Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-07
LOSE DAVENPORT?
Forces Said to be Working to
Get City Into Western
League.
HAYES IS NoNCoMM1TTAL
Reports as to Who is Doing the
HustliDg Do not
Agree.


on apparently reliable authority that
negotiations are now in progress with
view of having Davenport withdraw
| from the Three-Eye league and enter
the Western league. When seen in
| regard 10 the matter Manager Hayes
refused to either affirm or deny the
report.
1t is understood that so far all ne
gotiatiOns have been on the part of
the Western league and that Manager
Hayes has not so far even expressed a
desire to enter the larger league. 1t
is settled fact, however, that place
awaits Davenport in case this city can
he induced TO desert the Three-Eye
and join forces with the Western. 1t
is stated that Manager Hayes has not
only received an urgent request to
cast his lot with the Western, but has
also been invited to attend the West
ern league meeting to be held this
month at Lincoln, Neb.
The Western league has decided to
abandon Peoria and Milwaukee, and
it is stated that as an inducement for
Davenport to join the Western. that
they have been offered all the PLAYERS
of the champion Milwaukee club. This
inducement in itself is a f1attering one
when it is considered that in case this
city joins the larger league that she
Will have a pennant winning team al
ready selected with which to start the
season.
President Sexton, realizing that
Davenport is the best baseball town
of its size in the country and drawing
larger attendances than many of the
present cities i'm the Western. is very
anxious to have Davenport represent
ed in the above league. The Daven-
port fans are convinced that Daven-
port could hold up its head we'll in
the Western, but as the responsibility
for the financial end of the matter
rests upon Manager Hayes, he is nat
urally the one above all others TO de
eide the matter.
Two Vacancies In the 7 eaRue.
President NJ. II. Sexton, when seen
today by an Argus reporter, stated
there were two vacancies in the West.
ern league, Peoria and Milwaukee hav-
ing dropped, and that they were to be
tilled at the meeting of the directors
to be held at Lincoln. Neb., next Tues
day.
There have been negotiations look
ing to Davcnport's entrance into the
Western" said Mr.. Sexton, but the
proposition will not take definite
shape until the meeting of the direc-
tors. l have been approached by pro-
motors If baseball in the Iowa town.
many of whom seem to be of the upin-
ion that their city could support
Western league club. The situation
has been pretty thoroughly gone into.
but no application has as yet been
filed by Davenport for franchise"
There has been suggestion that
Rock Island and Davenport might
Jointly take franchise in the West
ern, alternating the games in the two
cities. but it is not probable that such
an arrangement could be made a 90
Rock Island in the past three seasons
has supported independently good
teams in the Three-Eye league. and
has been furnished fast article of
ball. If a change to a bigger league
is to be made the city would prefer
to go it alone. Rock Island and Mo-
line tried the partnership scheme
some years ago, and it proved a fail
ure.