Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-09-01
WANTS THE CITY,
Central Association Makes An.
plication for Davenport
Territory.
IS SNAPPER KeNNEDY's WORK
Doubtful If Move Will Be Looked Upon
With Favor Across River-WiIi
Prefer Three-Eye.

Formal application has been made by
the Central association formerly Iowa
league, to the national baseball board
for the reservation of Davenport as
the territory of that organization.
During the summer Snapper Kennedy,
owner of the Oskaloosa team, bought
the Davenport baseball park; that is.
he secured the lease and improvements
on the grounds from the Davenport as
ISOLATION. Evidently the intention is
| to switch the Oskaloosa franchise to
Davenport after this season.
In connection with this subject sew
eral interesting questions arise. For
one thing, it is doubtful if Davenport,
after its experience in the Three-Eye
league really wants Iowa league ball.
Then, again, will the business men be
content to see Snapper Kennedy. an
outsider and an eccentric one at that,
represent that city in a matter con-
nected so vitality with the city's name
and prestige?
| Rock Island, of course. could enter
| a protest against giving Davenport a
| franchise in any league, and it would
lstick, because the Davenport ball park
must of necessity be within the five
mile limit of the Rock Island park
This city, however, is not disposed to
act the dog in the manger.
Free at End of Season.
At the end of the present season. as
Everybody knows, the agreement of
the Three-Eye league is at an end and
the individual cities will be free to
make such baseball alliances as they
wish for the future If Davenport
wants baseball and is content to wait
a few months before tying up to any
proposition, it is not unlikely that a
berth in the Three-Eye league will be
found open.
From the tone of comment in news
lpapers in this circuit several associa-
tons are ready TO quit, or have been
at one time or another during the sea.
lson. Not a club has made money to
lspeak of, and most of them have been
of times and will finish with big de
tficit, due TO the violation of the salary
clause. No doubt i'll the main the tall
of quitting is a mere bluff, and wher
time comes TO talk business for an
other season most of the clubs will be
lready to take their chances again. pro
lvided there is assurance that the salary
limit will be adhered to- One or two
changes, however, may have to be
made, and herein. lies Davenport's op
portunity.
See the Handwriting.
With reference to the salary limit
the movement from the southern
: town in this direction. particularly by
Peoria. is gratifying, for it indicate.
that the handwriting on the wall ha:
been read and understood. Peorii
sees, and Springfield should do so
that material retrenchments must bt
made if organized baseball is to bt
retained. and realization of the fac
is a most important step in the RICH
direction.
The Three-Eye league lis not tn,
only one that has been in troubl,
this season. The Central association
has been as hard put to it and the
Wisconsin leagues distress as be
come chronic. Immediately after thu
close Of the season these three league
should hold a conference and arrang
for territorial changes. if there are t
be any. and should make an ironclat
agreement on the salary question
This is the business like thing to dc
Then all clubs will know where the
are "at" for another year and ca
: begin picking teams that they can al
= ford to maintain.