Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-04-12
PROSPECTS ARE
THE BRIGHTEST
All Towns in the Three.l League
Anxious for the Season
to Open.
PRESIDENT SEXTON FOR CLEAN BALL
Open Letter Addressed BY Him
to Managers, Captains
and Players.

President NJ. H. Sexton, of the
Three-I league, has notified the UNI
pires to meet with him at Blooming
ton April 80 to receive specific in
structions in regard to minor details
incident upon the opening of the sea-
son and to cultivate mutual cquain-
tances. After the meeting the presi-
dent will make tour of the southern
towns in the circuit to be present at
the opening series of games in the
different towns, and to satisfy himself
as to the character of work the um-
pires are capable of doing.
Within the past 10 days all of the
towns in the league have been heard
from by the president and without ex-
ception they report splendid prospects.
Evansville, where Rock Island opens
the season, is willing to guarantee an
attendance of 5000 at the opening
game if the weather is fine; Blooming
ton fans say they can scarcely wait
for the opening of the season; and
Decatur, always first-class ball town,
shows more interest than ever before.
All the towns have aggregations that
they believe are winners.
President Issues Letter.
President Sexton has mailed the fol-
lowing self explanatory letter to all
the teams. to be posted in the differ
ent clubhouses:
To the managers, captains and
players in the Illinois, Iowa and In
diana league of baseball clubs:
I'm cities of the class composing this
circuit it is an expensive undertaking
to run a baseball club, and it is al
ways a serious question with each as
to how the patronage can best be
kept up. In my opinion nothing goes
so far to please patrons of the game as
gentlemanly conduct and clean ball
playing 1t has been my desire, and
TO that end have exhausted consid-
cradle effort. to get the very best
umpires that could be secured for this
league and feel that l have selected
a staff of capable and reliable men.
1 shall instruct the.umpires to enforce
the rules in fair and impartial man
ner on all occasions, aud l bespeak
the cooperation and cheerful compli-
ance in the rulings of the uwpires on
the part of each manager. captain and
player throughout the circuit. The
rules for the governing of the game
are very explicit and cover all points
perfectly, and it is expected that all
players are fully conversant with said
rules.
Rules Cited.
Rule 81 says: There shall be no
appeal from any legal decision of the
umpire, and rule So says, Under
no circumstances shall any player be
allowed to dispute decision by the
umpire in which only an error of
Judgment is involved. and in case an
illegal decision be rendered, only the
captain of the team will be allowed to
protest. Should it become necessary
for the umpire to impose any fines
upon the players, 1 shall insist upon
pronpt payment of the same, and
in all aggrav ated cases shall, in adj
dition to any fine. imposed, suspend
the offending manager, captain or
PLAYER for such period of time as the
offense seems to merit.
"(Signed) NJ H. SEXTON"
Davenport has signed two more
twirleIs. Harvey Weihrauch, Pitts
burg, Pa, and Harry Stauffers, Allie
gheny, Pa.