Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-06
Rock Island Favored More
Than Amy Other City for
Vacant Berth.
ARTICLE BY FIELDING
Appears in Sporting news Boosting
Islanders for Vacant Spot in
Central Association Fold.
BY WRIGHT FIELDING.
(From Sporting Newsl

Dc d sSetnlng calQrOn IN interest
concerning the formation of the new
circuit. Every one wants Rock Is
land to make up the eighth city of the
league now that Clinton has prac.
tlcally met all requirements to become
I member, but Rock Island is a. diff
cult proposition, not because its fans
are not willing, but because President
Iearney and the club members of the
! three l league are unwilling. Influ-
entail citizens of Rock Island have
endeavored to persuade the Three l
magnates to let it out of their circuit
into the Central. President Justice
and the committees appointed at the
last meeting of the Central Associa-
ton directors have been endeavoring
J also to accomplish this, but so far to
no purpose.
Under the law which governs league
| territory rights, the Three 1 technical
I ly has control over the territory, but
il the case of Rock Island there is
considerable difference. While it is
within the f1ve-mile zone controlled
by Davenport, that city is understood
W nave gwen lNS COllSShI " NUN
land going into the Central Associa-
ton.
The modern way of looking at base
ball is to build up the game, not to
deprive people of it. Rock Island
wants baseball and Davenport is will
ing it should have it. Can the Three
league authorities keep Rock Island
out of organized baseball under these
circumstances? 1t looks as though
President Tearney will have to con-
sent to Rock Island having Central
Association baseball or else put that
city back in the circuit of the Three 1
with a team. No league can hold a
city unless it puts team in that city
and has active baseball. It cannot act
the dog in the manger.
Tearney Must Take One Course.
Acting, probably, on this proposition
some of the Influential fans of Rock
Island held a conference with Presi-
dent Tearney in Chicago the other day
with a view of getting the city back
into organized baseball. They asked
him either to allow the city ITO go
into the Central Association or to give
them a berth in the Three 1 circuit.
As President Tearney is not in po-
sition to do the latter at will, it looks
as though he must do the former. He
cannot, under the law, and with Dav-
exports consent aiding Rock Island,
take a middle course.
Meanwhile Moline is still actively
endeavoring to secure a franchise IN
the Central Association, and here
President Tearney also refuses TO
concede to that town the right to &C
being within Davenport's five-mle
limit. Moline is about in the situation !
that Rock Island is. The fans there
are being urged by the local papers
to bestir themselves and take neces- |
sary action before it is too late.
President Justice has no definite |
answer from his tentative query as 20 |
Oskaloosa's possible desire to again /
become a member of this circuit.
Oskaloosa is a fine business town and
has made much progress since it drop |
Ped out of this league. and it is pos
sible it will be a much better base
ball center than it ever was.
kewanes viii Not Return.
The enthusiastic gossipers around
the circuit got it noised abroad that
Kewanee, after all, will continue in
the Central Association, despite its
but Kewanee authorities
say there is nothing to this rumor.
The Boiler Maker city is out of organ
lied baseball for the time being. The
peop.e will not support the game
there, and no one wants to risk the
loss that an attempt to carry the city
through another season at present is
likely to involve.
Clinton is virtually a member of the
Central Association now. although 1t
still must be voted in by the directors.
L has paid its $500 to President JUS
tee and has engaged Bert Hough,
formerly manager of Monmouth, to
ook after its team, and it is actively
engaged in preparing to become a
baseball center. 1t is being congratu'
ated all around the league on secur-
ng Manager Hough to head its team.
[ is the third city which Hough has
been instrumental in bringing into
his circuit, the other two being
and Hannibal
The Federal league is trying to get
ONE of the Centrars best players.
they are trying TO get Davy Milligan,
he crack batter, of the Central Asso-
iation last season. and others. They
ave accomplished nothing yet. Milli-
AN played with Cedar Rapids last sea-
on.
Central Association managers are
making up their exhibition schedules
danager Egan has secured several
ames with Davenport. and the latter