The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-11-10
BEAT STALEYS!
INDEPENDENTS
AWAIT CHANCE
Coming Contest Has Really Been
Objective of Team Since
Season Began.
BY j. L. HUGHES.
BEAT the Staleys!"


That has been the battle-cry OF
the Rock Island Independents
since the Starch Makers, fortified
by plenty of wealth. blossomed
forth on the horizon last season
and disputed the claims of the local
aggregation to western honors. II
| will be remembered the teams met
twice last season, and Staleys were
| victorious in the initial game.
When they reappeared on the local
| gridiron last November, the indie
| pendents knew what to expect and
the contest ended in a scoreless
tie
This year the Staleys determined
to make their claims to the national
championship stand supreme, and
to this end added several new play
ers TO an already formidable list
from 1920. The Decatur crew
wanted only those men who had
made regulations in college circles,
while Rock Island was content to
select men whose abilities had
! never been exalted by the big news
papers. 1t was Manager Walter
Flanigan's argument that the COL
leges and universities outside the
pale Of the Big Ten conference
produce football men equal to the
stars Of All-American recognition.
The Staleys were not overly i'm
pressed with the pretentions of
Rock Island when schedules were
prepared prior to the start of the
season. 1t was only after numer-
Gus hot discussions that Manager
Halas of the StaleyS consented to
give Rock Island two places on his
chart. He thought he was doing
the charitable thing by giving them
one date but in the end the persua-
sion of Flanagan prevailed.
When Rock Island jourueyed to
Decatur Oct. 10, the lineup in many
respects was uncertain and il
lacked finish by reason of the non
residence of several, whose prac-
tice was necessarily limited. The
result of that game convinced Elan
igan the only way the Staleys could
possibly be beaten was TO send
team of well trained athletes
against them, and this could be
done only by having every man in
Rock Island for daily drill. Follow
ing the close victory over the Chi
cago Cardinals, he released the
three who had been retarding the
progress of the team by lack of
knowledge of signals and plays
and replaced them with men who
have, proved themselves capable be-
yond question.
Now, when the Islanders meet
the Staleys for the second time this
season next Sunday at Chicago.
there is every reason to believe the
locals will prove the equals of the
Wanted Decatur team. The oppor-
tunity of realizing the ambition of
winnig will likely never be better,
and for this reason the fans can ex-
pect every man to give everything
that is in him, and more
The Rock Island players are not
over-awed by the names of Chick"
Harley, Pete StinchComb, Ralph
Scott, Lou Usher, Traitor and other
well known performers of the
Staleys. They respect their abiI-
tiles, It's true, hut they are not con-
cedlng that these stars of Walter
Camps selection are superior to
themselves, just because Camp has
said so. They have faced too many
great gridiron players this season
and won over them to fear the Ohio !
State duet.
Have the Spirit.
The earnestness with which the |
Independents have been devoting
themselves to practice, partic- /
ularly this week, is evidence
Of
ting forth every effort to win. The !
spirit is more indicative of college !
than professionals. The men. in
dividually and collectively. have ac-
quired an intense feeling of rivalry |
for the Staleys that can only be |
satisfied by victory.
The return of Captain Jimmie /
Councilman to the squad yesterday |
was welcomed by every
one. They were cheered az signs |
of his recovery from the severe
charley horse, incurred by him in /
the game against Green Bay The
allment has not entirely disap-
peared. This could harly be ex-
pected in the comparatively short
time allotted, but Jim himself saws
it is feeling greatly improved and
he believes Sunday will find him in
condition good enough TO last him
for the greater portion. if not all
of the game
Lane Bridgeford's shoulder is
yielding to treatment. He is ex-
pected TO be fit for the battle of his
life. Bridgeford would be disap-
the most if he had TO cling
% the sidelines, for he loves the
zest of battle.
Others discovered on the injured
list following Sundays hard tussle
With the Minneapolis Marines. are
coming around swiftly.
Live in Style.
In keeping with his plan of civ
ng his players the best of every
hing when away from home. Man
yer Flanagan has secured reserva- ,
ions at the Clarendon Beach hotel !
hosiery on Chicago's
lorth side. where they will spend
saturday night. Needless to say, .
his sort of attention strikes a re- ,
ponsiye chord with the athletes.
tock Island fans who make the trio
0 chicago to see the game. might i
YELL make 1t point to reach the I
otel sometime Sunday morning !
nd let the fellows know they will {
e among the thousands expected I
t the game, ready at all times to
end their moral support toward at q
aiming victory. s
DEMOS ARE PLEASED. 3
Washington Nov napaooro+;,l =