Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-10
BALL PROMOTERS
REVIEW EFFORTS
Rock Island Three.Eye Association,
After Meeting, Issues State.
ment to the Public.
HOLDS RULING is AN UNJUST ONE
Determine to Remain In Fight With
President Tearney to Finish,
1t Is Announced.

Three-Eye Baseball association held
meeting last night and authorized
Secretary Oscar Lift to issue the fol-
lowing statement to the public:
Three years ago the city Of Rock
Island purchased the Island City ball
park in order to save it from being
torn down and cut into city lots. Since
that time repeated efforts have been
made to give Rock Island baseball,
but each attempt has been blocked.
"a few months ago we decided that
the citizens and taxpayers of Rock Is
land wanted baseball and also wanted
some return on their enormous invest
ment. We then organized for the sole
purpose of giving the people here the
kind and class of baseball they want
ed. After inquiring about and can
vassing the city, we decided that the
majority Of the fans here were in IA
vor Of Three-Eye, as they wanted
to be in the same league and have the
same class of ball that our sister cit
les of Davenport and Moline have.
After organizing and being assur-
ed of franchise, the news came that
the Central association claimed this
territory. The majority Of the fans
were disappointed at hearing this, as
it looked as though they were working
to keep Rock Island out of baseball
again and the Island City park would
again be load on the city. Instead
Of giving up, we went ahead and rent
ed the ball park, paying $3.50 for the
season after the park was up for bids
for 10 days. We also wish to inform
the public that this sum is more than
the city has ever been offered for the
park, and, in fact, it was offered to the
Central association for a less amount
some seasons ago.
I'VE are still going ahead and in
tend to stay with this fight until the
finish, as we want the people of Rock
Island to have baseball and have the
kind that we are confident the major
ity want. We are doing this not for
any personal gain, but in order to put
Rock Island back on the baseball map.
In all our workings we have never yet
withheld anything from the public and
through the daily press we have each
day given the people of Rock Island a
detailed report of the work we are do
ing. Our stockholders are all bust
ness men of the city and have all been
mentioned from time to time. We are
always willing to let the people of
Rock Island know what we are doing,
as We feel that we are not secret
organization, but an organization OF
the public who are working for better
and cleaner sports in this city.
I'VE also wish to inform the people
of Rock Island that we have now sign
ed Is ball players, but we are with
holding the names Of these players, not
because we are trying to do any secre,
work, but in order that they will not
be picked up by some other team be-
fore we secure franchise.
Letter to Tearney.
1.-THE following letter was sent to Al
R. Tearney, president of the Three
Eye league:
"'Dear Sir: The Rock Island Base
ball association held meeting last
ovop;nr ,pd 4bie occoo;o{;op do,{5ad To
support and stand by you in your fight
for the territorial rights Of Rock Is
land. 1 was instructed at this meet
ing to write and inform you Just what
our sentiment is here, regardless OF
the decision of the national board OF
arbitration. Our association here will
stand united for Three-Eye baseball.
I'm regard to the decision which
Messrs. Chivington, Moll and Carson
recommended to the arbitration board
which you no doubt have read In de-
tail, wish to state that our associa-
ton here considers this decision very
unjust, for the reason that these men
visited Rock Island with the under
standing that they came here to find
out the sentiment of the Rock Island
baseball fans. Now you will remem-
Der that one paragraph of their decis-
ion read that they were here and found
this sentiment divided, which we abso-
lutely know is false. When we organ
lied this association and went out So
Letting subscriptions for stock and
donations, Mr.. Lister and l were a
committee OF two who started in at
the end Of a business street, along
the north side of Second avenue, and
we visited every business house along
the north side Of that avenue for five
blocks, and at no place did we encoun-
ter any Central association sentiment.
The business men within this distance
either looks shares Of stock or gave a
donation in order to show their senti-
ment for Three-Eye baseball. This
We consider a very fine showing, and
1t took US about three weeks, off and
on, to cover this territory. Now, you
understand, 1t took US three weeks to
find out this Three-Eye sentiment,
while it only took the visiting commit
tee two days. and it reported that the
sentiment is divided. We entertained
this committee at dinner during its
visit here and think that we had
enough evidence Of Three-Eye senti-
ment from the business men. We sug-
gested at this dinner that we would
take them to one of the largest fac
tories In RncL leland for thu x,,..<..