Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-27

Denver was treated to a most unwelcome
performance on the day OF the opening,
when Umpire stearns was forced to exercise
his authority and put four Denver players
out Of the game. OF course the umpire
came In for a fierce roasting from the pa
irons and the press, who resurrected his
old playing sobriquet Of DIRTY DAN" and
howled 1t at him In racous chorus.
Stearns was undaunted, though, and the
games since the first day have been marked
by much less demonstrative proceedings on
the part Of Parke Wilson and his gang.
IT s Just as well to have 1t understood
at the outset that the umpire is going to
run the game and not the players. 1t will
prevent lots Of unpleasantness. One fea-
ture Of the AFFAIR at Denver was the
+, promptness with which stearns called the
sui of one Stats Davis, the fat-head
who thinks he Is funny. When Stearns put
Jones out of the game for cursing him after
ining him, Davis started some Of his funny
work, intending to turn the laugh on the
umpire. He was fined and elected from the
game so quickly that he forgot to laugh
himself. Dundon applied some OF his
choice collection Of epithets to the umpire,
and out he went with two S. fines sticking
TO him, and then Captain and Manager
Parke Wilson undertook to tell Stearns
Just what sort Of a robber he is. Well, you
all know how Parke can talk when he gets
started. 1t cost him $40 and his position In
the game. But Parke says he didn't use
any language he considered vile. No, prob
ably not, but, happily. Parke isn't the cri-
terion for polite society. II stearns doesn't
do anything else this summer he is entitled
to thanks for having squelched the Denver
disturbers so promptly.
President Sexton was in the city Thurs
day and watched the Omaha Milwaukee,
game. He expressed himself as very we'll
pleased with the outlook for the Western
and gave 1t as his opinion that the fight in
Milwaukee and Kansas City would termi-
nate in it's favor. Mr.. Sexton modestly dis
cussed the base ball situation in general
and proved himself to be an e~ven-tempered
man OF excellent Judgment and wide in
formation. It Is a matter on which the
Western league magnates are to be con-
graduated, that they have secured a man
so we'll qualified to manage their AFFAIRS.
Beyond question the sensation of the week
was the decision Of the Pennsylvania su-
preme court in the Lajoie case. This SO
clearly and completely determines the sta
tus Of the contract jumper that all base
ball patrons and players alike should famil-
iariEe themselves with the law as laid down.
When Colonel Rogers in 1901 applied for an
injunction to restrain Lajoie from playing
with the Philadelphia Americans. the court
of common pleas, discussing this point IN
denying the writ. said that no irreparable
injury had been done the plaintiff. On this
point the supreme court says mo certain
pecuniary standard exists for the measure
ment of damages" in some cases. and goes
on:
He Gajoie) has been for several years in
the service of the plaintiff club. and has
been r-e-engaged from season to season at
a constantly Increasing salary. He has be-
come thoroughly familiar with the action
and methods of the other players In the
clrb, and his own work is peculiarly meri-
torious as an integral part of the team
work which Is so essential. In addition TO
these features, which render his services
of peculiar and specific value to the plain
till, and not easily replaced, Lajoie is well
known, and has great reputation among
the patrons of the sport for ability in the
position which he filled. and was thus a
most attractive drawing card for the pub
lie. He may not be the sun in the base
ball armament, but he is certainly a bright
particular star.
We feel, therefore, that the. evidence in
this case t~ustiies the conclusion that the
unique character, and display such a spe-
der them SC peculiar in value to the