The times., 1898-01-01
BRUSH's PROPOSED RULES
The Baseball Magnate Seeking
Valuable Information.
UMPIRES ASKED FOR DATA
He Clearly Defines the Offense for
Which Player Should Be Black
listed, ard Believes That a severe
Penalty Will Restrain a Man From
Becoming IA Blackguard.


natl club, is the author Of the proposed
rule to blacklist players for profanity and
other Objectionable conduct on the ball
field. Mr.. Brush is 10 be commended
for his efforts TO keep the game pure and
national in every respect. He mLst feel
that the public is back of him. and while
he may have opposition from the club
owners who have disreputable players
under contract. they hardly viii dare de-
clare themselves az being against the
amendment.
In this respect the Philadelphia ov1ers
of the Washington franchise, since their
recent requirement of a notoriously foul
mouthca player, will find themselves in n
rather awkward position, anG IL will be
interesting to know what they have TO say
about the matter not, however, thTo Ugh
the medium of n hired manor press agent.
MI Brush is after information, and the fol
lowing letter will give every person u
cLahce TO tell the league magnate what
they Know about the ungentlem8nly con
duct "i bah players. The letter rreads:
AT the last annual meeting OF the Ma
tlof:'I League. held in Philadelphia, l in
troduccd a resolution regarding indecent
and Committee was app pinted TO pr op-
city define the offense, pres cribc 4 method
OF pioce,' uic, and uDon conclusive DrooG
ImpDsc penalty.
Muc,. has been said regarding the ac
ton taref by the league upon this sub
lect, aud very many peupie have d aci ,fsd
that may arise. nhon the ground that
the pc:'alty proposed is too severe This
opposition, in my Judgment, is due 70
laoi. b: knc Wedge of the real pirpos,, If
IN
the mea uro very generally say hat the
penalt' is to severe when expuisioI is
word. rowdy bail playing" are too in
cefinite la ds scribe properly what the con.-
mtitee has in view.
A great M; ny things are done Ipon he
hdiififlu. anU great many eXniesSio *
ATE usec, Fl! OF which might properly ba
classed under the head of ''Towdy bail play
ing, nt.E, OF which should he pc naliztd b.
expulsion fIom the diamond.
My statement to the league in presenting
this II I l.ct was To the effect that I IN
not IiOinse Il reach profanity, ung ,ntle-
cTs Of or club and another or bit Y .an
player; anG umpire, or between players
and spectators tthat being already subject
to constitutional contrJll, except il in
vulvcd slCh obscene. filthy ana Indecent
language as has been heard in several in
stances il later years upon tine ball n I'D,
ard which must, in my Judgment, be
suppressed bv e>treme IN assures, or II
Will drive self especting patrons from the
game ~ do more to bring 1t into iisrc-
pute tlan even tue off nses for which
tTayer. Hall, Dcvliu, and SiChu.S were eX
peled
II is prcnosed simply 20 reach one
particular form of o1fense and one only,
and that Is the unprintabls and inIEen
tionable II decent remarks that an extreme
~ limited number of players indulge IL,
and which max cit unsafe for gentleman
with his wife daughter or lady To with rs
a game-iCt fear OF being shock ed by the
oiutallN cUI agcous indece1cy OF ball
player.
/ believe that if expulsion stared a tall
player in the ace for an ofrense Of this na
ture the offense would never Toe committed,
and ii L were committed and TIE specta-
tors wero. the offended witnesses, then !
am in f3vcr of aging o that player: Never
enter any ha II field under tie protection oi
the national agreement.
NV object ia writing TO yon a IS lave Is
for yorr q assistance il yea chocss TO gite
il - hat the committee may properly pre-
sent tic leeds for such legislation to the
Louis j will ask in tie interest OF purifi-
cation upon tie la III 1ieid II yCu viii wri e
giving me such Illustrations OF Indecent Ia III
cU3ee as may have come 10 your no ice
a different times, omitting the name of the
pl:.yer and he name of the club. as o not
wisi To ai.ts goni2e intliI idual Is or elub ne ~
bers but simply desire To MAKE 4 prese enia Z
tioI OF facts and incidents frcm tfe state
m, nt of this that or tie ether lndi !idpal
whb haA Ehow ledge, without implCatiItc
the person or CLUB.
1t might De wen III Htd.itis .ncidtnlS
to give the name of the city where the
offepse occurred, which would lie suffi-
cient far the committees purpose.
have addressed letter similar 20
this to d number of umpires, club oif!tit.s
aud newspaper men. hoping to get sun
cipnt light upon the subject 10 Justify my
action or demonstrate the fact that .hert
is po necessity Tor 1T.
II might he well in furnishing Illus
,rations OF filthy and indecent language,
of which rru may have been cogn'z mt
upon the hall field. /; in writing what the
oifeI se as YOU win give me the. cir t
and last letter of the word used. l WI
Inliv understand, and it viii enable us u
deal with the subject without gloves when
it is p,esented TO action. L would Sug
cost that in writing you use the eSpi SIS
For sending your commun ca tion, anl
then YOU VIII get the matter before ne
tri,Sn,it any risk of violation OF postal
80 An letters expressed to me aU
Indirnapoiis viii insure safe delivery