The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-08-22

THE Davenport Democrat, giving an ac-
count of the late home-and-home match be-
tween the Wapello base bali club, of this
city, and the Scott club, of Davenport, says ::
"The SCOTS kept ahead for the first two or
three innings, during WHICH time the umpire at
tended to his business pretty well, after which,
until left the ground, at the end of the sixth
inning, it would have been well to have had Il
post labelled Decision for the Wapelles' rs to
have such decisions as were given, SO regardless
of justice and the rules of the game-at least so
il seemed to some one or two hundred spectators.
How is it that both games were played with
Rock Island umpire Do the Rock Islanders
fear to play at least half of the time without their
own umpireT
We have noticed that people who get beat
en- sometimes assign reasons for their defeat
which are rather ridiculous, when a frank
admission of defeat would appear much bet
ter. How it is in this case we cannot say,
as we were not present. But we hear that
the Wapellos think, in few eases, the UNI
pire made decisions unfavorable to them,
though they do not charge Intentional I'M
fairness. n#
As to the question propounded by the
Democrat, it is sufficient to say that the UNI
pire, for the first game, was selected solely
by the Scott club. And as to the second
game, the Scott club made the following
proposition, viz:
DAVENPORT, Iowa, Aug. 10, 1867.
Phil Mitchell, Esq, Secretary Wapello B. b. c.:
DEAR SIR:-Upon consultation with the MEM
bers OF the club we have decided to offer our
ultimatum the names of the following persons for
umpire for the game to be played on Monday
next j. W. Green. Scott club; David Hakes,
Lively Turtle club, and d. W. Thompson, Moline
club.
You will please inform us as soon as possible
which one you select in order that arrangements
may be made with him.
Yours Respectfully,
ii. C. MCNEIL,
Secretary Scott B. B. c.
1t will thus be seen that the Wapellos did
not, in either case, name the man. And, at
the last game, were given, as the ''ultima-
tum" of the Scott club, their choice between
a member of the club with which they were
to contend, and member OF club which |
has no friendly feeling for them, and mem |
Der of club in this city. The choice they |
made, of Mr.. Hakes, was a natural one !;
though his name was never suggested by |
the Wapellos, and they would have preferred |
another person. But, as this was the "ulti- |
matum" of the Scots, who dictated the men, |
they preferred him to either OF the other two |
named, Whether his decisions were partial |
Or impartial we do not know. But, mas
much as no other paper, except the Demo |
crat, complains, or any person in Daven- |
port, that we have heard of, except the per-
son who wrote the above extract, we think
bis decisions could not have been wholly're-
CARELESS of justice or the rules of the game"
And we further think that the Scott nine
who played the game have no fault whatev-
or to find with him.
The Wapellos don't fear" anything, on
he base ball question, nor ask any favors of
any one. They play on their merits, and when |
some club can be found which can beat |
hem Ia thing not yet done) they will grace
ully acknowledge the fact.
By the way-it is barely possible that a
local writer on the Democrat, who has oc-
acted as umpire in games played |
oy the Wapellos, and has been suspected OF
In undue prejudice against them, may feel |
.ather sore on account of the defeat of his !
club, and, instead of squarely admitting the |
aet, attempted to break its force by attack
ng the umpire-a course neither creditable
% himself Or his club, and one which his |
.luh will not endorse se.A 4H