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Show WESTERN LEAGUE MAY SOON DIE Affairs Arc in 3 Bad lay. Indications Are That Death Knell Has Been Soundedi Tilt Between Managers of Eastern and Western T.eams Split May Occur. DES MOINES, la., Jan. 21. The election elec-tion of a president and the close of the annual meeting of the Western league leaves the fans of the league as far In tho dark as ever as to the place that Joe Cantlilon will take in the affairs of the league. From outside indications the new manager of the local team will carry the burdens of the league on his shoulders His candidate for the presidency presi-dency was elected; he secured what should be the deciding vote on the board of directors, and should be able to dictate tho affairs of tho league; a Des Moines man, C. H. Myrick, was eleoted vice-president, presumably leaving the balance of power In the hands of the Des Moines magnate and the Milwaukee manager. This is well enough from the standpoint stand-point of Cantlilon, but the fans are anxious to know with whom the new j magnate will take his stand. Will he line up with tho Western interests or with the Eastern? It had been surmised sur-mised that he would have to make his position known at the annual meeting, but the compromise measures adopted and the unanimous election of the president allowed Cantlilon to go through the meeting without uncovering uncover-ing himself. , His position at the present time Is one of strength. He is the third member mem-ber of the board of directors, the other members being Rourko of Omaha and Tebeau of Denver. These two men will never compromise, and will naturally be In opposition on all poIntB, so Cantlilon Can-tlilon will have a chance to decide all the questions of the league that do not call for a meeting. There is a general feeling throughout the league that the Western 13 making preparations for Its last season. There are Indications that Denver does not deslro to continue In a league that Is rated lower than the American association asso-ciation and there are other teams that will not be sorry for o, break in the present company. There Is also a hunch that Des Moines and Omaha will land somewhere In a. better league than they are at present supporting If a break should come". At the present time all the clubs seem to bo well "taken care of, with the exception of St. Joseph, and arrangements are being be-ing made which will probably land that team In good shape, Ono of the proposed changes is for the franchise to be turned over to the control of Tom Hlckey. In another way the Saints are behind tho rest of the teams of tho league. They have no playing manager or captain- President Chamberlain has announced an-nounced that he has a pitcher for manager man-ager with a big league record and who Is not a "has-been." His description fits the Des Moines manager, and there are a number of local fans that are betting that Hoffcr, last year manager of the locals, will be the man to lead the Josics. |