The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-09-04

1t is imperative that the National
duty it shall be to handle the staff of
umpires. To be brutally frank. the task
is too big for man of President
Young's advanced years. says the New
York World. Mr.. Young is tied up in
Washington and cannot give the UNI
piracal problem the personal supervis-
ion necessary to Il successful solution.
Let this new official have full charge,
subordinate to none. with power OF ap-
puintment and dismissal. The great
danger which is threatening the foun-
dations Of professional base ball makes
it an absolute necessity that this mat
ter shall receive grave consideration at
the Chicago meeting. Another season
of rowdy ball playing like the present
will iniure the wonderful popularity of
the national game t6 a well-nigh ir-
reparable extent. AS Bill Joyce would
say this is no steamboat talk.
MUST ENFORCE RULES.
This chief Of umpires must, first of all,
devote himself to the enforcemnt of the
rules. lie must travel from city to city
and observe the work of his subordi-
mates. The present rules are strong
enough to protect the spectators if the
unpres would live un to them. And
they must he compelled to observe
them in all their stringency. else there
will be large sized wreckage. The
handwriting Is on the wall.
1t is abusurd to continue handling the
umpire problem by mail. President
Young is either too old or has obliga-
tions in Washington which prevent
travelling. Take the recent disgraceful
Cincinnati riots as an example. When
it was charged that Il Cincinnati prize
fighter. acting as substitute, umpire.
was stealing games form visiting teams
to keep the Reds in the lead, 1t was
President Young's duty to go to Gin
cinnati at once and observe the work
of this Bud Lally. Instead, Mr.
Young calmly holds down his govern
mcnt position and takes the word OF
President Brush and the Cincinnati
newspapers that Prize Fighter Lally is
umpirine, honest ball; in fact is the
greatest umpire that ever came down
the pike. This manner of doing busi-
ness would be laughable We're it not
tragic.
ENGAGING GOOD UMPIRES.
Then the chief of umpires should re-
cruit his ranks from personal Observa-
tion. At present any incompetent man
may secure an appointment upon the
National League staff by simply pre-
senting q letter of recommendation
from any of Mr.. Youngs friends or one
of the magnates of the national board
clique. The proper way is for the
chief of umpires to travel to n minor
league town and see for himself how
the applicant umpires. Or. whenever q
good man is heard of in the minor
leagues, the chief should go there. in
cognito, and size up the mans abil-
ity. Always have a bow to your string.
Filming umpires should the chlef $
privilege. If an official permits rowdy
ball players to overstep the bounds ms
money should be taken away. After
a lenient umpire loses several slices OF
his not over-fat salary he is likely to
be a martinez upon the ball field. Self
preservation is the first law of nature.
In this new state of affairs Tim Hurst
can be heard saying:
Now, Patsy, that'll cost you so. and
if you don't close your face You take
the bench. I've got the tip that the
chiefs around and I'm not going to
part with any of my coin for the sake
of bum ball player who Is making II
bluff to earn his salary. SHe?"
This forced discipline is the only rem
edy 10 check the overpowering evil.
The venerable head of the National
league has shown itself unable to cope
with il. 1t has been pretty hard in
past years, hut for inetiiciency Mr..
Young has u banner season in 1896
Let the magnatcs appoint a young. Wig
orOus man. who can devote his entire
time to his duties. :.
WORTH \ BIG SALARY.
A competent chief of umpires who
would corerct the existing state of af-
fairs is worth a Drincely salary. There
should he no difficulty in securing an
able man for Il modest salary. say S5,-
900 and expenses II is surely worth
that to uphold the prosperity of base
ball.
The National league has had Il chief
Of umrires--poor Harry Wright. But
there was no authority with the posi-
tiOn-in fact. the veteran was simply a.
pensioner. Let the new chief have all
the power. Mr.. Young. has too much
upOn his mind as IL iu