Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-03-20

New York, March 20.-Minor lea
cue magnates are awaiting with I'M
usual interest the outcome of the meet
ing of the international league, sche-
duled to be held In this city on Mon
day, March %. The conference will be
the second since the annual meeting OF
the league was adjourned late in De-
cember. 1t is expected that at the COM
ing session the club owners will decide
| definitely whether the organization VIII
continue its circuit during the seaso"
Of 1918 or abandon play for the dura-
ton Of the war. Such evidence as is
available in advance would appear to
| indicate that the league will operate
| this summer.
| Several of the club owners have
clearly intimated that they are opposed
| to continuation Of play under the
present unsettled conditions incidental
to the war Others stand ready to back
baseball for another season at least,
but just which side will hold the ma
jority vote can not be stated before
| the day of the meeting. If it is decided
to discontinue the schedule there Is a
bare possibility that one or more OF the
clubs will form a new league by join
ing hands with other city combinations
which have in past seasons been part
of lower classification circuits.
A decision on the part of the Inter
national League to drop out would be
severe blow to organized baseball for
the association Is one Of the pioneers
among the minor leagues and steady
and important factor in the develop
ment of the game and of players for
major league circuits. The league was
organized in 1892 and continued with
out a break until the close Of the 1917
season. During the initial year two
season schedule was played but since
1893 the pennant race has been along
the lines Of the majors.
Providence Wins Six Pennants.
Providence with six championship
pennants to its credit leads all the
cities, which have at various times
held membership in the organiZa ton.
Rochester comes next with five and
Buffalo and Toronto are tied with four
each while Binghampton, Erie. SYRIA
cuse, Springfield. Montreal. Jersey City.
Baltimore and Newark have each cap
tured one titular flag.
The outcome OF the conference Is
likely to have a distinct bearing upon
the decision of other minor leagues in
relation to their plans for the coming
season. Several of these organiza-
lions are in rather an uncertain frame
Of mind regarding the financial outlook
for baseball on the smaller circuits
during 1918 and are likely to be swayed.
to some extent by the example set
by the International league club own
ers. Up to the present time less than
half Of the leagues which began the
1917 season have prepared and pro-
mulgated their schedules for 1918.
Even under the most favorable con-
ditions 1t Is not expected that there will
be the same number Of organizations
operating as was the case twelve
months ago. The records show that
some twenty-three leagues opened the
season year ago and that about sew
enty-five per cent played thru the sea-
son or the major portion Of the same.
In 1915 twenty-four leagues were in
operation and the year previous the
number was five more while in 1914
the lists show more than forty leagues
In the various classihcations turnout
the country. III