The evening times., 1896-10-12
why NOT A CHIEF UMPIRE? ?
Such an Official Necessary in ths
National League.
President Young Understood to Favor
The SCHENECTADY Pay Closer At
tentiO ion to Ii Him self.

| liere has been much printed by base
baii writer's the past season ahcat The u;u.
' pre- That individual has been abused a nj
praised With tls zest OF partisan stlIn,p
| speaker. These same writer's have mad,
| many suggestions for the relief of the fans,
and have often given Uncle Nick Young
! a clip for his poor Judgment in saIectinc
| men for umpires.
The president of the National League,
! perhaps, has frequently felt the attacks,
but lie has remained quiet, no doubt real
| iZlns that slienc. on such subjects is the
| better part of judgment.
The League several years ago attempted
| TO relieve Mr.. Young OF the Empirical truu
! BILE. ana made the late Harry Wright chief
| of the umpircs. His duty was to travel
around the circuit TO ascertain whether
/ the newspapers and pla yers were right or
! wrong in their criticisms Of the ruler Of
! the games. lll-health, followed by death,
! cut short Mr.. Wright's career IL his new
office, and since then there has been 40
other chief except the president OF The
| League.
| The season of 1896 was Il hard one Cor
| Uncle Nick and his staff OF umpircs. At
! times he Was i'll sore straits. Cun.pilints
| came thick and fast, ard before the cam
| paign had scarcely begun there We're deser-
tions among umpires, and IT required he
! greatest maneuvering to fill the yacaUc:es.
! 1t Was a trying ordeal, but .h: veteran
pulled through ithout u scar.
On several occasions there were but four
umpires on the staff with six gaines Il day.
Prompt action was necessary, and b. y rea son
of such emergencies poor selections fol-
lowed. Some one had to umpire, aud then
il was that this and that star umpire Of the
commons was picked up. only to he found
wanting. Howl after howl would be heard
from distant cities, and the mind Of Uncle
Nick would start i'll its migratory way aud
another substitute would bc put on.
This condition of affairs naturally sug-
gested a reCrification Of the trouble. aud
the usefulness of chief umpire has again
been demonstrated, and il is altogether
likely that some action will be taken on
tins sub ject
Mr.. Young appreciates the importance of
a chef umpire, and it is understood that he
Gavors the scheme very much. 1t is probable
tina: in the event the League does not re
create the office lie himself will devote
much OF his time next year in travelling
from city to city in order to see" how
things work away from the capital Of the
country.
1t is iutimated that he has concluded to
resign his present position in the govern
ment service next year in order that he can
give his whole attention TO the game. In
this event it is said, he will visit all the
Lea que cities and personally observe the
work Of his men. There is not much Gre
dence placed in the report OF cOntem-
plated resignation, however 1t is doubt
full whether the League will sanction any
such movement, as it is tie desire of all
the ma gnates that he remain at onc place
all the time. so that When they have off
cial business with him they are always
certain that he will he lat home" The
many minor leagues which have matters
to be attended To without delay also de-
sire that their messages Ieteivc lmme-
diate attention.
Taking all into consideration, the chances
ar. that "a proper selection will be made
as a chief umpire. and Uncle Nick will,
as usual, be always found at his post.