The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-11-22
LACK OF WORK
BLOCKED PATH
OF THIS YEAR
Interest I'm Team No Less Intense
Than Previously, Despite
Small Attendance.
By ]. l.. HUGHES.

The 1921 season is a matter of
history, so far as Manager Walter
Flanagan is concerned. but instead
OF sitting back moping over finan-
ciaI reverses that are beyond re-
demption, he is considering plans
for 1922 and working accordingly.
i Are the Independents to die2 Not
4 by any stretch Of the imagination,
if he can help it. Realizing eco
nomic conditions were such this
year as to almost preclude a sue
cessful year from a financial point
of view, Walter is not blaming fan
dom. He did everything in his
power TO weather the storms of un-
certain attendance. and the re
markable part of it is that he got
as far as Nov. 10 Confident how
ever, that the Industrial situation
4 will right itself before another au-
tum rolls around he is going
ahead with 1922 IN view.
While Walter is thinking a year
in advance. the players are reiuc-
tant to call IL a season. Majority
of them favor playing one or two
games at their own risk, if such is
possible Dewey Lyle has taken
the lead and is attempting to ar
range out of town contests.
Sundays attendance was the
smallest recorded for Il game fea-
turing the Independents in several
years. and it convinced Flanagan
that there is no time like the pres
ent TOR calling halt. After Du-
luth's expenses, comprising only
travelling expenditures, had been
met, there was $50 remaining. Yes
terday Walter borrowed a sum
. with which 10 meet players salar-
les in part He told them that if
the future makes it possible for
him to cover the deficit he will do
so. and most OF the fellows ac-
cepted without a whimper. He eX-
tended an invitation to every mem
Der of the squad TO return to Rock
Island in 1922, at which time an
& effort Will be made TO retrieve
x losses
Rock Island was not the only
team suffering this season from in
dustrial depression. Practically
every team in the. American Pro-
fessional Football association has
felt the tightness of money condi-
tioas. II any broke even, they can
count themselves lucky.
Rock Island was no less inter
ested in the team this season than
in preceding years. The fact that
thousands Of fans packed Second
avenue in front of The Argus every
. time the Independents played away
III from home. TO view the reproduc-
" ton OF the game. is proof of this.
They cheered the team on these
occasions. and it stands that the
great majority would gladly have
passed through the gate at Douglas
park to view the boys in an actual
game had they been able to meet
the price without scrimping.
Those who have been able to foot
the cost have done so with all the
old time spirit. True, many fans
were disgruntled because Flanagan
failed to bring Staleys. or some
other recognized strong aggrega-
ton TO Rock Island, but thew have
argued without knowledge of the
obstacles in the way of such bat
ties. II generally takes two to
strike a bargain. and while Walter
Mas more than anxious to land
Such setting for a Sunday after
noon at Douglas park. it was the
other fellow who always baked.
The last proposal to bring Sta
Ieys here for a third game, tend
cred only last week to Manager
George Halas at Chicago, met with
this: NO, we don't want to plav
Z Rock Island any more this season.
& We already have two games on it.
and It is much too strong to risk
/ third chance. The StaIeys. have
L Kept their slate clean this season
and intend to DO so to the finish. if
possible. We admit Rock Island is
as liable to beat Us as we are TO
Fl beat them again"
II In playing several games away
f from home this year a radical de
partuTe from customs OF former
e seasons, Flanagan was merely try
z ing To insure himself against what
E seemed losing proposition almost
from the start Rock Island had
hitherto played the part of the
X Samaritan for others; why not
z give these a chance to return the
compliment. thought Walter. He
only aimed 10 keep his nose above
wafer and thus be in shape TO give
Rock Island and this community
) full season OF football in 1922.
i His first setback occurred ar De
] troit on Oct 3. The Tiger man
agement took in $1,000 less at the
gate than enough To meet Rock Is
land guarantee. There was moth /
ing for Flanagan to do but accent
! a reduction totaling that amount. Z
Bill Marshall rendered his check
covering the difference but Walter
has 1t framed as a souvenir. The
. Tigers were on the rocks then, and /
are probably worse off now. so
there Is little or no chance OF ever
realizing on the check.
Manager Halas of the Stalevs
threatened to call off the last
game with his team at Chicago at
II O'Clock in the morning unless
Flanagan consented to 4 heavy cut
In guarantee, Again it was a case
OF take it or nothing. Then came
the Marine game at home that pro-
duced loss and this was finally
topped by Sundays contest with
Duluth the worst setback of ALI
tine
It's all past now. however Why
Worry about il. Walter consoles /,
himself. Rock Island has not gone
back on football. Of that he is an
soiateiy certain. Then the thing