Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-02-18
MOVEMENT FOR NEW oRoAhlzA-
rioN STARTED IN RIVER
TOWNS.
FIRST APPEAL COMES
FROM ILLINOIS CITY
Eleven Towns Mentioned for Probable
Msmbsrship-NeE Evidence, However,
Of Spontaneous Demand FOR Revival
Of Sport-Fsar to Start Until Con-
ditions Ar Settled.

The revival Of baseball in minor
league territory Of Iowa and ILLINOIS
for 1919 Is not likely, despite contrary
predictions in the Waterloo papers
and elsewhere. The reason is a strong
belief in the ordinarily good basepaii
towns that baseball should rest
year" Efforts to form an 1owa-lili-
nois league, confined largely to river
town promoters. have not resulted In
a general response from the cities eN-
pected to be interested in reply to the
appeal for membership.
There is no possibility OF reorganiz-
ing the old Central Association, AT
least not as IL was constituted when
play was suspended In 1917. The
northern Iowa cities. Mason City. Wa
terloo and Fort Dodge. are thru There
is little likelihood that either Fort
Dodge or Mason City would be
seriously considered in any reorgani-
zation movement and there is no pos
sibility of Waterloo returning to the
game this year or next.
Call Comes From Moline.
The call for new league come from
outside the oid organization. Lee
Blackburn. Of Moline. is sending out
the appeal and he and his associates
have hoped that an organization might
he formed from among the following
cities: Davenport. Moline. Rock
Island Clinton. Quincy, Hannibal
INaIE
Rapids. Burlington and Waterloo
There is no doubt but that eight cities
could be secured from the eleven
named which would make a stronger
league than the old Central Associa-
lion, as it existed in its latter years.
The wisdom of placing teams in
Moline Rock Island and Davenport. oil
course, is subject to question, and Wa
-erloo, without doubt. can not be con
,idered a possibility this season.. Cedar
Rapids is not showing any enthusiasm
md If the RABBIT boosters decided to
get in the game before 1920 IL would
Se only for thu reason that they would
not stand in she light Of having held
Jack when the other cities cried for
~e> tnnption Of the game. Burlington
is said TO be ready to get back into
professional baseball and after its va
alton from the game should be in
good condition for several years &c
come.
Museatine Ready TO Resume.
The wounds OF battle resulting from
the memorable, pennant fight of 1916
have healed ard Muscatine is prepared
TO play profes sional baseball. tho pos
'ibly more inclined to await the COM
ing OF 1920 before launching a team
Quincy and Hannibal have had their
ling in the Central Association in
ears past and neither city could re-
ain membership. The greatest OBJ
lection 10 these cities is the increased
Mileage resulting from their admit
lance. A more compact league could
oe formed. composed Of Iowa and
northern Illinois cities, which could
be maintained at less expense and less
friction.
Locally there is ard ALWAYS has been
L strong sentiment for the professional
game Marshalitown might resume at
my time. but the feeling is here, as
Elsewhere, that, because Of unsettled
'onditions OF reconstruction days. il
would be the part OF wisdom to delay
another year before recognizing.
Interest 10 Lacking.
Despite the cry baseball has come
back" sports writers Of the larger
titles admit there is not the great de-
mand for the game that had been ex-
pected There will be great changes
even in the major leagues in the COM
ing two years. Many Of the former
stars of the diamond have passed OF
are passing. There is disposition to
let the high salaried star OF yesteryear
go back 70 the forge or the field and to
recruit the teams from more youthful
tho less experienced players. The
game must be rebuilt. and it Is going
to be rebuilt on basis Of lower
salaries. ..
Some minor league managers and
directors hold to the belief that the
smaller organizations should await TIT
result of the game in the big circuits
before attempting to reorganize. II
the big leagues can not succeed this
year certainly the smaller circuits can
not thrive.
Should a league be formed OF iowa
and Illinois towns this season, Mar
shalltown undoubtedly would not hold
back, but would be ready to become 9
member of any good, compact and
properly organized circuit. There is
no sentiment here, however. for q
makeshift organization which would
admit small factions which believe
they represent certain cities or con-
troll the situation In those towns. Tit
game Is for the masses and the gen.
eral public must be behind the game !,
it would live. II the demand in the
several cities is popular then baseball
has come back and the sooner organ
ization Is attempted the better. Al
present, however, the demand Is seem
ingly not as spontaneous az to war,
rant a venture Of thousands of dollars
in cities which have been only moder.