The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-15
TRY To REVIVE BASEBALL
Business Men Hold Meeting at Cham
Der of Commerce.


Der of Commerce.
4 Putting baseball on a business basis,
lSrganization of a stock company and
the selection of five men on a commit
tee to be responsible for the Topeka
club of the Southwestern league will
be the plan used to revive baseball in
the Southwestern league. it was vir-
tually decided at a meeting of bust
ness men and baseball fans at the To-
peka Chamber of Commerce Thurs
day night
The meeting Thursday night was
called following a meeting of special
committee appointed by G. e. Slckler'
secretary of the Chamber of COM
meTce, a few days ago. . It was the
plan to get the civic clubs of the city
and other organizations interested in
baseball. It was pointed out at the
baseball if it is naged properly, on
a business basis, and the right man
ager is selected to handle the team
Ensley Barbour. president of the
Southwestern league, will be asked TO
come to Topeka soon TO discuss with
the local men the Indebtedness of the
Topeka club and the taking over Of
the franchise by Topeka interests
The club is in debt S5,72O. it was
stated by H. Z. RIgby. who has been
in communication with Barbour
Rigby is largely responsible for get
ting the business men of the city IN
Serested In the proposition Rigby Is
.siaterested in getting some topeka IN
4erests back of baseball and seeing the
sport revived here and put on a busi-
ness basis.
Talks were made by Earl Akers. DR..
J. L. baltimore, who played baseoalI
for several years and also was an UNI
pire; sig Moore. former big league
baseball player; DR.. Galen Crook, T.
W. Hutchins. Erwin Keller, h X
Baer and L. c. RAIN
Sig Moore was appointed as COM
mittee of one TO write a letter to Com
missioner Kenesaw Mountain Lands.
explaining that Spencer Arthur Abb
bott. formerly manager of the west
en- league in Topeka, beat Topeka out
of more than $4,000 when he was
here. He sold tickets for the season,
then transferred the league to Hutch
inson, it was charged by some Of the
fans. 1t was pointed out that Lands
probably would see that Topeka got
square deal on this matter 1t was
shown that should this money be re-
paid to Topeka, it would help to de-
fray the expenses of the Indebtedness |
on the Southwestern league team now |
belonging to Topeka
Another meeting will be held We'd !
nesday evening of next week, at which /
time Barbour either VIII be here IN /
person or will have an itemized state
ment OF the Indebtedness of the club. /
The Topeka men want to know why /
Topeka owes this much for the league
They want an 4teuiZed statement /
showing these debts.
The way the Topeka baseball Ilay-
erS were treated by Dick Cooley. man
ager of the team last year, came up at
the meeting. and the opinion of the
men was unan nous that no more /
men the type of Cooley would be sup
ported in any way by Topeka business
men. 1t was emphasized, however,
that a large number OF business men
would get behind proper management
and support the team. It was stated
by several men at the meeting that
they would take their share OF stock.
1t was a good meeting. ana more
interest was shown than at any meet
ing since the Western league days,
members present signified.