The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-19


After hugsing the fond delusion In
their hearts that the coming season
Wouiu see busineSs-lilIe. Impartial and
capapie management of the league aC-
iairS. the fans find To their chagrin
mat 1t Is all Dead Sea fruit and tho same
tons
The infant. which was born at the
recent meeting OF the magnates, when
rocked at superllcinlly. Is an extremely
lkely looking chcrub, but look closer and
IL VIII be seen that the same dwartish
ana mis-shapen imp of last season has
oeen brought into existence again. or,lv
INNS time under thinly yelled disguise
which deceivcs none but the fatuous.
no iault can he found with the sclec-
tlon OF Mr.. w. G. Belts MS chief uf UNI
pres. MIR. Belts is good man. cnrable
and thoroughly conversnnt With the
game; with National League expcri-
ence. which should stand him in good
stead in the present position. His ap,
|.Gnintment was thoroughly satisfactory
ana is approved by the baSeball-loving
public
What is Mr.. Retts' true position under
his appointments? His designation as
chief of unpres is but an honorary and
empty title and might equally rs well
have been applied 10 Mitchell las; year
without any harm being done Air Bets
VIII simply he an umpire with the power
10 appoint his cnafreros. AS an umpire
de facto he will be unable to retain the
respect and confidence of the public.
which is prerequisite in the man who
is to control others
1t is folly to suppose that. as an UNI
pirc actively engaged in the duties of
the position. AIR. Bets will give salts
faction at all times. in all cases and In
all classes. The umpire is vet to be born
who is perfect and whose perspicui;y
nm nd, &. Sal
As consequence" Mir. Belts will him
self be alternately The target for crit
ic1sm ana in common with The other lm-
pires will i've reviled. cndlled. criticised
and cussed as the case may he. and his
nosition as chief of unpires will III one
momcn; I've stripped cf the dignity and
Importance II should command in the
eyes of players. public ana his STAFF.
Under the circumstances Is ii natural
to suppose thu; his staff will give him
the obedience and respect required of
them?
The moment Mr. Belts steps on the
diamond with an indicator that moment
his dignity ana prestige MS chief of UNI
pires vanish and he becomes simply an
umpire 10 be villiisd. abused and howl
ed at. 1t is matter OF surprise that
Mr. Belts did not recognize this and
refuse 10 accept the ema sculatrd rroa-
ton involved by the thinkers from the
position originally decided upon q; the
fall meeting last year.
Unless the plan Of making MIR. Retts
chief of umpires. IN all that the name
implies. is carried out. and that as soon
as possible. it may safely lac predictcd
that the same conditions. which made
trouble last year, will artse shortly af-
ter the season opens.
1t behC3vcs the magnates to imme-
d!ately authorize Mr. sCtts TO employ
three umpres as his staff and himself
assume tllr'p rsiticn the public confident
ly expected him to occupy.
Manager Belts is still at his home. in
Washington, and will not report for duty
until about the LIST of April. He is not
idle however. but. on the contrary. is
buSily engaged In getting together Il
star of umpircs. who will do credit to
the league and justice To the clubs. In
Il letter written 10 the Nirginian. he
says: Il am doing what ! can towards
promoting the welfare of the Virginia
state League. and towards making il
one OF the strongest minor leagues of
the coming season. | recently called on
President n. T.. Young. of the National
League, with whom had Il long talk
and lie expressed his best wishes for the
success Of our league
He recommended to me for appoint
mcnt on the umpire STAFF Mr.. George
Wood. the once famous left fielder OF
Philadelphia, and MIR. Ed. NJ. Cline of
New Albany, Ind. Both cf them were
backed with the best Of references for
appointment on the staff OF the National
League. have signed Wood, and am
waiting for a reply from Cline If am
successful in getting these two men we
will have staff equal to the best of
them.
1T is my intention to have. at some
future day before the opening of the
season. q meeting of all captains and
the umpircS, and have a general under
standing as to the meaning of every
rule in the hook governing baseball in
order that every umpire may make the
same ruling on play. and that every
captain may know from whence comes
his authority for so ruling. The umpires
will also he instructed To allow 10 one
but the captains 60 question his dcci-
sion.
Tho players Will be treated I'm tho
Virginia League the same as the players
in the National League a.. they will
he fined or removed from the game, or
both. which will he governed according
to their misdemeanors and all fines
shall he paid I'm strict accordance with
the rules Of baseball
The people of Virginia will this sea-
son have the opportunity of seeing only
gentlemen officiating in the position of
umpire"
The appointment of Mr.. John c. Small.
Of Richmond. did not give the unalloved
pleasure to Norfolk fanatics that local
No.. n.