Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-04

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The umpire question continues to occupy
leading place, and will be one of the live
lest topics before the league meeting.
There is going to be some mighty plain
talking on that subject before the next
playing season opens, and it is hundred
to one bet that there will be some amend
ments to the existing method of governing
that feature of the game, which is the
actual foundation of base ball. From Al
most the beginr ing of the season the UNI
pire question has been discussed, and that
unlucky individual hammered by about
eleven cities comprising the twelve that
make up the National League. To the
credit of Washington, little has been said
on this subject by the local newspapers
until the unfortunate ending of the two
games with Pittsburg on Wednesday and
Thursday of this week. All the friends of
the national game fully understand the
trials of an umpire, and also the difficulties
that surround President Young in making
up his staff for each seasons work. Wash
ington has been lucky in the matter of
having good umpires, their work. no doubt.
being brought about through the fact Of
having President Young as judge in al
| most every game played in this city.
A suggestion from an old lover of the
sport is one worth considering, and no
doubt will be brought to the notice of the
| league at its meeting. 1t is that the UNI
| pireS be selected from the best available
candidates for the positions, and that then
| their appointments be made under Specific
contracts for that season Let there be no
protests for the renewal of any imam or
| the staff unless his work be in conflict with
the terms of his contract. Let him Know
| that his position is safe for the season, and
not to be terminated by the protest of
some manager who wanted the decision TO
go his way. If the umpire Is removed, let
the contract be such that the league is OBJ
| ligated to pay the full salary for the sea-
| son Such an arrangement would serve TO
make the umpires feel safe in ruling ac-
cording to their judgment, unaffected by
| the influence at headquarters OF this man
| ager or that. The players would not take
| so many liberties, for, howl as they might,
| the umpire would stag right there.
| Capt Ansons idea OF making schedule
| for the umpires before the season opens,
! and carrying it out TO the letter, would be
an extremely good innovation, and make
| the season Of as red letter day in the
history of the game. II that arrangement,
| or some other by which the umpres could
| feel safe from the pull held over their
| heads by the different managers, could DE
brought about 1t would go long way to-
| ward solving the prODteSl VI SetlihS 6ooo'
| honest, dignified men to rule the games.
Hoots and Kisses are a poor way to get
| good ball playing. Nothing can be gained
by q course that has a tendency to haraSs
and discourage a player who is doing the
| best he can. Words of cheer and encour-
agement far more likely to bring eooo
| re suits than sheer or cross worn. some
| Of the members of the Washington team
| were discussing the treatment accorded
| some of the local players in recent game
| at National Park.
| II thought the crowd in some of the
ether cities were bad, but if yesterday Is
| the way they open on a player for making
| one error, this is worse than anything I've
run against said one of the Few players.
THAT doesn't CO." said Capt. Brown.
| THE patrons of the game in Washington
know how to appreciate play as well as
any city in the country. They are quick
| TO applaud meritorious play ana SLOW 10
censure player for an error. II they know
| he is doing his best The boots and Jeers
| of a few, who are either Ignorant or
| naturally malicious, must not be taken as
young men up in the right field 50-cent
| seats that have been knocking me ever
| since the season opened, but nave been
| in base ball too long to let their 1eers
| bother me, as / always consider the source
| from which 1t comes. You Will nnd wash
ington as good place to play in as any
| city in the circuit"
| TT is pretty hard thing to be roasted
when one goes to the bat and strikes out
| on a good pitcher or fails to make hit at
an opportune time. when you have played
| good ball for months at time said one
| of the old players.
| Yes; 1 know it is said Capt. Brown.
| "You never had any occasion to complain
| of 1t before this season. 1t Is only half a
| dozen no-account ruffians, who are too
| cowardly to say anything to your race.
| but get behind somebody else and yell
when they know you can't pick them out.
| Policeman O'Day told me yesterday that
he had his eye on two Of that kind OF cat
| tie, and that he was going to place few
| of his assistants in the stand and try to
| spot them out. If he finds any OF these
ruffians, they will be put out OF the park
| and not allowed in again. Honest criti-
| cism is one thing. An enthusiast has a
| perfect right to cheer a play or show that
it does not please him, but to pick up
| mark and endeavor to break MIN up by
| personal remarks and groans is another
| thing. The nan who does that kind of
| work wants to see the team lose. He isn't
| kicking because the team isn't winning;
he only hopes that they will continue to
! the player, in hopes that he Will make more
| errors because of overanxiety and nerv-
BUSINESS"
Predictions that th8 Temple cup series
| will be abolished, after this season have
| made their appearance. The magnates at
tribute the unrulX, Conduct of the PLAYERS
to their anxiety ASsfare in the receipts.
This year for the Arsx time on record, the
players who will contest for the cup will be
| still under contract As their services to
| their respective clubs do not legally end
until October Is. It has been said in GER
tain quarters that thel magnates will take
| all the receipts from exhibition games
played between Orkeher and October 10
and that they will Also get percentage of
| the Temple cup reeeipes. This can not be,
as Mr.. Temple stipulated when he offered
! the cup that the players alone are to share
! the gate money. The club owners regret
| having accepted theifrophy, and would
| stop the series foraft were 1t not for public
| opinion. Patrons of the game would resent
such action, for 1t would confirm the gen.
eral impression that the magnates are
| greedy and grasping and that the ball
| players are down-trodden mortals under a
| system of serfdom. If the theory be true
| that the prospects of Temple cup money
| makes rowdies Of ball players. how can
| the conduct Of members Of teams which
have not even a chance for the first
| division be accounted for? The RESPONSE
bility in all cases lies with the club owner,
| and all this talk about the influence for
| the worse of the Temple cup series upon
| players is made for the purpose of hum
| bugging the public. The Bostons have the
reputation of being the best-behaved play
ers at home and abroad In. the league, and
l they have had remnant prospects almost