Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-08-07
MOVEMENT ON FOOT 70 REVISE
BASEBALL LEAGUE
THIS FALL,
DELAY UNTIL SPRING
WILL HANDICAP CLUBS
Proposed League Would Include Cites
Holding Membership in 1s1S-Ri~er
Towns Said to Be Ready For Base
ball-Mason City and Fort Dodge
Dropped From List.

An effort may be made this fall 10
reorga nize the Central Baseball Asso-
citation. in a circuit embracing cities
holding membership four years ago, IL
has been suggested by some Of those
prominently interested in the league al
that time that a meeting be held soon
to perfect an organization. II the Cen
trail Association is TO be revived. rath-
or than delay until spring, when the
clubs will find 1t difficult TO obtain
managers and young players.
Should the reorganization meeting
be held this fall. 1t is contended, the
managers will have the entire winter
! in which to sign players and Will no.
! be obligated to await a spring meeting
before there is any certainty as &c
whether or not the game Is TO be reviV-
ed and then form make shift teams o!
the cast offs from other leagues.
The suggestion has been made tina,
the league be reorganized on the basis
of the 1915 organization insofar as pos
sible. This would mean a circuit to
include Keokuk, Burlington, Ottumwa
Muscatine, Clinton. Cedar Rapids
Waterloo and Marshalltown.
River Towns Now Ready.
Word has been received here that
the river towns are eager to return to
organized baseball and that the period
of rest in the southern towns. where
there had been a continuous baseball
for twelve or thirteen years. would find
the fans favorable 10 a revival Of the
sport.
There is said to be a decided senti-
ment in favor of league baseball al
Burlington and Ottumwa and that ke-
okuk and Muscatine probably might be
interested in the movement to reorgan-
ize Cedar Rapids has maintained a
semi professional team this season and
prominent fans Of that city are author
ity for the statement that there will De
no difficulty in reorganization there
While no word has come from Clinton
it is believed there would be little diff
ficulty in forming a club. The situa-
ton at Waterloo, however, is differ
emit The club Is without park ana
reorganization there would be accom-
plished only at considerable expense.
Experience has shown, however. that
Waterloo's civic pride makes many
things possible and il is not likely an
offer OF berth in the old association
would be rejected.
Two Cities Omitted.
In the proposed reorganization two
cities holding franchises when the
league went on the rocks in 1917 have
not been mentioned. These are Mason
City and Fort Dodge. II is not likely
that the former can again obtain mem
bership in any professional league I'M
til it has made settlement with the
Central Association for retention Of re-
ceipts for the Fourth of July game,
1917. which were not turned into the
league pool AS 1t is generally con-
tended that the season Of 1917 might
have been concluded and the rights OF
the various clubs preserved, including
property rights to players, had it not
been for the action of Fort Dodge In
| dropping from the league without
| warning. that city has not been In
| Guided in the new lineup.
There Is movement now on foot tc
| obtain the sentiment in the various
| cities and 1t will be proposed that a
! meeting ne called this fall to reorgan.
| lie, II sufficient interest Is shown.
| the Central Association territory is tc
| be occupied in 1920 1t would be far wis
| er TO perfect the organization this fall
II that is done the organization may
have representation at the annual
meeting Of the national association
| the clubs may contract for manager
before those Of known ability are sign
ed elsewhere and players may be sc
cured while they are available.