Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-27

I@AH INDIVIDUALS mere had always raj
lied TO the support OF the team f.
nancially when it needed it, and the
matter OF getting something for moth
ing, as Mr.. Struthers claimed Rock Is
land would. made little impression on
baseball men here.
Mr. Rosenfield charged that the aim
OF the proposition was 10 put a team
IN here and hold this territory.
STuthers strongly int1mated the in
tenuon OF the league of putting a team
In here at all costs. Mr., Scott said
that the commissioners should give
Struthers an idea of whether or not
they would lease the park so, il they
wouldn't grant his request, he could
90 elsewhere.
We're going 70 play here anyway, "a
Struthers said.
On, II that's the way you feel about
it. said Mr.. Scott. then I think that
the council should pay no further at
tention to you or your proposition
whatever. If that's your spirit, I can
see right now that your idea is to hold
the territory for the league"
Struthers denied representing Mr..
Tearney. He said the object was only
to give the team a home, and also de-
MED having stated that the team would
play here regardless Of whether the
park was secured.
After further argument. the commits
sion decided that it would give
Struthers a chance to get informed on
the sentiment here and meeting viii
be held again within a few days.
Rock Island has no desire to be
connected with any enterprise with
which Al Tearney is identified. and for
good and sufficient reasons. It is not
necessary TO recount past discrfmina-
tons against the city. It is enough to
cite his action in trying to keep the
town out Of baseball if il did not be-
come member Of his circuit Last
year when Rock Island was enjoying
and supporting q Central association
team he applied the screws and forced
the team to leave and then he ridi-
culed the city for its inability to help
itself under the rules Of organized
baseball. Tearney is not and never
has been a friend Of Rock Island.
Paints Pathetic Picture.
Struthers painted q pathetic picture
before the commission at the session
last evening when the matter was first
brought 10 the attention of the coun-
ell He explained how the poor, home
less Decatur team was seeking a spot
where it could hang its uniform, and
he told the commission. too. how care
full he would be of the Island City park.
He said that he would employ a high
priced care-taker and the grounds
would be kept in beautiful condition.
He made such a nice talk before the
council that Mayor McConoChie intro
duced a resolution naming Commits
si0ners Juhl, Murrin and Liedtke and
City Attorney J. *. Scott a committee
TO investigate, with power TO act.
Later to reporter for The Argus,
Mr., Struthers said.
we are willing to concede anything
to get into Rock Island at this time. If
we cant get a franchise in this year
we won't next spring. I wish you
wouldn't say anything about this until
it's over"
Did Tearney send you here?' he
was asked.
NO. no, I am just looking for a
home for the team represent the
owners, d Mr. Corbett and a Mr. Pow
ers, both Of Decatur. I do not know
their initials or first names. They
own the team and I will be manager
if we locate here"
Told that there was considerable op-
position to Tearney here. he replied:
I've only found a few disgruntled
ones here"
The Decatur team financially bit
the dust as q result Of free baseball"
It was instituted there and at first
finance for minor league ball teams
But promise was as far as it got. On
paper $4,000 was raised in a jiffy. The
good fans Of Decatur put their names
down for piles of shekels and the
smiled happily But pa
per subscriptions won't pay travelling
expenses or salaries and when the
collection OF the greenbacks started,
there was a large figure in the column
under not collected"
Had to Hunt a Home.
Accordingly, with the money giving
out and no more coming in, the owners
sent Struthers out to find the team
new home, one which would be a want
age place from two sides; in giving
he owners a chance to split even on
The finances and to prop up the totter-
ng tri-optic.
Galesburg was first accosted- Gales !
burg raved about the affair at the start
but when the time for business" ar
lived there was "nuthin' dom The
lext stop of Mr.. Struthers in his three /
act comedy, Seeking a Home for a /