The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-11-19
TURNS DOWN $4,000 GUARANTEE
! on PRETEXT Of LOSING MONEY;
J ! SINISTER MOTIVES ARE FEARED
yt Letter Manager Flanagan Holds Up Plans for Gane-Ihspe
~ Agrees TO Post Nominal Forfeit, But Fals-Real
Incentive sun Iystefy.
By BRUCE COPELAND.

r By BRUCE COPELAND.
Jim Thorpe, team manager Of the
Canton Bulldogs, wired Manager
Flanagan of the Rock Island indie
pendents, today that the scheduled
and legally atested game to be held
Sunday, Nov. %. at Douglas park.
Neuld not be played.
Coming literally on the heels OF
1hOrpe's sportsmanlike attitude ~
cUnsenting to come to Rock Island
after allowing the Islanders TWO
weeks to whip themselves into con-
dition, and his agreement Wednes-
day night by long distance tele-
phone that he would post nominal
forfeit to insure good faith, the
above announcement is disconcert-
Ing, to say the least.
Manager Flanagan now despalrs
Of persuading the Bulldogs to re-
scind their verdict and go through
With the game according to con-
tract. Thorpe's word is believed
final and the rather uncertain
chances Of redress in the courts are
held futile.
Action . Mystery.
v .Sinister. motives are believed to
have dissuaded Thorpe from adher-
ing to the letter Of the contract,
Manager Flanagan AYERS. He called
Thorpe by long '.stance phone
Wednesday nigh. and was reas-
sured that the game would be play
ed, despite all doubts to the con-
trary. Thorpe sounded quite We
hement in closing the deal, Flani-
gan said this morning on receipt OF
q night letter from the famous Sac
and Fox.
Don't you worry; We will be
there!" Flanagan says he was as
sured by Thorpe. However. the
Rock Island manager recalled last
seasons chagrin when Canton can
celled their game here on three
days notice, after disregarding
$500 guarantee. Flanagan did not
wish to be trapped again under sim
liar circumstances.
i Agrees to Post Forfeit.
"AIl right, Jim; but will you post
q nominal forfeit to insure good
faith?" he requested Thorpe.
"How much" Thorpe interjected.
"Oh, $500 or $1,000" suggested
Flanagan.
Thorpe didn't take long to reply
That's fine; I'll post $500 in the
morning and you may be sure well
come" he agreed.
The telephone conversation oc'
CURED Wednesday night. Thorpe
was supposed to have posted thu
$500 forfeit yesterday morning. II
such cases, when the money is post
- cd with banking concern, it Is
customary to notify the other party
Immediately by telegraph. Flani
gan was not notified yesterday
First information either way came
this morning in Thorpe's night let
ter.
Lost Heavily Sunday.
Flanagan called up Gil Falcon
manager Of the Chicago Tigers, las
night for his advice concerning In
Canton team. Among other things
he was told that only 1.575 fan
paid admission to the Canton-Tiger
game in Canton last Sunday. Fal
con reported that Thorpe and othe
Canton officials were embittere'
. greatly and parted with the Chi
n cago guarantee with the utmost re
luctancc.
" II Canton agreed to play in Roc
Island for a $4,000 guarantee. thei
fear Of losing money on the ventur
would appear as only flimsy pre-
text of calling off the game. espe
cially when it was Canton's, nc
Rock Islands proposal that tn
game be played. Manager Flaniga
wished to cancel the game last Sun
day, but agreed to live up to thei
contract should Canton insist.
The Accepted Belief.
The real motive behind the can
collation. is believed to be reluctanc
to play the Independents but tw
DAYS after the scheduled Thanks
giving day game with Akron in Car
ton. At the outset of negotiations
It was enigmatical why Canto
should consent to take such
chance after playing their hardes
against Akron and then boardin
a train for Rock Island the nei
day without an opportunity Of nee
essary practice or relieving the e.
feet Of possible injuries incurred !
the Akron game.
This sudden upheaval anon
their plans confused Rock Islam
: ufilcials to the point Of amazemell
this morning and they were unabl