Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-01-31
lINS MEETING
ExT TUESDAY
m new HARPER
D4pglas Park Needs Some Repair.
ing This Spring VIII Be in
Bed Shape BY Fall.

lho representative fans and base
ball hackers of the city the deci-
sion was reached late yesterday to
call = meeting Of fans-everyone
who wants Rock Island to have
baseball this spring and summer
md ID willing to give some EFFORT
IN that direction-for Tuesday
evening In the Harper hotel. Jack
Ttghs, Walter Flanagan. Mike Sex
Z ton and several others will be pres
ent and expect to see goodly
crowd gather to help along the big
job OF establishing baseball club
In this city for the 1920 season.
However, the main purpose Of the
& neeting Ii for feeling out more def.
nitely the sentiment for the game
| here For that reason every fan
who contains pep and constructive
ideas will be more than welcome
and will have chance to voice his
opinions.
In an examination OF the play
{ ing field and equipment at Douglas
park. conducted by Walter Flani-
gan and an Argus representative
yesterday afternoon. it was found
that Flanigan's statement OF sew.
e-aI days ago was materially borne
out.
Too Far Gone by Fall.
Rock Island must keep up the
place this summer if it wants to
play football there next fall. You
can't in a few weeks, break in
ground which has stood idle all
summer and Is full of holes and
other defects, put tottering and to
tally grounded 10-foot fence back
on its feet, build new grandstand,
and few other things. without the
expenditure of sum of money hay-
ing the proportions of the war debt
Of an European country and the en-
Payment of an army of men. Eth
e. of which would be impossible
alike for the football interests
which want to use the field next
fall, and for the city, which owns
Ii. Moreover new field Is an i'm
possibility to the Independent or
ganizaLion.
Hence, as Walter said. no foot
bull next fall without baseball this
summer" That is a big argument,
too, to the hordes of football ma
Macs who people this vicinity.
On the other hand. quoting a
we'll known sportsman of the city
THE Lord knows I'm willing to
back baseball and am strong for
seeing some good games, and there
II
way" So there are two strong ar
guments for club.
Doesn't Need Much Now.
Returning to the condition of the
field; A good rolling and levelng
/. a slight cultivation on the surface
a and planting of grass seed about
the time the sand lot boys start
shaking mothballs out of the ole
flannel shirt, would put Douglas
field on top of the world as far as
playing condition Is concerned. A
few hundred new posts and two-by
four props would put the now sag
eing fence back pointing to Val
:. halla, where it belongs A roll o.
two Of roofing on the grandstant
W. WOuu sup Inc UC'
ginning to peek through the root
Cross supports in the form Of new
s staunch two-by-fours here an,
there between the still firm mali
stringers holding up the grandstapt
and bleachers will eliminate IN
present ricketyness Of the seatin,
facilities. Above all, paint on tn
exposed portions and some othe
points OF the equipment would Civ
them wholly different aspect
while grass given a good start, al
over the grounds and kept wei
trimmed would restore Dougla
park TO its former prestige as tn,
prettiest and best park in tn
league.
What II this isn't doneo Detailet
explanation on this supposition i
needless. Everyone has seen how
one board falling off fence or 9th
er structure will soon result In
dozen more falling or decaying
He has also noticed how weeds ant
grass will overrun any field, espe
c.ally such excellent soil as tina
at Douglas park, and render it un
fit for any use whatever until
has been dug and worked for SOM
time. II Douglas field deteriorate
to a great extent it will either b
UNIT for football or baseball tn
following year-or else the cit,
will dispose Of it as white ele
plant instead of the civic asset |
should be.
Need Booooo Fans.
Two things and two only ar
fundamentally needed for the ven
ture Of having baseball club her
thts year. One is a lot of citizen
OF the genus fan character-pep
ftled: disposit!on-willing to soa.
few simoleons into ticket for
sure source of pleasure: The othe
IS q smaller group Of citizens, sam
genus, having the necessary" in
quantity sufficient to insure tn
financial end at the outset. TIL
fans would create pep. which woul
In turn create revenue for the club
remuneration and to repay tn
heavy hackers by making peopl
attend the games. The "smalle
group" would furnish the game I
turn out to. All details would the
arrange themselves in order an
BE- taken care Of as sidelines.
Il Is such simple thing to star
q club-if there Is plenty of sur
port. Whether or not there is SUP
port, OF both varieties Just rave
about. will develop In Tuesda
nights meeting and in the FEY