The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-30
FUTURE OF BALL
CLUB PLACED IN
HANDS OF FANS
Subscription Fund Must be Raised
or City VIII Forfeit Its Three.
Eye Franchise

Does Rock Island want haseban9
That is the question the board
OF directors of the Rock Island
Fans association decided to put IN
to the fans and business men OF
Rock Island at a special meeting Of
the board in the associations Of
fees in the Robinson building late
yesterday afternoon, according to
statement issued following the
meeting.
A systematic canvass of the fans
and business men of the city, un-
der the direction of ]. J. Jack
Zimmerman, assistant secretary Of
the association, will be inaugura-
ted Monday morning and the hat
will be passed." that the Rock Is.
land club may be able to finish the
Three-Eye league season. A sum
of at least $4,000 must be raised
within the next few days, it is said,
if Rock Island is to keep its fran
chise.
A meeting of everyone interested
in the welfare of the fans asso-
citation has been called for Tues
day night at O'Clock at the Elks'
club. All directors, stockholders
and fans are urged to be present TO
participate in the discussion and
act for the future of the game in
Rock Island. The statement Of the
board is as follows:
THE Rock Island Fans associa-
ton is face to face with the ques-
ton of its very existence. 1t must
be determined within the next four
or FIVE days whether or not the
Rock Island ball club is to be main
tanned and the Three-Eye league
franchise held in this city. And
the question must be decided by
the fans of Rock Island themselves.
1.-The association did not take up
subscription at the beginning Of
the season, as did the organizations
in the other cities of the league,
which raised from $4,000 to S1O,-
600 to finance their clubs last
spring. The directors hoped that
with the receipts from the sale OF
players and an even break of luck
this season it could be avoided.
But 1t has been demonstrated that
the club cannot pay its own way
without outside assistance, just as
it has been found in every other
city in the league.
Confronted with this situation,
the directors feel the only thing
they can do is to put it up" to the
fans of Rock Island to make the
decision. They have resOrted to
every other scheme. The entertain
ment arranged under the auspices
of the Elks and Eagles netted $500.
The directors have loaned the as
sociation necessary funds to meet
the last two pay rolls. There is no
money to meet the pay roll Aug. l,
and with the team out e town, the
directors do not feel they can make
further personal loans of large
amounts, although they are willing
to make individual donations to the
club.
Cutting TO the minimum, $4,000
is the lowest possible figure that
must be raised if the club is to fin
ish the season. Jack Zimmerman
assis ant secretary of the as5ocia-
ton, has been delegated to make
canvass of the fans and business
men of the city He will start out
Monday morning and will endeavor
to see everyone in the next few
days. The fans will be asked 10
make a voluntary contribution 10
the club. but no strenuous efforts
will be made to sell you the prop
osition. If you do not feel that
baseball is worth a few dollars TO
YOU and to Rock Island, you will
not be urged further to subscribe.
ut is up TO you. fans. II you
want baseball you will have to pay
for it-and you will have TO pay
within tho next few davS"