Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-08


HENRY CARSE,
J. {. SPENCER,
w. n. RECK.
The only other stockholder, Clint |
Cash is out of the city and will un-
doubtedly sanction the action by af-
fixing his signature to the above docu-
ment.
DIRECTORS GIVE UP.
Do you realize Mr.. Fan, that Rock
Island will not have the pleasure of
roofing for a baseball team next year
If this proposition goes through the
league channels, as it undoubtedly
viii? For years, ever since the Three
Eye was organized, Rock Island has
been up in the running and till today,
the give-up spirit never entered into
the minds and hearts of the few faith
full who have run the ball club, true
at times through the assistance of the
public who dug into their jeans to help
them along. Rock Island is the last
of the original clubs of the league.
BUSINESS MEN UNINTEREsTED.
1t was only after F. o. Van Calder,
ex-president Of the club, and l.. M.
Casteel, treasurer of the present board,
had solicited the business men of Rock
Island today and had been turned down,
that the stockholders gave way to the
encouragement and despair that had
been lowering over the local camp for
the last two years. It was found by
them that the baseball spirit in Rock
Island has not only been on the wane
for some time, but that it is practically
dead at the present time.
BOYLE NOT ENCOURAGED.
You wonder what proposition Frank
Boyle had to make to the club First
Of all, he sought to learn what is the
disposition of the public for baseball,
and it was to secure that very infor-
nation that the directors prevailed
upon Mr.. Casteel and Mr.. Van Calder
10 visit the business men On all
hands it was, Yes, Mr.. Boyle, we
know you, have seen your work, like
you, and would want you as a mana
ger of the Rock Island club, but we
. are not anxious for a team under ex-
listing conditions" That, in substance,
was the remark of nearly all whom the
committee visited. All were well
aware of the fact that it would be poor
policy to take over something that
somebody else could not give away.
LOST MONEY STEADILY.
Our net less over and above the
sale of players, in addition to grand.
stand and gate receipts and everyoth,
er revenue in the last two years, has
been $4,000. And the public helped us
/ along with more than $4,000 this year
I in addition" That was the statement
of F. o. Van Calder this afternoon, de
! jected and discouraged after his hard
fight to do something more for base.
ball in Rock Island.
While the directors do not say So
the two elements that seem to have
precipitated the end of baseball in
Rock Island is the poor showing made
last year and the attitude of the fall
meeting of the league in Chicago in
turning over the league to the south
eTn faction.
Two years ago, the club went in
$4,000, the amount not including the
sale Of players and this last year, with
the poorest and cheapest team in the
league, the attendance here as well as
other cities in the league, did not make
up the expenses. The result is dead
loss TO the people OF Rock Island. The
4 sale of players this year netted enough
to keep the team from breaking on
the rocks earlier. There is an attach.
ment on the ball park at present and
the disposition Of that through civil
channels, will decide the future OF the
ball park in Rock Island It is the
desire that some public spirited man
8 or group of men secure it, hold 1t fol
s few years until its baseball spirit Is
revived here.
PLAYERS ARE REIMBURSED.
Players owned by other clubs ant
who played with Rock Island last year
L have been turned back to their respec
I tive owners. Johnny Gonding, manag
er of the team during the latter par
Of the season, has been returned t,
Omaha. Other players revert TO tn,
league when the franchise is gone an.
Prexy Tearney can dispose of then
along with the franchise. 1t is DOS
Y sible that he can keep the team IL