Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-11-12
Most Important Baseball
Meeting in Leagues History

'SUS - AAsOVA
which would be left out In thu cold under
this arrangement are expected to furnish
all the opposition to the project of which
they are capable.
In addition demands will be made. it is
said, by interests in the western, Pacinc
Coast, Texas, Three l and Central
Leagues, the Southern Association and
several other organisations for a realign-
ment OF their territories.
Among the specific changes said to ba
desired IL the addition Of Shreveport. a
Texas League city, to the Southern As
ISOLATION. and the transfer OF Seattle from
thS Northwestern League to the Pacific
League.
In addition to these changes others
would probably be forced by the success
OF any effort to form new combination
from parts Of the American Association
and international League. Otherwise
there would be no berths for some of the
best minor league towns in the country.
Preceding the meeting Of the National
Association Of Professional Baseball
Leagues. the Western League will hold a
meeting tomorrow. The Three l and
Central League will also foregather.
The American Association will hold Its
annual meeting Tuesday. on which day
the National Board Of Arbitration will be
In session.
A movement may be launched TO sus-
pend operations in several smaller
minor leagues until the close of the war.
Practically every organization from the
,ai
and Pacific 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.
Tho blows to the minors began to fall
! early in the season. The Virginia league
disbanded May To- Two days later the
North Carolina league gave up and three
days later saw the finish OF the Georgia
Alabama circuit. Early in June the Cen
tral-Texas league gave way. The Dixie
league and the Northern Association sus-
pended early in July. The Three league.
which had weathered al kinds of condi
tons for II years. was obliged to suspend
on July 8. The Northwestern league
hCfu VII ici n WCch iouSct Hfio tlc NVi-
trail Association managed to continue un-
| til August :.
| The Western league WAS forced to
change Its alignment and split it's season
In July to stir up new interest. Even the
, American Association began to slash ex-
| penses early in the season because of the
/ heavy losses due to postponements. re-
sulting from unreasonable weather cordf-
! lions.
| Presidents Of several minor leagues in
| the middle west are whole heartedly IN
favor Of putting baseball on the shelf for
a year and possibly two. They favor re-
leasing 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 un-
settled conditions in the minors. however.
are not entirely due to the war in the
league. in the opinion Of Harry W. Stahl-
hefer. president of the Central league.
He believes the small, inexpensive motor
car has seriously cut down the attendance
, in the smaller cities.
From my study Of the situation, have
concluded that the factory worker. who.
in former years spent a quarter or 81
cents for seat in baseball park on Sun
day, has bought a small automobile which
takes his spare money. We usually
counted on these patrons for regular sun
day business. But now instead OF going
to ball game, he takes his family for
a ride IN the country And at present daI'
| prices for necessities after this fellow
gets through buying motor supplies. he
! has nothing left to lavish on baseball.
| Golf also is a contributing cause Men
who used to patronize baseball in Evans
/ willie. Ind, my home. are taking exercise
themselves instead OF watching ball play
ers get it -
! A. r. Tearney, president of the Three
league, will lead a movement at the ma
tional association meeting for a re-classi
f1cation of ALL minor leagues and a reduc-
ton in the membership OF the National
Board of Arbitration. Tearney wants the
membership of the board slashed from It.,
present number of II to three
1.-THE board is unwieldy." he said. Its
! members. presidents of leagues and In
some instances former presidents who are
entirely out of baseball-are scattered all
over the country. If an important piece
of legislation requires immediate action, It
sometimes takes weeks for the Issue To
be submitted to the entire board
ut ls my purpose to propose a National
/ Board composed Of three men either to
serve with salary or volunteer their ser
vices. They could devote their entire time
TO the minor league situation. The Ma
tional Commission has backed me In my
recommendation.