The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-09-08
GRAND JURY 70
PROBE SCANDAL
stain ON CUBS
Chicago Judge Orders Charges
Sffted to Botton-Cub Owners :
Endorse Demand.

chicago, Sept S.-EradtcAtdon OF
baseball pool gambling was prom
iseN yesterday when Chief Justice
Charles A. Mcdonald Of the Grim
inal court instructed the Septem-
Der grand jury to investigate the
practice together with the recent
$4,000 Cubs Philadelphia scandal.
The baseball inquiry was the
first Official act OF the new chief
justice as successor to Judge Rob-
ert e. Grove, who is campaigning
for the Republican nomination for
states attorney. The court In
structed the Jury to delve into ev-
cry form Of gambling on baseball.
Judge Mcdonald not only order
ed the grand jury to inquire into
the $4,000 expose which cast a
cloud over the Cubs park, but or
dered the Jurors to "clean up" all
forms Of gambling on baseball in
Chicago.
He directed them to inquire into
the operation of all kinds OF pools
and bookmaking on the national
pastime and in general clean out
the gamblers.
Owner Barney Dreyfuss of the
Pittsburgh team, when in Chicago
last Sunday, said that a man like
Judge Lands is needed as head of
the national commission. The lat
ter. Mr.. Dreyfuss said, could take
hold of the gambling report and
run it to the ground. Dreyfuss
added that it was a crime that the
commission did not possess a
chairman Of the judges type to
ascertain whether the ball players
are crooked or whether the gam
blers are merely trying to reap a
harvest by wagering on the result
Of the contests.
I'm for Judge Landis," said Mr..
Dreyfuss. Il was for him more
than a year ago. Think the Ma
tional league would be glad to see
him at the head OF the commission,
but Ban Johnson does not want
him.
Il know we could have made
more. progress against the gam
| blers last year If we had a man OF
force heading the commission, but
Johnson apparently does not desire
that kind Of man at the head of the
| board. He has his mind on one
man and will agree to no other. II
is an outrage that one individual
should be. permitted to prevent the
commission from operating.
Il think a forceful character al
the head of the commission coull
do a great deal for baseball. A
a time like this he could keep tn,
sport from getting black eye IL
Chicago. He could deal with tn,
players themselves. They are thu
ones to whom the information
ought to come that certain bal
players are crooked and are DELHI
erately throwing ball games"
The grand jurors cheered Judg'
Mcdonald when he urged them t.
make the inquiry one Of their chic
duties.
/ Henry H. Brigham. % South La
Sale street, president of the Nortl
American Car company, was ap
pointed foreman of the jury.
W. L.. Veeck, president of tn
Chicago National league baseball
club, said that both he and Will
liam Wrigley, Jr., the heavies
shareholder in the club, welcomes
a thorough inquiry.
This is one OF the best thing
that has been started in a 1onl
time," said Mr.. Veeck, "and l be
lieve that it will probably get u
somewhere.
II am glad that the grand jur.
has taken this matter in hand, an
on behalf Of the club l want t
pledge the jurymen all of the as
sistance at our command. We shall
willingly turn over to them all tel
egrams and other evidence whicl
we have in our possession. W
have had operatives Of the Burn
International Detective agency a
work in this matter, but so far W
, have been unable to secure an
, concrete evidence to support tn
charges that the game was fixed