The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-07-11
FREEDMAN AN ANARCHIST.

y
Paragraph of the instructions II
sued by President Young for the govq
eminent of the National League starr
of umpires for the season of 1901 reads
as follows:
1T is imperative that each umpire
shall enforce strictly and absolutely
each and every rule and law and main
tain discipline and gentlemanly be-
havior upon the field. There can be
no excuse for failure to do so with the
authority and support at your COM
mand. Failure in this requirement will
demonstrate the incapacity Of the UNI
pre- to occupy his position.
In commenting on the refusal of the
president of the New York club to per-
nit Umpire Nash to officiate at the
Polo Grounds, Mr.. Young said:
: MIR. Freedman advised me Friday
over the long-distance phone that his
club would not play another game
with Nash umpiring. l investigated
the trouble of Friday and could not
see where Nash erred. At any rate,
he could not be transferred without
violating league law as to umpire
schedule. Whether or not the game
will stand as legal depends on the
leagues action"
Nick Young Is Weak.
Where was the authority and sup
port which the executive of the Ma
tional League officially promised
would be given to umpires if they
enforce each and every rule and law
and maintain discipline upon the field"
when Freedman set at defiance the Ma
tional League by refusing to permit it's
accredited representative to umpire a
game to which he had been assigned?
And what assurance has any other
member of the staff that he will not
be subjected to like treatment if the
owner of the Giants does not approve
his decisions? Follow this suggestion
out to this logical conclusion and you
will find your confidence shaken in
the integrity of every umpire who
masquerades as the master of the
diamond" at the Polo Grounds. If
Freedman has the right to bar an UNI
piAC AiOu1 ulo PAIN CdCA CSCly OIhCl
club-owner possesses that privilege
and should exercise it. If Nash is
not competent to pass on plays at the
Polo Grounds, he is not fit to give de-
cisions at any other National League
park and he should be dismissed from
the staff President Young, to whom
is entrusted the selection and assign
ment of the National League umpires,
declares, after investigation, that he
could not ''see where Nash erred in
removing Davis, Warner and Taylor
from the game and that his transfer
to another city would be violation
of league law as to the schedule of
umpires." But the transfer was made
at Freedman's dictation and the public
is prepared to learn that Nash has
been deposed.
Freedman's Defense.
Freedman defends his action on the
ground that it is his duty to protect
his patrons from poor umpires. He
asserts that President Young lacks
the qualifications of leader for a
great baseball organization and it is
largely due to his incompetency that
the game has met so many obstacles
in recent years. The best proof of this
is furnished by the experience of the
principal owner of the New York club
in escaping the consequences of his
anarchistic acts. He has repeatedly
bulldozed president, club-owner and
umpire. without being called to account
except on one occasion when fine of
$1,000 was imposed on his club for for
| feiting a. game and it is matter of
record that this penalty was RENTED
for the purpose of placating him.