Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-12
May Replace the Sioux City
Club Which Has Thrown Up
the Sponge. /
CONFERENCE ON TODAY
"Pa" Rourke Of Omaha Meets Local
easeball Masnatos Here This
Morning.

Rock Island is going TO break into
the Western league next year, accord
ing to the latest dope. PA" Rourke,
manager and owner of the Omaha
club. was in the city this morning
comforting with local baseball moguls,
and although the result Of the confer
ence has not been made public, there
is every reason to believe that Rock
Island is being sought TO fill the vacan-
cy caused by the withdrawal Of the
Sioux City club.
Hanlon, the owner of the Sioux City
franchise, is a wealthy contractor, and
baseball with him is a side issue. His
club has been losing money all season,
and this, coupled with the disastrous
burning of the entire bali plant recent
ly, has caused him TO throw up the
sponge. Hanlon has notified Prexy
ONeill that he is through after this
year. Arrangements have been com
pleted whereby Sioux City Will finish
the season, and then the Western
faces the proposition of securing an
other city. Pa Rourke is on his way
TO confer with Prexy Tip ONeill on
this matter, and yesterday dropped of
at Rock Island, accompanied by Scout
HUFF of the Cleveland Maps" Both
OF them were interested spectators in
the stands at the Decatur-Davenport
setio. HUFF is probably looking out
for the draft, but Rourke has never
been very strong for buying new ma
terial. The only plausible answer is,
Get Rock Island into the Western"
Rourke was in Rock Island twice yes
terday and again today. II looks sus-
picious.
No DIFFICULTY.
This talk Of territorial rights is XII
bosh. In order to control city, the
league must operate a club there. A
lapse of activities for a given time
causes forfeiture of jurisdiction.
Should Rock Island break into the
Western, It is absurd to believe that
the Three Eye could step in and for
bid It. However. even should this con-
tention be raised. it is extremely
doubtful If the Three Lamp circuit
would be strong enough 10 protest
next year. Baseball heads looked for
the Three Eye to blow up this year,
and were il not for the closeness OF
the race, these predictions would
probably have materialized. The
chances of the circuit surviving anoth-
er year are but slight, according to
the opinions of many.
WOULD SUPPORT CLUB.
There is no question but what this
city could support a Western league
team. Some 20 years ago they turn
ed the, trick and incidentally won two
pennants. Many have advanced the
argument that the long jumps would
render the new scheme impracticable,
but If il has been done once the
chances are it could be done again.
After a two year rest, the Rock Is
land fans are eager and anxious 70:
baseball, and there is no question but
what this city would draw as well as
any town on the wheel, with the pos
sible exception of Denver.
TALK OF NEW LEAGUE.
Right on top of this Western league
dope comes the talk Of revamping the
Three Eye and Central association
circuits 20 include the following
towns: Rock Island. Davenport, Du
buque, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, OF
tumwa, Peoria, Burlington or Quincy
There has been a great deal of talk
relative TO ousting Tearney this fall
and should this occur the chances fol
the new league would be lovely. jim
Hayes OF Davenport has been men
toned as president. II the Western
league dope should fall through by
any chance, Rock Island would theT
have a swing at the new organi:;a
ton. although with the head mogul:
here pulling" for the Western. there
Is every reason 10 believe that the
thing will go through.
Considering the new development:
on Rock Islands baseball horizon, i
Is very fortunate that the citizens
here have taken early action in an eff
fort TO save Island City park for al
time