Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-01-12
NO 0bASEBALLF0R
0TTUMWA|N II
SAYS B0 N HAM
Representatives at Meeting
Treated Shabbily By Hill
and Pass Up League
DISCUSS THREE-I
CLUB COMBINATION

| In baseball proposition IN OttUmWA
seems dead, according to Secretary J.
c. Bonham, and Harry Eager, who
have returned home from the meeting
Of the Central association in Cedar
Rapids Wednesday. The local repre-.
sentatives feel that Ottumwa was very
badly treated by some of the older
towns in the circuit, and have decided
to give up the franchise.
Secretary Bonham said this morn
ing, when asked about the meeting,
Il have never seen a meeting Of the
! Central association, in which 80 much
wrangling took place, and in witch
politics PLAYED such large part The
defeating Of President Justice, IN my
mind, lets out one Of the best leaders
IN minor circuits and although am
not acquainted with Mayor Ford of
Ft. Dodge, do not believe that he
has had the necessary baseball ex-
perience
"Beldon Hill. representing Cedar
Rapids. was especially bitter towards
Ottumwa and seemed to resent the
fact that Ottumwa was even repre-
sented at the meeting. He said that
he had understood from President
Justice that Ottumwa was not to be
/ in the league. I made a proposition
before the meeting to put up Ottum-
was guarantee by February 1. II l
could get the organization perfected
here. and explained thoroughly to
them that we were counting on new
ball park, but they refused to let me
vote unless Ottumwa could put up
guarantee Of 5000. Finally President
Justice suggested that put up per-
sonal check in order to get my vote,
which | did. but the other cities re-
fused to allow It and voted me down.
whereupon I left the.msatasas - - . y
The meeting then broke up and
was postponed until in the afternoon.
The other representatives asked me
to come back in the convention, but +
refused unless Ottumwa was allowed
"a vote. 1t was then fixed up by soma
Of the cities, that they would vote for
Ford of Fl. Dodge and defeat Justice,
and let Ottumwa vote.
President Tearney Of the Threel
league told his plan to redistrict the
minor circuits. A committee of three
was appointed to meet in Chicago next
week to talk over this plan and since
Beldon Hill is to be on this committee
do not care to go any further with
plans for continuing in the league. II
Tearney's plan of redistricting goes
through. Ottumwa may be left out, and
do not care to ask people in Ottum-
wa to put up their money in the face
of this uncertainty. Tearney and Hill
seem to have something planned.
which they are not letting out just yet
1t seems that they thought that II OF
tumwa and Muscatine were out Of the
league they could take couple of
towns from the Three-I league, the
Three-T circuit, taking some towns
from Indiana, and Eun without us.
IF this is what they try to do, do
not care to assume the risk. Added
to this uncertainty, however, is anoth-
er. It is a well known fact that sever
al cities in the Central association are
nearly on the rocks. 1t is very doubt
full If they can get through the 1917
season without blowing up and Ottum-
wa would not want to be in this kind
of circuit.
after all the wrangling, Muscatfne
and Cedar Rapids refused to put up
their own guarantees and it seems to
me that they were trying to keep Of
tumwa out of the league at any cost.
The other cities in the league were
strong for Ottumwa and urged ms to
be sure and stay in. saying that OF
tumwa is one of the best towns In the
circuit: but I have given It up &s .
had iob"