The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-11-24
FANS OPINION Is SOUGHT

Sharp Division Of Opinion
Shown in Preliminary Meet
ing Held Here
Proposal that Bismarck enter
class D baseball league next year i
under consideration by officials of tn,
Bismarck baseball club, it was dis
closed Saturday, and indications arr
that local fans will cast the deciding
vote on the subject.
Tentative plans for the as yet un
named league would list Bismarck
Jamestown, Valley City, Minot ane
Devils Lake. North Dakota, and Aber
deem, S. D.. as the towns holding
franchises. # other towns wanted tt
come in and the proposal looked
feasible the league might be expanded
to eight teams.
Sharp division of opinion on The
ACCESSIBILITY OF Bismarck's entry into
the league was evidenced at a recent
meeting between hackers of the loca
club and AL Hyatt of Minneapolis, &
representative of an athletic goods
firm who is assisting in preliminary
organization work. Arguments flew
thick and fast as the proposal to enter
a league was considered and it finally
was decided to place these before the
fans, if possible, in order that they
might express themselves.
Here are the arguments listed as
favorable to the league:
!. Reduced cost of operation. The
salary list would be held to $1,000 a
month, exclusive of the managers
salary. A former big Lacquer would be
obtained as manager and there would
be no limit on the amount paid him
Such salaries normally range from
SITS to $3.50 month during the play
ing season.
2. 1t would give young players an
opportunity to test themselves in
frague baseball. The salaries paid
them usually would be small, going
as low as $50 a month, but players
would be easy to get because of the
possibility of climbing higher in
league baseball.
3. Objections to mixed color teams
would be eliminated. The rules of the
national association Of baseball
leagues would apply in this respect.
Schedule Problems Solved
4. The problem Of scheduling
baseball games would be solved be-
fore the season opened. In the past
some difficulty has been encountered
in this respect because OF the scarcity
Of high-class teams in this part of the
country.
5. The competition afforded by a
league would stimulate interest in
baseball and restore the former spirit
OF friendly rivalry between cities en-
rolled in it.
6. Establishment OF league would
stimulate interest in baseball gener-
ally, support the junior baseball pro-
gram which has grown rapidly in the
state in the last few years and afford
such kid" players as show talent an
opportunity to test themselves in or
ganized competition.
Just one big question dominates the
arguments against league entry. This
IS:
!. Will Bismarck fans support a
class d ball club?
Back of this issue lie certain facts
which are agreed to by all parties to
the discussion. These are that the
class Of baseball played by the Bis
marck club during the last two years
has been considerably higher than
that OF any class d league. Some
enthusiasts contend that class A ball
was played, if not class IA, which is
the level Of the biggest minor leagues.
It Is admitted that the main reason
for this was the presence in the lineup
OF certain negro players, barred from
the big leagues because Of rules as to
color.
Another factor Is that a league
schedule might interfere with so-called
big" games such as those with the
major travelling teams which annual
ly invade the northwest and which
have furnished some excellent enter
tainment here.
Interest Might Lag
It Is commended, also, that II such
games were scheduled class D team
could not give the travellers sufficient
competition to make an interesting
contest and that interest would lag as
q result.
The second objection is that class
D baseball has been tried in this part
Of the country before and has failed.
In 1922 such an organization was
formed but 1t went broke, with dis
RstrouS results to the hackers in some
Of the towns.
It is further urged that, If other
towns in this area join league. it
will be easier to acquire skillful color
ed players next year than has been
true in the past and the cost will be
less since competition for their sery-
ices will be lacking.
It Is probable that arrangements
will be made soon to obtain some ex-
preston Of opinion from Bismarck
fans In order that a representative
may be sent to a proposed league
meeting, scheduled for December 4
at Devils Lake. II enough support
is manifested there it is probable
that league will tentatively be FORM
ed ct that time and application made
to organize baseball authorities for a
charter and franchises for the towns
to be represented by teams.
During the last two years baseball
IN Bismarck has been sponsored by
the American Legion and 1t is pos
Sible that . recommendation on the
question Of entering the league may
s,e made by the Legion's baseball
e0mmlEsee IN the near future.
HARVEY GRIDDERs HANG UP
TOGS
Harvey, N. D., Nov. 24.-lR)-Harvey
s~l~