New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-11-08

PAUL ]. DASHIELL.
shins safeties OS96 model. scrimmages. charges
and all sorts of tackle for use on dry land There
has been play that was off side. on side. or the
back on both Sides and sometimes play that was
all one-sided
Rut in all cases there are always two individu-
AIS humping around on the field In lively man.
ner who keep careful scrutiny on the play
ers to see that everything is done according 10
the rules, TO guard against rough play, and TO
punish at once those hot-hsaded youths VINO IN
the heat of the struggle attempt to settle the
contest then and there with their fists ana these
two men. all important and absolutely indispen -
sable are the umpire and the referee In pase-
ball one umpire is enough to cause "a heap OF
trouble" sometimes. but such is the character OF
the game of football that two officials are needed
10 mass Judgment on the play of the game. and
s+iu two more to measure distances and time,
namely the linesmen. This is the number AT the
present time once the double umpire s!s'ei"
was tried by or two of the colleges ana 'he
force of officials on the field looked almost as
large as that of the players.
The tale of woe which the baseball. umpire al
WAYS has ready to pour forth Las been sung III
song and story until the subject is worn shihy
end +hreadbare The lot of the football Official
has never been an easy one. but up 10 'he pres
ont wear complaints from his direction have not
been Of such frequency that undue worry mas
been caused This fall. however, he has come IN
for an unusual amount of criticism, ana lovers
Of football on all sides have been asking the rea-
son Ono after the other this college and that
athletic association have claimed that they nave
been robbed of a game by the umpire and referee
until If it keeps on. the public VIII begin 10 look
ON the football official it does on the baseoai
,r,nire and be prepared to mob him at mo-
ment's notice.
WHERE DOES THE TROUBLE LIE?
Ono football enthusiast declares that the sys-
Tam NJ choosing officials for the game Is all
wrong and another says that this years sup
My of referees and umpires is an entirely new
crop which lacks in experience. thus accounting
for the unsatisfactory results of games Every
body who follows football knows. OF course 'ha'
the duties of the umpire are TO 1udge Oh 'he
conduct of the players, and that his decision Is
final regarding fouls and unfair tactics; ana that
the referees business is to see that the pa Is put
in play properly and then judge or us pos'ioh
and progress. He is also judge or FORWARD passes
and the running with the ball by the quarter
back Officials for the games are usually CHOSEN
by the captains of the opposing teams ana INC
choice "a ant to be on the ground Of friendship,
which of course is poor basis to work on III
such a matter. The intense jealousy which ex-
lists between certain colleges makes the choice
Of an official difficult. Harvard doesn't want
Yale man for fear he will decide close decisions
against them; and Yale is afraid Of a Princeton
man while Princeton has similar feeling
toward Yale And this feeling permeates the
game even down to the smaller colleges.
az course where an official makes name for
i1npartiality and honesty, it is different There
was q time when the umpire and referee were
combined in one. Walter Camp used to offciate
in many of the old games in this double role
and such was his reputation for fairness and I'M
prejudiced decisions. such was the confidence
placed in him by all the colleges. that he was
always acceptable TO the teams playing Yale.
his own college. The most prominent man before
TIE football public is Paul Dashiell. formerly of
Lehigh, now professor at the Naval Academy
ANNAPOLIS. Mr.. Dashien has the advantage of
being free from affiliations with any Of the large
colleges: but above all he has a great experience
and has shown that he deserves the utmost con-
fdence which is placed in him by oil captains
Of football teams at the present day. His name
has not only appeared in most of the large and
important games of the last few years. but
already this year he has been called upon to
in order to keep his engagements
Alexander Moffatt, of Princeton. is one who
in every way is fitted to make splendid foot
ball Official. He has not only the experience OF
q player and referee but Is thoroughly trust
worthy and impartial. Since the well-known
game between Yale and Harvard in 1894. where
so much was said about the brutal play and over
the official decisions of which the Harvard men
made so much unfavorablc comment. Mr.. Mof-
fatt has not been seen upon the field. And his
case is only of many others where a man
has worked up to be first-cass official. meet
ing all the requirements. and suddenly On ac-
count OF unfavorable comment de-
cision that did not please one side or the other.
ceased to accept offers to umpire. preferring not
to subject himself to adverse criticism
HUMAN NATURE ASSERTS ITSELF.
For many years It the custom for men
from the colleges which the opposing teams rep
resented to act as the officials in the games. but
this year has shown that this is not satisfactory.
although there are old players who say they
would rather have an old player Of an opposing
team act. for the reason that he would be more
than careful to decide not to favor his
side. But human nature is weak, and 1t has
been shown that when it comes to q close PINCH
~ It docs a great many times. the umpire will
favor one side or the other just enough to make