Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-09-12
Another Admission From Daven-
port That It's Team Must Win
or Lack Support.
sPoRTsMANLIKE SPIRIT LACKING
Rock Island Prefers the Pastime at
All Hazards, Though Anx-
ions TO Excel.

statement that the town is not game
and cannot stand reverse or adver-
sity as far as its bail team is con-
cerned was made when the Three-I
league was formed, but was stoutIy
denied at the time. Last wear the
club on that side of the river gor
along fairly, because it managed
to keep we'll ahead of Rock Island
during the ma or part of the season
and finished. as it deserved to, a good
margin i'm advance of its much fear
ed rival city i'm the percentage col
umn. Rock Islands feelings were
probably as much hurt over the re-
suit as Davenport's would have been
under the same circumstances, and
the effect of the showing on the part
of the local team was especially Sc
we're, in view of the fact that Rock
Island had won the pennant in the
two previous organizations to which
it belonged and had been first in an
other that had collapsed before the
ending of the season.
Went at 1t Again.
Rock Island was not dkheartened.
though, and this year started in with
as much pluck as ever. But how
about Davenport? 1t did not take
but a few games to demonstrate that
Rock Island this year had the better
team of the two, and by Memorial
day Davenport was ready to quit, and
was making threats of so doing.
Rock Island was even at that time
famed by the absence through sick
ness of some of its best players, but
at that managed to keep ahead of
Davenport whose ball fans were daily
growing more Indifferent and so con-
tinued until the Fourth of July.
Then through good fortune the Dav-
export team got the lead and Rock
Island went on the toboggan. At this,
Davenport was all interest and en-
thusiasm, The entire town went out
to the ball games and rooted three
out of four games away from Rock
ford-and dire was the fate of the
visiting team in Davenport about
that time. Meanwhile Davenport
was pluming itself at having the pen
nant winners But when its team
hit the road again, and it lost the
effect of the INVESTIGATION at home, L
struck its regular gait. and fell into
its class. Still Rock Island was
struggling along under a load of hard
luck, losing close games but still play
ing consistent ball. And so Davenport |
was conteuted. Finally, though, Rock |
Island got its winning clothes again, |
and started toward the front with Il
rally that challenged the admiration
of loyal supporters of the game ut
home and at the same time spread |
terror in Davenport, not because the
team was playing any more poorly |
than it had but because Rock Island |
was gaining. Some of its players hal |
been suspended for rowdy- |
ism. and nothing would do but they |
must be reinstated, and finally il
came to a point where either such
players must be put back in the game
and the town given into the bargain
the umpire it wanted, or would quit
then and there. This was within six
weeks of the close of the season. As
IN evidence of Kindness toward the
on that side which was
being all but driven out of town,
President Sexton acceded to the de-
and gave the team all that IL
desired.
The Final Struggle.
Rock Island, though, continued to
win its proportion of the games il
played, and it so happened that it re-
NAMED for the last series between
he Rock Island and Davenport teams
% decide their relative positions IN
he percentage column. Rock Islanl
lad to win the entire series tn
square accounts for the season with
Davenport or to land above its rival
N the last summing up. The odds
we're against Donnelly's men, but
hey sueceeded-and there has been I
woe in Davenport since. Had what
has happened not been reserved for
he last days of the ball season Day !
IMPORT would very likely have taken
% the woods and thrown up its fran
,hise. The following from last
lights Leader not only sustains this
assertion but the one frequently made l
hat Davenport must either have the I
'est of it or play quits:
''The past season has again demon :
trated the often repeated statement
hat Davenport must have winning {
cam in order to have the support OF {
he public. Davenporters want WIN '
ing ball or no ball at all. 1t is no
ecret that hundreds of the devotees
# the national game in this city have {
# late been boycotting the games in
his city on account of the disappoint- q
nent in the work of the local team.
his feeling has not only greatly di-
finished the attendance but has like {
wise made a big slump I'm the receipts
lot only for the local management
nut also for the visiting clubs
A Very Narrow spirit.
Such a spirit shown and confessed {
ught almost to deprive the town pos /
essing ii of its baseball franchise. 4
What if the same disposition were 10 {
revail in every town in the Three-l
eague? Fortunately it is not true Of
mother city in the circuit. 1t is not 7