Rock Island Argus., 1913-09-10
REED ANXIOUS To
STAY IN DECATUR
Will Pass Up All Other Offers
if Club Is Reorganized for
Three Eye.
FRANCHISE is W0BBLY
Bering Anxious to Sell Out to Rock
IsIand-New League Is
Talked of.

Decatur, ILL.,, Sept. 10.-Though
there is a vast amount OF uncertainty
about prospects for baseball in Deca-
tur next season, TWO or three directors
have very clear idea already of what
they are willing to do in the matter.
While discussing the prospects after
the close of the season, George Reed
Monday expressed the opinion that he
could double the attendance in Deca'
tar next year if the club were handled
right. He has a big faith in the burg
il spite of its late poor showing, and
isn't afraid to tackle the job of putting
it on the baseball map in big red let
te;s as one of the best drawing towns
in the league
Reed admits having offers and pros
rects everywhere, even within this
league, but says that Decatur will have
first call to his services, and that he
is certain that his going will not hurt
Decatur's chances.
c. G. POWERS OPINION.
1t has been rumored frequently in
the last fortnight that the Powers
brothers might undertake to shoulder
the entire club. When this fact was
Offered for confirmation, G. G. Powers
prompt! denied that such was their
purpose However. he takes an optim-
isIIc view of the situation.
81 think that if we have baseball,
most of the old crowd will pay up and
go ahead" said Mr., Powers. THAT is
the way we have done in the past, and
it has usually cost me from 5000 to
$500 to do it. | know that some of
the men behind it would like to dis
pose of the franchise and players.
They say that a rest of two or three
years will be good thing for us.
But that was just what caused the
big deficit last year. When can you
buy a franchise and get started again
at any reasonable figure after you sell
out?"
WANTS NEW LEAGUE.
81 am willing to put up my share
and go ahead another season. / do
think though that we should go in with
Central league cities and that the
northern clubs, Davenport Rock Is
| land, Dubuque, Rockford and the rest
of them should form a league of their
own up there, call it Three-I if they
wish. Each time the team comes back
from the northern trip they have no
money in their pockets. The league
should be more compact and Decatur
and Danville should join the Central
| league with other cities nearer to US"
Asked whether he believed w M.
Bering was in earnest in trying to dis
pose of the Decatur franchise to Rock
Island. he said Yes, | believe he
would like to sell the franchise. l be-
lieve that he will want to be relieved
another year, but the trouble is that
in disposing of a franchise, it is too
hard to get it back"
OTHERS OUT OF TT.
It is certain that if the club does
come To life again, it will be largely
through the efforts of the abovemen-
toned boosters. Not especially as
knockers, but i the belief that they
will be better off as plain fans, w. NJ.
Bering and Virg 3. Sanders, through
their remarks and attitude, are be-
lieved to be out of the game. Mr..
Bering will probably retire from the
directorate of the club, though it Is
doubtful if he will shut himself off
entirely from the cluJ when it needs
his experience to assist in getting
started again. Sanders may continue a
strong booster, but will not be likely
to put in as much time in the interest
of the club as IL the past.
z
Mr.. Bering is quoted as saying thas
he is in favor of later season than
the one just ended. He would have
the season end in the last week Of Sep
tember, starting two weeks later than
it did this year. His remarks are TAX
en- to indicate that he will not be
among the absentees from the annual
league meeting this fall even though
he may wind up his connection with
the club at about the same time
1t is a fair conclusion from the
statements of the men most interested
that if the nucleus of the old guard
is strong enough, Decatur will have
baseball, and with George Reed at
the head of it next season. II the
years reports are too discouraging,
, or If the opinions of those ready to sell
the franchise prevail, the games Sun
day will be the last exhibition OF league
baseball in Decatur for many moons.