The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-11-18

Steps to organize a new minor
/ league circuit. with Rock Island
and Cedar Rapids, the two cities
which withdrew from the Three
Eve league at the annual meeting
! of the tri-optic circuit in Chicago
Yesterday as a nucleus will be IN
dertaken at once, according to
statement this morning of officials
| of the Rock Island Fans associa-
ton who attended yesterdays con-
ference.
Cities mentioned yesterday as
possibilities in forming a new six
or eight club circuit were Rock Is
land, Cedar Rapids, Quincy, Bur
lington, Ottumwa. Waterloo, Mar
shalltown, Muscatine and Dubuque.
Immediate steps will be taken by
Belden Hill, president of the Cedar
Rapids club, and the local associa-
ton, to see if such a league can be
formed
Rock Islands withdrawal from
the Three-Eye followed the refusal
of the majority of the members to
take any drastic action to reduce
the players salary limit and 10 en-
force certain economies which the
Rock Island baseball directors
deemed necessary if the local asso-
citation were to have even a fair
chance to pay out next year.
President c. w Mueller. in ex-
planning Rock Islands position to
the league members, stated that
1--WE must follow one of two
courses. Either the travelling ex-
penses and salary limit must be
materially decreased or we must
withdraw from the league, much
as we dislike leaving an organiza-
ton with which we have been as
ISOLATED, with few Interruptions,
since its inception. We lost heav-
lily the past year and cannot see
any brighter outlook for the 1922
season. 1t is simply a business
proposition with US. We cannot
ask the fans of Rock Island TO do
nate several thousand dollars again
next year. when we know from the
start we are going to lose money.
If a reorganization of the circuit
could be effected. whereby travel
ing distances would be materially
reduced, and a reasonable salary
limit established and enforced,
then We could consider staying in.
But without those changes Rock Is
land must withdraw"
Belden Hill declared that his DO
sition was similar to Rock Islands.
He pointed out that Cedar Rapids
was not a drawing card in the
southern end of the circuit. nor
were Terre Haute and Evansville
in his home city, and declared that
the great travelling distances be-
tween the league cities precluded
all possibility of financial success,
except, perhaps for one or two
cities.
Split Not Favored.
Discussion of the proposition to
split the Three-Eye into d north
ern and southern circuit failed TO
meet with favor. wheTeupon Rock
Island and Cedar Rapids formally
asked permission to withdraw, pro-
vided first that they should share
in the league sinking fund; second
ly that they should retain owner
ship of their players; and thirdly.
lAioL -flOllLS SIOulu waive It's ~
mile territorial rights, thus permit,
ting Rock Island to remain in or
ganiZed baseball. All of these con-
ditions were promptly agreed to by
unanimous vote
Plans for filling the vacancies in
the circuit were not definitely for
mulated yesterday It was deter
mined that an adjourned meeting
of the remaining six clubs should
be held January, following the an
nual meeting Of the National Asso-
citation of Minor leagues in Buffalo
in December. Efforts will be made
to complete the circuit by the ad-
dition of Springfield, Decatur, Dan
vile, South Bend or Fort Wayne,
if two of these cities can be
prevailed upon to take out a !
franchise In case these plans mis-
carry. the Three-Eye league will
be six club circuit in 1922.
Hill Outlines Plans.
"A new circuit should be COM
posed of cities within a compact
area" Mr.. Hill stated to a repre- |