Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-04-29
PREDICTS SUCCESSFUL SEASON

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PREDICTS SUCCESSFUL SEASON.
President Sections Statement on the Eve
of the League Opening
The Chicago Sunday Tribune prints
a statement on the seasons outlook
from President M. Ii Sexton, of the
Three-I league accompanied by
photograph of him. President Sexton
says:
1.-The playing season in the Illinois,
Iowa and Indiapa league will begin
this week. Looking back over
period of eight or ten years, during
which / have followed the develop.
ment of the nttional game. 1 cannot
recall time when every Indication
seemed to point so surely to a sue
cessful season as the present.
The spirited contest waged by the
two major organizations for the favor
and patronage of the baseball public
has attracted the attention of great
number of people throughout the
country and aroused the interest to
such an extent that all minor leagues
will profit thereby. AS evidence of
for the first time in years several
cities in California leagues were
obliged to turn people away from
their parks on their opening day is
only one indication
I'm my opinion, the coming fall
will find the affair." of the baseball
world in such a condition as TO i'm
peratively demand the formation of a
new national agreement, constructed
on somewhat different lines and Civ
ing more representation and protec-
ton &c minor leagues, thus insuring
better and more satisfactory under
standing throughout, and [ believe it
will do much towards securing and
retaining the confidence and good will
of the pu ollie AMI satisfying II of the
good intentions of the magnates in
their efforts to perpetuate baseball as.
a national game.
Healthy Baseball Sentiment.
"Having been selected to direc, the
affairs of the Tnree-I. league l am in
a position to know actual conditions
throughout this circuit, and rep orts
which 1 am receiving almost daily
show the most healthy sentiment that
could possibly be desired prevailing
in every city in our circuit. We have
this year departed to considerable ex-
tent from the methods followed in
former years, and have adopted the
percentage plan in lieu of the old guar
antee system, thereby placing our
selves. practically on the cooperative
basis, and insuring to the smaller or
weaker cities an opportunity to par
ticipate in the receipts of the larger
aud bett .r drawing towns. The con-
Stitution has bsen so chaugel and
amended as to insure better compG-
ance with it's provisions. aud in add
tion thereto the representatives of the
different cities have cheerfully entered
into an almost ironclad agreement to
adhere to the essential features-re =
naming within the salary limit, play
ing out the full schedule. prompt pay
ment of dues and assessments, etc
"In our players ranks this year
will be found many youngsters and
while some changes may be necessary
during the early days of the season,
look for a good fast article of ball
in this league. II an amateur has the
right kind of stuff in him he usually
plays a more brilliant game, and
proves to be better drawing card
than the old head who has struck his
pace aud seldom gets beyond it.
1T the playing rules will admit OF
it. and think they do. wish to as
sure the patrons of the game in this
league that it will be my aim aud de-
sire to at all times have the different
clubs furnish clean exhibitions, and
under no circumstances.will rowdyism
or dilatory tactics be tolerated, and to
that end 1 shall instruct the umpires
to enforce the rules fully and i'm
partially on all occasions. and in all
aggravated cases / shall, in addition
to insisting on the payment of any
fine imposed, suspend the offender for
such period of time as as the ofen5e
seems to merit"
Other Bal Games.
Augustana in a measure retrieved
the recent defeats suffered at Gales
burg by taking a fall out of Lombard
at the Twelfth street park Saturday
afternoon. The score was IA to 2
The game was exciting throughout
The pitching of Gustafson. of Angus
tana, was feature.
The Greenbush Stars defeated the
Seventh Ward Stars Saturday. the
score being Is to 8.