The evening times., 1896-07-21
POWER OF THE UNPlRES
Their Appointment and Their
Worth.
President Young's Selections Criti-
cised by Pittsburg Newspaper
In Regular SmoketGwn Style.

The Pittsburg Chronicle Telegraph says:
Turmoil, brawls, wrangles and even assaults
Oh the baseball field have become matter
OF almost weekly occurrence. The National
League diamond, wheLeen the finished,
purest exhibitions Of the national game
are expected, has had mere than its share
OF disgraceful occurrences. iUmpircs Lave
been brow-beaten, mobbed and violently
hapoled by players, WHO have also used
foul, Incorporate language regardless Of
| their position.
Patrons of League games have been dis
gusted by the frequent disorder, and there
is no doubt that many have ceased their
patroDa ge because OF the hoodlum tactics Of
| various players. The demapd for aggIes-
slve, snappy ball playing has been general
| for years, but the public by This requ est has
/ not wished the throwing out OF all gentle
manly instincts by the players. Fair, honest
| sport, played with intelligence and physical
| skill combined, has been their desire
Tie suppression OF these riotous scenes
| has become a question OF serious moment
| The great pastime cannot stand many more
such heavy blows. People do not go TO
see men harangue, quarrel and exchange
| The League officials have asserted that
| the remedy was in the hands of the uIn-
pire. He had the power to enforce order
and would be backed up by his employers.
| Their plea is all right.
The umpire has the power, but few
have welded IL, and the question arises,
why doesn't the League select men who
$will obey the instructions given them?
THE position OF umpire is a trying one. 1t
| can be filled, however, but not by men of
the character, disposition, etc, which
| have been on the League staff in recent
years. An umpire must bc man OF char
| acter, intelligence, firmness, and pos
sessed OF a power of DISCRIMINATION above
the average man.
President n. E. Young OF the National
League has appointed these officials for
years past. Mr.. Young is an old gentle
man, looked upon as man OF integrity.
He has had over thirty years experience
| at baseball matters, and recently celebrated
his twenty fifth anniversary as president
| OF the league. Mr.. Young has made scores
OF selection sof umpres in mis- career,
and not five in fifty have proven competent.
The men were usually selected regard
| ~
fitness. Mr.. Young signed dozens on rec
ommendatiUns OF others. In many cases
these references were given for charitable
reasons. The umpires Soon proved their
utter unfitness. Last year Mr. Young ap-
pointed Benjamin Tuthin, a New York
theatrical man, TO the staff, and assigned
him to July games in New York.
The Baltimores opposed the Giants, an,
when Tuthil showed that he did not know
the rules, of course, there was wrangling
etc. This year Keefe was kept at Wort
when it was clearly evident that he wal
not fit man. Belts was Il miserable fail
urc in 1894, yet Young engag him again
this year, and as u result a disgracefu
row occurs.
Mr.. Young is evidently behind the time
in baseball. He is handicapped somewha
: by age. The League should engage II maj
Of energy and sound judgment to conduc
its Umpire staff, look into, the qualifica
tions, etc, of applicants. observe their de
fects, and if they blunder when tested poin
out the law and demand IT'S enforcement
The future Of baseball depends largely O.
solution of the problem now at hand.