Front Office Football Central - View Single Post - Prequel--An OOTP History

SelzShoes · 05-12-2005, 02:53 PM

Suit was filed by Winfred Siemens in New York State court to block the EL's Buffalo club from playing, thinking the local courts would be willing to assist him in his fight. Betrham Farley and the Empire were more than willing to fight back. The first step for the Empire was arguing the matter should be heard in Federal Court. "The question is not only who has the right to operate a business within the city of Buffalo, but who has the right to decide the issue. If we were dealing with entities contained entirely in the State of New York, then it would be appropriate to leave the matter to the State. But the operation of the Empire League, and the Ontario-New York League for that matter, crosses state and national borders, making it subject to interstate commerce-a subject beyond the jurisdiction of the State of New York," argued League council Abraham Noel. The multitude of suits brought by Winfred Siemens stalled as the issues moved between jurisdictions, helped by the Empire engaging in procedural slowdowns to make if difficult for the ONYL to operate in their hub city. Thus, on a simple matter of the right to operate a club in Buffalo, did a long relationship with the Federal Courts begin for the Empire League.

Siemens begged his fellow owners in the junior loop to contribute monies to the fight against the Empire. Operating on limited budgets, the other ONLY clubs refused to help. McCormick, however, understood the reward if they could win the Battle of Buffalo. Any market the Empire wanted, they could take—with legal precedent as backing.

Publicly, the battle did not look so favorable for the Empire at first. The press in Buffalo leaned towards the ONYL club, many refusing to carry news of the EL, but the Dispatch, Buffalo's leading paper and self-proclaimed "Journal of the North" sided with the Empire. The fact Siemens was publisher of a rival paper factored heavily in their decision.

For the first two weeks of play, attendance was even between the two clubs. Enough for the ONYL club to survive, but not enough for an Empire League team.

And then, Frank Richardson came to town . . .

05-12-2005, 02:53 PM	#61
SelzShoes High School Varsity Join Date: Apr 2005	1877-The Battle for Buffalo Suit was filed by Winfred Siemens in New York State court to block the EL's Buffalo club from playing, thinking the local courts would be willing to assist him in his fight. Betrham Farley and the Empire were more than willing to fight back. The first step for the Empire was arguing the matter should be heard in Federal Court. "The question is not only who has the right to operate a business within the city of Buffalo, but who has the right to decide the issue. If we were dealing with entities contained entirely in the State of New York, then it would be appropriate to leave the matter to the State. But the operation of the Empire League, and the Ontario-New York League for that matter, crosses state and national borders, making it subject to interstate commerce-a subject beyond the jurisdiction of the State of New York," argued League council Abraham Noel. The multitude of suits brought by Winfred Siemens stalled as the issues moved between jurisdictions, helped by the Empire engaging in procedural slowdowns to make if difficult for the ONYL to operate in their hub city. Thus, on a simple matter of the right to operate a club in Buffalo, did a long relationship with the Federal Courts begin for the Empire League. Siemens begged his fellow owners in the junior loop to contribute monies to the fight against the Empire. Operating on limited budgets, the other ONLY clubs refused to help. McCormick, however, understood the reward if they could win the Battle of Buffalo. Any market the Empire wanted, they could take—with legal precedent as backing. Publicly, the battle did not look so favorable for the Empire at first. The press in Buffalo leaned towards the ONYL club, many refusing to carry news of the EL, but the Dispatch, Buffalo's leading paper and self-proclaimed "Journal of the North" sided with the Empire. The fact Siemens was publisher of a rival paper factored heavily in their decision. For the first two weeks of play, attendance was even between the two clubs. Enough for the ONYL club to survive, but not enough for an Empire League team. And then, Frank Richardson came to town . . .