Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-28

port When an attempt was made to
GUST Dubuque in the middle of the sea-
son some years back, Rock Island
stood by and said that if that was
done, Rock Island would quit, too. Du-
buoue was allowed to remain Daven-
port was allowed to come back in 1909,
after dropping out for two seasons,
through Rock Islands efforts in that
city's behalf. A year ago after Daven-
port had failed with several managers,
Dan O'Leary was sold to Davenport
as an accommodation, and then Rock
Islands troubles began. Did Daven-
port and Dubuque stick with Rock Is
land last fall? That is where the trou-
BILE really started. The south end clubs
we're supported by the Iowa towns
Rock Island was left in the lurch. Yes
terday the south had things its own
way.
MEN DESERVE VICTORY.
Those men who have fought to keep
Rock Island in baseball deserved more
than defeat. They have worked hard
and have shown pluck and enterprise In
taking up a matter that seemed prac-
tically hopeless. Yet they made a
success of it until it came to paying
$1,000 for practically nothing. Then
they baked, and rightly too. They
realize that the money of the fans
makes the only revenue of the club,
and that the fans would have to pay
the money. With other expenses
tackled on, it was seen that Rock Is
land could not afford to pay the
amount specified. Had the new COM
pany been successful yesterday, it
would have gone through the season
with rush. AS it is, Rock Island will
probably sit quietly by and watch the
/ Decatur town take the league down in
to oblivion.
ANOTHER LEAGUEf
There was talk last night at the Pal
mer house that a new league would be
formed with Rock Island and Moline
as the nucleus. Other towns propos-
ed for membership are Waterloo, Ce-
OAR Rapids, Clinton and Freeport.
! To be very frank, Rock Islands
fist great mistake after the loss of
Jack Tighe was in the selling of Dan
O'Leary, one of the city's old stand
bys to Davenport as manager. This
was done in response to repeated re.
quests from the Davenport manage
ment that looked up to Dan
OLeary as the one ideal to
head it's team. This left Rock Is
land without any manager in sight
Bill Carney came and while he was a
good manager, he did not prove popu
lar with the fans, due entirely to his
conduct more than anything else. He
had an unfortunate way of putting his
worst foot forward. The knockers got
busy and chased him. Then CAME JohI
Gonding, as deservedly a popular bal
player as ever stood in shoe leather
Everybody liked him but he proved as
dismal a failure as any manager whC
ever entered the Three-Eye league.
The experiences of last year dis
ccuraged the old association which
had weathered many a storm, upheld
the game through Il seasons, Otter
. at a great sacrifice, had landed TIVE
, pennants and given the city first clas
ball and a first class park. But whel
at the annual meeting of the league
Davenport and acknowledgements
by its vote and Dubuque b. its acquies
cence-permitted the south end to cal
~ its point and dominate the league
Rock Islands old association threw u
the sponge and quit.
Then came the new association, CON
q posed of hustling men, who deserved
: better fate than that handed out t
a them yesterday by the same oil
, southern bunch.
!, The question now is what will com
of Island City ball park. 1t is hope
;. the owners of it will hold on to it 70
B. future baseball purposes and not pei
nit it to fall into the hands of Ian
sharks. There may come time whe
Rock Island will need it for baseball
and there is no other available lot.
!, MONEY GOES TO CHARITY.
. officials of the local organizatiO
y stated today that the expenses of tn
= trip of the president and secretary I
q Chicago would be deducted from tn
= amount raised at the recent masqUe
= AIDES and that the remainder would /
. turned over to some local charity