The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-13
KICKING ON THE NEW RULES.
AIN EVIL WHICH SEEMS TO BE
GROWING IN VIO-
LENCE
WHAT DO THE MAGNATEs DESIRE.
There Is Much DoUbt-A Galaxy of
Disabled Stars-CaylOr's
Gossip.
Special Correspondence of the Globe.


That was conclusively proved by the
National league attendance on Me-
mortal day, which reached a total of
$1,000 in six cities, namely-New York,
$4,000; Chicago, q 800; Brooklyn, 1900;
Cincinnati, 11,000; Philadelphia, IL, 400;
Boston, $500. 1t must be borne in mind
that rain prevented the scheduled
morning games in New York, Brooklyn
and Boston, thereby taking off perhaps
$4,000 spectators from the full output.
Again, the fact that the 31st Of May
was not a holiday in Philadelphia
cuts a very large figure in the general
estimate. BY special law Memorial day
in Pennsylvania cities was observed on
Saturday, the 29th Had the 31st been
observed in Philadelphia as the legal
holiday that city would surely have
turned out 10000 more spectators. Take
the attendance, therefore, as a whole,
and it shows a tremendous interest
in the national game. The same rela-
tive volume of business was done by
the minor league clubs.
These holiday harvests serve to keep
up base ball business. When the
brotherhood started out in go with
it's Utopian Players league, that astute
general of the National league forces,
A. G. Spalding, declared that the dura-
ton of the new organization depended
upon the state of the weather on Me-
mortal day and July 4. His words were
treated by the brotherhood people as a
joke when they were uttered but the
joke became a painful realization.
That year rain prevailed generally
on both these holidays, and the clubs
OF the contending leagues lost heavily
thereby. The National league hailed
these losses with satisfaction, because
1T knew it had the advantage in
struggle with finances as the pivotal
point. Spaldings words were true
prophecy. The holiday losses to the
hackers Of the Players league turned
the scale in favor of the old organiza-
ton. Had pleasant weather prevailed
in the United States on May 30 and
July in 1890 the history of base bail
might be much different from what we
find it.
Every passing week of the season
shows more clearly the failure of the
new rules to prevent kicking The
must keep in your position command
is brushed aside by players as if it had
Eever been solemnly adopted by the
magnateS at Baltimore as late as last
February. 1t is common to see th<.
umpire surrounded by half a dozen
dissatisfied 'llickers," who, all in con-
cert, denounce some decision which ne
has made-a pure matter of judgment
The ofense went so far in New York
on June l that the umpire was com.
PEELED to forfeit the game to the local.
club because the Pittsburg players had
him surrounded for ten minutes and
nnSitiVp1V 70
sitions in the field and continue the
game. Hurst and Sheridan, who, in q
mild way, attempted to enforce the
rule by removing offenders from the
game, got into ill-favor with club own
erS.
In spite Of the arbitrary provisions Of
the new anukicking rule and of PreSi-
dent Young's two proclamations to his
umpires, commanding them to strictly
enforce the penalties against all of :
tenders if they wished to retain their
official positions, the evil which will not
down has even grown in violence Had
the umpires got together" from the
start and followed the magnates' own
instructions to the letter and without
fear, favor or exception, the result
] would have been different But, with
ore or two exceptions, the staff tenn
poriZed with the kickers and was slow
to enforce the rule by removals from
the game. That mercy was a fatal
blunder.
The ludicrous part of the trouble is
the Jekyn and Hyde parts which the
magnates play in it. Last February
they unanimously adopted the anti
kicking rule and then signed a page
Of advice to the umpires." Among
other things which were said to the
umpires in this advice were the fol-
lowing:
10
to the letter.
DO not in any case temporize with
a rule breaker
DO not allow a player mot even q
captain) to leave his position to
argue with you. The captain only is
allowed to appeal to you, and he only
from his proper position, on a, legal
misinterpretation of the rule
THE umpire who enforces the rules.
maintains his dignity and compels re-
| spect, gives fullest satisfaction to both
| teams and to spectators"
That is the double brea sted, digni-
| fed advice which the proud magnates
| handed out to the umpires last win
| ter. Now, although less than two
! President Young holds kilograms t.;
| show that ten of the twelve advisers
| have demanded the transfer, disnis.
| sal or exchange of nearly every UNI
| pire on the staff, because this "ad-
vice" was acted upon, even in a half.
hearted way. Why, it is as ridiculous
| as opera bouffe.
The rule, under a penalty of removal
from the game, prohibits any player,
even the captain, from leaving his pO-
! sition in the field, at bat or on the
bench to dispute a decision in which a
rules Interpretation is net involved.
| But it is a daily scene for the whole
infield to rush up to the umpire with
/ loud words and angry gesticula tons
because he has declared a man safe
! by a base decision. What q farce
that new rule has become!
The Philadelphia team robbed the
| Bostons of one season record Selee's
men started the race with eight con
| secutive defeats. But the PhiladeI-
phias on their recent Western trip
went two better and now hold the rec
ord with ten.
The Eastern section Of the National
| league teams seem to remain the
stronger, for in the first intersectional
series the East won the majority of
! games, even against the many disad-
vantages with which they, as visitors.
had to contend. The Baltimore, Boston
and Brooklyn clubs were mainly re-
sponsible for this superiority of the
East, the other three Atlantic seaboartl
representatives doing little toward
helping the good work
EFT tn, Brute! What Caesar felt when
| Brutus stabbed him (mentally, of
| course) Captain Arson must have felt
| when WilmOt few weeks ago, offered
| 5000 to the Chicago club for "Uncle's'
released. Now as manager OF q West
| Anson's best friend among the Chicago
players But Wilmot's playing abii-