The evening times., 1896-10-31
PROTECTION FOR UMP|REs
Practical Proposition for Re-
form in Baseball.
TAKE PLAYERS OFF FIELD
When Not .dn the Game the Men
Only Allowed to Appear on the
Diamond When 1t Is Their Turn
to Bat-Other Suggestions.

The fall meeting OF the magnates of III,
National League will convene in a shori
| In Chicago. They will have plenty
to do If they Will set aside personalities
| for time and Iesislate for the bettermeni
| or the sport, and for the rehef OF the
patrons
| ..ie opinions OF the managers as to what
| Gnsht and what ought not to he done have
| been printed, but il is hard to foretell
| what viii be done when the magma cs
come together
The umpire question will receive a great
| deal Of attention no doubt, and something
| Will be done to prevent repetition OF
| the disgracerni sccLes which were raT too
numerous last season.
Few people accord the much abused UNI
pire the consideration he is entitled To,
while many are ready to condemn him the
first time he is guilty Of anything that
gives the home team shade the worst
of decision, no matter how honest he may
be in his convictions.
NO S SYMPATHY FOR UMPIRES
On the other hand, if the decision is
against the visiting team the men ON the
bench endeayor To make things very lively
for him. In this city the visiting clubs are
sure 10 have following Of Department
clerks and 9th ers, who render no little as
sis-an;e 10 ineIr ~. uri.es in abusing the
umpire.
Daring the second appearance OF the
LOUISVILLE team here last seasC.i II was a
common sight TO see the men on tn. bench
numbering more than those on the field in
dulging in all sorts OF antics, acconI-
made Comanche Indian turn green with
envy. while Manager NCGunniglc paced
panied by derisiye howls that would have
up and down in front ofthe grand stand like
u Gagged lion. Yet the umpire was sup
posed To do satisfactory work Cor all con
Cerned.
There is way to put a stop to such ex-
hibit!ons, and that is to compel those
players not actively engaged in play to re-
tire TO an apartment out of sight of the
game.
SUITABLE APARTMENT NECESSARY
When their turn came to bat they could
make Their appcardpce the same as actors
10. By such a scheine a great deal Of un-
necessary confusion. profanity, ra 2 chewing,
anu even Iightlns would bcdUnc away witn
Suitable roOins could be built III the right
and left field wings Of the grand stands,
far enough away from the home plate
So that II would not be possible for the
players coming off OF going on the field
io roast the umpire. They would not 20
near that individual, and their vtIgarty
could not be heard all over the field This
plan VIII be "A pauacca for one evil, and
something like IL should be adopted
In the event coaching is not abolished
aud II is not likely that ii VIII be the mru
who are delegated to do this work could
easily he made 10 stay In their boxes
They should be men not in the game and OF
course, could not have a say to the umpire
The penalty for violation OF a rule should be
expulsion from the ground. aud it is safe
to say that there would be very few digrcs
siOns from the laws.
PLAYERS PEBS SONALLYRESP PONSIBLE
Add 10 that reform a rule making the
player personally responsible for leaving
his position To argue point with the UNI
pire, always excepting the captain of the
team, by making the penalty expulsion
from teh game, and another nuisance is
abatcd. as the player would then have no
one else to blame If he Were guilty ofleav-
ing his position.
Such II scheme ought to commend itself
TO many. yet there may be points that can
he argued against it. 1t would do no harm
TO give ii fair trial.