The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-11
ARE READY TO
LINE UP WITH
A new CIRCUIT
Association Increases Board OF ID.
rectors-M. I'll. Sexton Delivers
Talk.
BY ]. L.. HUGHES.


Perhaps there are some Rock Is
landers who can't sayvy the idea OF
this city reentering organized base
bali this year but, judging by the
sentiment expressed at the annual
meet of the fans association at the
Chamber of Commerce last night
these are in the minority.
Before consideration was given
to the election of a new directorate
it was determined first that Rock
Island is not only willing, bu'
ready to join a new league of less
financial pretentions than the
Three-Eye. 1t was a Thoroughly
representative Indication OF no"
fandom feels when every man stood
at the call of the chairman for
rising vote. 1t was the consensus
that if Rock Island should let go
If might be many years before the
CITY could even try to revive the
snort. A feeling of confidence thai
the more wholesome influence o. a
new league, would serve to bring
back the spirit OF bygone years
was shown.
With Rock Islands position II
regard to 1922 baseball settled on
the right side, the election OF Ill
rectors was in order. Upon m J.
tion the board was increased from
IL to Is members, with the thought
in view that more concentrated
action will be assured in solving
tho problems arising during the
season. The new directorate is as
follows:
Reelected W. Potter, c. a
Beers. T.. p. Sinnett, r. F. Wood
DR.. c. w. Mueller and w. H Hart
man.
New members-John Hawley, Ed
Kries. viii Roth, W. r. Carse
Henry Kramer, NJ. S. Heagy, BerI
OhIWeiler and Frank Brough.
Selection OF officers devoives up
on the directors but upon motion
this action was deferred until NJ
H. Sections return from a trip t
Waterloo and Ottumwa in the IN
terest of the proposed new league
An invitation was extended TO Mr.
Sexton to submit report TO tht
board.
Back to First Principles.
I'VE must get back to the frs
principles Of minor league base
ball if it is ever to pay Tor itse-1
again in cities of this size, MI
Sexton declared. The last twt
years in the Three-Eye league ha:
proved conclusively that Rock Is
n land cannot afford to pay veteran
VI ball players big salaries. It's ;
y case Of getting back to the times
when the youngsters were brougn
in from the sandlots and made Il
play scFappy, thrilling baseball by
a manager who knows how TO bring
it out OF them. The kids can pII
no end of interest into contest ir
which the spirit of competition i!
with them and ell they need is one
or two veteran players at the right
positions to steady the ship
There is no need to stop at {
class C rating. 1t is better to take
as low a classification as possible
and then build up"
Mr. Sexton recalled the days
when Rock Island drew $4,000 ant
10000 fans each season and at.
tributed it to the fact that it was
youngsters who occupied the lime
light. With a population from To-
600 to $4,000 greater now, he is coil
fident such crowds can again be
drawn through the gates if tht
right kind of attraction is offered
Mr.. Sexton said he would no
hrge Rock Island to join organized
baseball again unless there is every
reason to anticipate that sport will
break even on the financial end, OF
at least come within reason. He
declared that no city is worthy OF
baseball if it cannot be made to pay
out at. the gate.
President c. W. Mueller called
upon several others to express their
attitude and opinion of each CORE
sponded with twhat Mr.. Sexton had
to say.
The statement of finances was
read by Walter H. Flanagan, acting
secretary in the absence of M. S,
Brough. Tentative plans for stag
ing of booster events during the
winter to help liquidate the indebt-
edness, were discussed.