Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-06-22
CONDINC NOW IN
CHARGE OF TEAM
New Manager Directs Players
for First Time in Today's
Game at Waterloo.
OMAHA CATCHER 10 YEARS
Deal, on for Week, Closed at g
O'clock Last Night-Carney
Returns to Canada.

Returns to Canada.
The management of the Rock Is.
land baseball team was transferre1
last night from William Carney 10
John Gonding. Gonding directed the
Islanders for the first time today IN
their game at Waterloo. Carney vii
probably return to Calgary, Can. BE
stated that he has offers, but has not
yet signed a contract.
Gonding, after serving with The
Omaha team in the Western league IL
years as backstop, was given his un-
conditional release by Owner Bill
O'Rourke. Negotiations had been en-
a week between the Rock Island asso
citation and Gonding. The Argus, a:
the request of the officers of the lc.'ai
association, made no reference until
now of the proposed change in the
managership. as the deal was not cont
pleted until o'clock last night. II
was pretty well understood in BIAS =
ball circles the past two weeks that
there was to be a new man called %
direct the team, and that the Job
would be offered Gonding providing
O'Rourke was willing to dispense with
him. Gonding is veteran of the
Western league, and has been one Ci
the strong performers for Omaha. lie
| is said to have the head and disro-
sition that should make him a valuabl,
pilot for Rock Island. OutfielGe
Woolly speaking of him today pro-
nounced him an admirable all around
baseball man. Woolly said he has
played under him.
HAD HARD ROW TO HOE.
! No one understanding the qualities
/ that successful player and manager
| should possess has ever doubted the
capacity of Carney. He was simply I:
victim of condition that not one man
in a hundred could have weathe led
without encountering the consequence
that has fallen to his lot. In the fist
place Carney was brought here to fill
the shoes of Jack Tighe, who had been
the idol of local fandom Tighe, al
though severe disciplinarian, Is
blessed with a personality that ap-
peared to remove the ugliness al
sting from his preachments to his SUI
I -
use similar methods in reprimandins Il
Player and it would sornd differently
and would not be accepted in the same
spirit.
The departure of Carney points a
lesson that the local officials should
take heed of in the future, and that IS
seeing to strict enforcement of rule
prevailing in organized baseball
against permitting attendance of spec
tators at the preseason practice on
the home grounds. The rule was not /
observed in Rock Island this spring. /
The knocker-he is not fan In the
true sense of the word-was a daily /
pepper at the local grounds during the |
spring workouts of the players. RE
took exception to the methods of Car
ney in handling his men. The playc:
heard the knocker. They got together
The knocker stepped between the
manager and his men. The breach
Yidened through the player Winning
sympathizers. You know the an
swer
Carney turned the team over to
Gonding just before the players 90
parted for Waterloo last night. It's
land" Carney said Owing to condI-
tons here l did the best | knew how
and bear no ill-feeling towards ihe
city or the players in leaving. l had
a six-months, contract with the asso-
citation, but | did not insist on its be
ing fulfilled. inasmuch as | under
stand that the officers were doing ire
only thing that could be done to bring
about an improvement in the situa
ton.
BEST WISHES FOR TEAM.
Il have been treated nicely by the ,
officers of the association and by the
fans of the city, and my only hope is ,
that the team will begin to climb IL
nediately. You must remember, to-, 7
hat when you pit $3.50 a month play !
ers against those who are receiving
5000 with other teams winning games :
S not as easy proposition as follow
srs of the sport might imagine But
am not blaming anybody because E
vas not allowed TO employ high-pricc1 g
men for the reason that 1 realized tne
ocal association was going as far
With me financially as possible witt 4
he funds that have been available.
anne here with no friends and posi-
ly leave with no friends, but have b
ried TO do my best Z
With the signing of Gonding, who is :.
expected TO do the main backstop
York Catcher Jordon was released
1aking five men cut loose yesterday.
acobson will be used as utility catch
r. 1t is hoped now there will be no
lore interference with the team ana
hat Manager Gonding will make an
zeal leader.