The sun., 1899-12-27
THE DECLINE OF BASEBALL.
yIsNATEs ARE TO BLAME FOR THE
PRESENT CONDITIONS.

rnviilingne.s to stop Rowdyism Rssponsi-
bie for slump In This City, baltimore,
Washington, Cleveland and LouisvilIs
why Club Owners DO Not Reform.
Durinr the recent meeting Of the Nationa
League mngnates In this city the only ofncial
reference made to the possible killing OF
rowdy baseball was u motion to permit the
inspector oi umpires. who never has been ap-
rolntsd since the place was newly created
more than a year ago. to have supervision
over the payers too. A further motion was
made 20 appoint man to hll the place. but II
Uos rost. for the reason that certain candidates
" ere in the field and each had sufficient back
Itg TO cause a deadlock. Several years ago
John B Day. formerly President and owner OF
the New York club. was appointed supervisor
| o'umrircs at salary. Days Intentions were
| OF the best. for he always has been an enemy
| n, unclean srort, hut he was soon quietly In
| formed that he had no power and that his
| salary was paid to him merely as a compli-
| mprt
| Soon aftcrward Day was removed be-
| cause a few mRgnates said he had received q
ldyilcnd from his $4,000 worth OF stock in
| the New York Club and should not receive
| any further recognition from the League. IL
| -.- not ienlel b. any club own0r In the
II
.rt lite authority, would have succee ed
/ In strengthening the umpire stan. which. ap-
rointed by President Young. never has been
without faults. hut ns the maRna,es did not
want to have clean baseball. Day was Of no use
| 10 them. Now. however the club owners are
| taking Of appointing Day once more and sons
/ o, them believe that hr would be OF service II
he could watch the behavior OF the players and
| trag the rioters up before the League for pun
/ ishmcnt But whether Day or another person
| rrt. the place. the baseball public Ia SO we'll
/ ro-tcd as to the n'e,hots o' the mon who con-
tr,. professional baseball In tho larger cities
that rcal reform In this direction may not be
MIN pay in power. It is easy to outline what
", 'li hulprn " he should prefer charges Of
60. g;i Il. oya Sy2STn9, Ro.,0N to%y;m
| burg. chicago. -. Louis and Cincinnati clubs.
| lay would ny himself Mt swords points with
epdmNl. Soden, Dr"yiuas Hart. Robson
4 ard Brush. H. would PROBABLY be hauled over
the Goals for hariug TO offend the m n who help
l 90 nay his sa aIy and his place would soon 10
\ npmrcr Of the League men have shown
that, they do not know wnat fair Elay means
4 zen So In ormri for the past Ave yehrs. they
srparently unable 10 crawl out OF the old
i rut Any reference nowadays to the methods
~ these men who have practically killed the
'6rmsr interest In baseball draws from them
rratests galore. They say that the CRY
I shtnst rOwdyism mas been exaggerated and
+ r'at The game IS compara'ively clean. They
i v.nk a the assaults unon umrircs. the throw
.u.: n fteer glasses by spectators, the insulting
| { Isyers nv pArtisAns In the grand stands,
at me various incid MS ot disorder that have
owen away from baseball the former army
~ resrectah's patrons
Crusaders cannot understand why the mag
aates follow such suicidal policy. They ire
Guent'y ask why the nlagnat"s 10 not observe
.-ir own rule which are annually promul-
| gated with a flourish OF promises and written
pledges They cal attention to the fact that
husiness.like lines and that the eSl-ting rules
are enforced TO the letter. In pug;sm. horse
racing. football. cycling. track athletics and
he rulings OF the presiding offlcials. for tho
''ason that the promoters ot these ports be-
against any and all protests.
In baseball. however; the unwtllIngness Of
NE maGnates 70 upheld he umpire has, made
'ri1 NJ abus". iia hns come to lie regarded q :
Ioke npt mark The riayerrs. who 2r. raj !
| c"rmitted TO grab the umnir" hy IN" throat,
runch him. cal him the fl.h''3' 81 h-'- and
GsmItae sd la. G% 'hn, ?ss vha'sysT
tays possessed when first allointed to the
brobabIy have an intsrost'rs ',Gr' Tell He
! might show how he has heeN reused ont Of bed
Inc that such and such an u,rr.ra- q "ared''
rNithout ceremony lie might n.;o relate how
| .uagnnteA that IL on 4 Iur with the treatment
| corded to umpires by the p AYERS Perhaps the
~r-i eat OF the League could tur'he tell how
where they might be OF service to the home
team And all OF these things might be shown
emanaa's ,a 1i1 r2m tue men whG tWp ys1hrs 40
Of the umIireS. whether rsht or wrong. a
luniSh heir players for violating an elaborate
let o, tqeN eSp"eia!ly framed to cleanse tho
In expiOaatior oi this peculiar behavior by
he .Sa Ta that Sapn h aps Sr saa
sni profits, eompe,"ly ov rshaiows sports:
manship. Il is the win by 'slr means or foul
4 eyes to the popular d"mand for. clean sport.
Furthermore. the ayerng" has"rall magna'e o.
The rre:ent se IL p n m" % Tam' ,or pure nspc,al
lne nointsof the game and cannot acc"ut n
! o"'aHf without wr"akin" vengeance either
npon the heals OF the umpires or their own
Brush, who once said he would kil rowdyiam
snd sn ttiye out al serhhhance o, freeimani.m'
boots, with the New York man. Robson. Drey-
'us;Si Wagner and others
men say, there will be no more Eick J"
But with the stret gthening oi all Of the
siss, teams the Increased rivalry and a
e hard af'5S TO SI he that 'SSas Baseball "a VII
he purineh. especially 1s the former az ocates
traces II the League had some one in its
,snks broad-mind.l enough 10 take the bull
p1n'ons into line. me- tho game "oaii be- ' greatly Sa
h,neated;. but such man. It Is thought. can
hardly be found.
Some OF the magnates might he teneftod d
By a visit to one or TWO OF the local clubs that
cgnhuct glove nc ting under the Jaw. rrush
was present a short time ago. He probably
APPRECIATED the fact that tn" referee. after Civ
ng his decisions, was not assaulted by any Of
The ruRilists tha' h" was not called vila names
| 'or exercising his bes' judgment: TINT sp1rt-
pR men paid their e,s W thout frsi slugginG
The feree that he club managers saw to IL
that any sre tator q sulting BY worl OF
month either the rug list or the referee was
the rol "e hid ~ little 10 DO In the way Ol
tup' re;sinR dsorder. II may have ocrurr d
70 rush thai the men who conduct, indulge
IN and pptToniZa glove Nghting have much
more sporting bloc than tie individuals who
hre attempting TO han 10 Americas national
game.
Tran ShontInU