Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-06-27
TINE FORjA HALT
Baseball Conspiracy Damaging
Game in Rock island and
Affecting Results.
DUBUQUE PROVING MIGRATE
President Lotus Even Allowing Um-
pires to be Subject to the Dav-
export influence.

Baseball, like politics, produces in
crates. More conspicuous evidence of
this fact has not been afforded than
The attitude of Dubuque ward Rock
Island in the boycott th.t is being
waged by the lower end clubs against
this city. This conspiracy, in which
Springfield, Bloomington and Decatur
are playing a part, developed out of
the fact that it was Rock Islands 10y
atty to Dubuque that not only upset
the plans of the three cities named to
|disfranchise Dubuque at the end of last
year and the beginning of this. but re-
suited eventually in the election of a
Dubuque man as president of the lea
que.
When Dubuque first showed evidence
of participating in the boycott Rock
Island naturally was amazed, but now
that it has developed that even the
president of the league, resident of
the city for whose baseball life Rock
Island fought. is also acquiescing in
this spirit of enmity, it passes under
standing.
EMPIRES Stay I'm Davenport.
President LOTUS is putting up his
umpires, with the teams that are hos
! tile in spirit toward Rock Island, in
Davenport and by this act he is giving
countenance to a tendency in baseball
that transcends all former exper-
fences. In so doing he is aiding a
spirit that is damaging Rock Island as
a baseball town. He is contributing
| to the support of a town on the Iowa
| side of the river whose papers chuck
| led with delight and in glazing head
lines indicated their joy when but
few months ago during the meeting in
| Chicago it seemed as if the Three-Eye
league were tottering. He is giving
prestige to a city that flunked and de-
faulted on it's own franchise in the lea
que as against a city that has stood
steadfast and true since the organiza-
ton was instituted. He is playing to
the knockers and gamblers in Daven-
port as against the boosters and base
ball sportsmen in Rock Island. He is
allowing umpires to put in in the same
quarters as the visiting teams and to
associate with them in city that is
mot in the league He is show
ing an Indifferent if not an unfriendly
spirit toward one IF the best towns in
the league by giving at least his moral
if not his official, appreciation to acts
of other cities against this town grow
ing out of their disgruntlement over
the fact that he occupies the Office he
does.
| Two Not In Conspiracy.
The boycott against Rock Island
had it's origin and has been fostered
by the triumvirate of cities first NAM
ed. Dubuque has joined it but Clinton
has not, and neither has Peoria. Cedar
Rapids is housing its team in Daven-
port, but not in the same spirit, The
Argus believes, as inspires the others.
Belden Hill is Rock Islands spoiled
lchild. He was raised in baseball here
and this city views him rather in sad
ness than with i'll feeling or distrust,
believing that in due time Beldens in.
nate sense of fairness and right will
dominate.
The unfairness and disadvantage OF
following an umpire to put up in city
that has no use for Rock Island in
baseball OF otherwise has been shown
in the last two games at the Island
City park. While in yesterdays game
Rock Island was outclassed and out.
played, at every critical juno.
ture nevertheless, Umpire Nc.
Greevy gave the visitors the best
of it and did it in spirit of boldness
; and when protest was made tainted
the Islanders and the audience. His
decisions in calling Swain out at the
plate and bowers out at first were
enough to aggravate Manager Cook
beyond control.
Ready to Bet Big SUMS.
Before the game started Davenport
gamblers sat in the grand stand and
Island would be defeated, and even
went SO far when Rock Island had men
on third to bet that they would not
score. In fact, one of these worthless in
his ecstasy so far forgot himself when
the people were protesting against Nc
lGreevy's action in calling Swain out
as to yell above the noise to the UNI
pire You're all right McGreeyy. stick
: Ito it." and when Cook vigorously OBJ
ljected to the ruling these same fellows
yelled to Put him out; don't stand
lany fooling." During the second game
Thursday when McGreevy was sc
rough upon Hardgroye, youngster, as
> to fill up the bases on him, passing two
linen who were actually out on strike.
. he and Sleepy" Owens kidded eacl
other across the diamond about tn,
predfcament the young fellow" wa
;. lgetting into. McGreeyy furthermore
lguyed the audience when protests wer,
made against his unfairness.
,. Rock Island has always been gam
a loser 1t realizes that the present tear
has not been playing winning ballin tn
V last series and that it was fairly GU
!, cIassed in most of the. games wit
springfield. perhaps losing them o
o their merits. but it does not like t
% have it rubbed in nor does it propos
e. to submit much longer to conspirac
s, of other clubs against it, especially