rights in the players, and still the
debts would remain unpaid. We have
too much faith in the craftsmanship
Of Fort Dodge to be anything more
than annoyed by this baseless and i'll
timed litigation"