Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-02-27

.
OF the organization soon is reached
there is every probability that one or
more clubs Will drop from the roster,
precludinS any further attempt to put
the league on its feet for another sea.
son. There is, however, firm convic-
ton on the part Of league directors that
there is a way peacefully to adjust the
differences OF the club members if all
are willing to lay aside politics long
: enough 10 consider nationally the stu
ton and TO accept conditions as found
; rather than TO insist on impossible
terms.
Viewing the situation ssnely. and
without prejudice, it is seen that the
following conditions exist:
Six cities have expressed their In
Iention Of retaining membership in the
association, but two Cedar Rapids
and Clinton - have refused TO post
guarantee money until assured Of
an eight-club league.
The likelihood OF securing eight clubs
is not encouraging, altho President
Ford has announced that he believes
he soon would secure an organization
in Dubuque willing TO take over the
Muscatipe or Ottuulwa franchise. II
: Is said that there is some likelihood
; that Boone also would accept member
ship.
some Of the members favor s.x-cluo
: circuit but this is opposed by both
Cedar Rapids and Clinton, who insist
on an aiSht-club organization Belden
Hill OF Cedar Rapids, and President
~ Ia have
been firm in their declara ton that they
would not enter six-club organtza
: ton.
There Is an inclination or the part
!: OF the Cedar Rapids and Clinton di-
rectors and newspapers TO attach
blame for the present situation 10
il President Ford, and TO bemoan the de-
feat Of President Justice. whom they
maintain would have saved the league
from disinteg-ation-
Il Marshalltown is willing to accept the
Sx-eiub organization but 10 insistent
that some decision - reached at once
The local club has players who can be
i disposed Of 70 advantage at this time
and /. there should be grave doubts as
TO the future OF the league. the man
agement win dispose OF the men while
there Is yet uHe, anu prevent any
financial loss.
Too Much Politics.
Il The grinding Of political axes in the
past is largely to blame for the Cen
tral association difficulties. The de-
feat OF President Justice, the effort OF
4 A. l. Tearuey. Of the Three-1 league,
to save the game IN Illinois at the ex-
perse of the Central association, and
chickering's and backbiting among Cen
tral association directors are the
causes.
one Cedar Rapids newspaper de-
ella red that ii was a mistake to dis
place President Justice with Mr.. Ford,
vino knew nothing Of the politics OF
the league" Had the directors been
: content TO drop politics there would
: have been no trouble. The defeat Of
Justice was due 10 the cont!n uous play
/: OF politics on the part of himself and
some Of his friends. and with the cleo
: ton of Ford it was hoped that the
!: league might get away from petty jeal-
: ousies and wire pulling.
: The charge that the conditions now
] existing are due TO the change in the
/: executive leadership OF the league are
{: not true. Muscatlne would NOT have
il remained in the association had Nr
Il Justice been Reelected OF had any
+: other aspirant than Mr.. Ford been
I: chosen. Muscatine was opposed II
!: Justice and had that city remained IN
!: the orgaization IL would have welcomed
the election Of Ford.
/: The ceparture of Otturva from the
|: lea que was not due TO the defeat o.
!: Justice, but to the impression gained
!: by Dr. Bonham that there were direct
!: ors in the association who did not care
|: to see Ottumwa retained.
( On the other hand, IL must be notec
] that had Mr.. Justice been reelected il
is unlikely that either Fort Dodge o.
!: Mason City would have been member
OF the association. In short, il is safe
/: TO say that the reelection Of Nr. JUS
III tice would have meant the disruption
+: OF the league.
3 Delay May Mean Ruin.
Il II has been charged that Nr. Ford
has been dilatory in his work OF form.
ing an eight-club circuit, but this crit
icism may be unjust. It may be thai
| much OF this opposition comes from d.
rectors who resent Mr. Ford's failure
TO take them Immediately into his con.
fdence. Mr.. Ford has said that he hal
great confidence in Dubuque and be.
Iieves he can close negotiations there
soon.
It is, however, Telt here that deci-
sion Inust be reached a. once or TILL
city must protect its own interests and
dispose OF players whose services arr
sought elsewhere.
The situation ct Waterloo Is. per
haps, more acute. Should the Contra
association fail to start this season, 4
will mean q lay-of for several years a
Waterloo. When the Waterloo fran
chise Is surrendered II means also tn
surrender Of the Waterloo ball park
and those promoting baseball in tina
city declare they will not make an ef
III fort another year 70 finance team
Il with the added burden Of securing I
new park.
III Six-CIub League Solution.
IL Just why Belden Hill and MI. Zoo
are opposed 10 a six-cIub league liz no
apparent. Both are old enough in tn
| game to know that a six-c1ub cifcui
is no experiment, but that almost 'n
variably the sextet organization b.
been a success. The opponents of To
six club plan have but 10 psruss th
records of professional baseball TO dis
abuse themselves OF the idea that tn
plan is q fsaiiGsc-
Probably the best Class IA 1eagu
in the country is the Pacific Cons
league-a sir-club organizations
In Glass B ranks there - no NOR
prosperous Organization than ~