The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-02-09

WINS APPROVAL
OF STALEYS IN
Dove VENTURE



Peoria, Feb. S.-House cleaning
days In baseball are 1t hand, claims
Mike Sexton, president Of the Ma
tional Association of Baseball clubs
tho minor leagues-who was
here yesterday comforting with
Peoria baseball men.
"Judge Lands and his new base
bail governing body are Just get
ting down to work and there will be
. complete cleanup before the new
high commissioner finishes his
task" Mr.. Sexton declared. "The
cleanup has already started, and
elements and individuals giving the
game a black eye In other years
will all be eliminated before the
next playing season is far along.
Win Back Fans Confidence.
II think the new baseball organ
ixation will. work very much to the
benefit of the game. and the conf
dence of the general public which
has been considerably shaken by
events taking place in the last
couple Of years, will be back
stronger than ever BY the time the
next championship races are decid-
ed.
Gambling must go. That's the
first move Judge Lands and his as
sistants will make. A big major
1ty Of our states will have laws
written and In effect by the time
the new season opens. prohibiting
baseball gambling in every phase.
Had the gamblers been dealt with
and dealt with severely three years
ago, the latest baseball scandals
would have never happened. -,
When asked as to the standing
Of the various members of the Chi
cago White Sox now under indict-
ment for throwing the 1919 worlds
series to Cincinnati. Mr.. Sexton de-
clared their cases had not come Of
licially before the new board. He
did hint. however. that regardless
Of any action of the Cook county
courts, there 10 little likelihood OF
any Of the eight players ever ind
ing employment again in organized
baseball
How about Back Weaver? Mr..
Sexton Was asked.
I'm The eyes Of the baseball pub
lie he II placed alongside Of Cicotte,
Jackson, Williams and the others
that have made confessions. He
may escape punishment 1t the
hands Of Cook county court on
Gals, but hi career IN baseball II
another JrsDosition. would he
fans In your city tolerate any Of
the players under suspicion on this
Peoria club!' was Mr.. Sections re-
ply.
Mr.. Sexton also had some sncour-
aging predictions to mako regard
Ing the outlook for baseball this
season. Last season went down
% the greatest in history" he said.
slnterest everywhere Is very much
alive, and I look for the attendance
in 1871 to shattsr the records made
last year."
Outside Of admitting he was hero
on baseball business, Mr.. Sexton
did not announce the object Of his
GRAND. He was . guest Of Presi-
dent Jack Ryan and Manager Bill
jackson Of the Tractors at the Fans
association boxing show last night
and later held q long conference
with the Peoria club president.
He expected to return to his
home in Rock Island today.
Mr.. Sexton explained that his
mission had bean an effort to bring
industrial baseball under some
branch Of organized baseball, for
which purpose he had conferred
with officials Of the Staley Manu-
featuring company at Decatur.
Mr.. Sexton stated that the Staley |
people were In favor of getting to-
gether with organised baseball. He
said that they wanted to work In
harmony with the organized ball
and for tho best interest for all
sport events.
Industrial baseball will not DO
% prominent this season as 1t was
last year. Several teams have al
ready been dropped but concerns
suca as the Staleys and Fairbanks
Morse expect to support ball clubs.
They. however, are in the game for
the sport and publicity connected
with the game and have never
created much trouble for the or
ganized loops.
Mr.. Sexton stated that an effort
was being made by the baseball
magnates to create . new branch
under which the industrial clubs
might be classified. The Staley
people appeared very favorable to
The plan.
In regard to the draft Mr.. Sex
ton declared that he thought ma
|ority Of the minor league clubs
would accept It Tho only leagues
hat appeared doubtful were the /,
American association and the In
Iernational leagues. They are. in
act. big leagues in themselves. II
AUGIEST. VIATOR 4
BASKETBALL GAME
YNR. a ~ANOR~