Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-11
THE UMPIRE
 HULLABALOO
Discussing a Question That Has Been a Source of Trouble in the Connecti- cut League.

nave been calIcu upon lOE uuLy HI lAS absence of staff members have only a thankful view of the situation. A jeered ball player occupies a kingly position beside Connecticut league official.
 No league in the land has had such serious and prolonged umpiring diff faculties as the Connecticut Officials have been ridiculed by players, spec tators, press and managers The spirit of good sportsmanship govern ing Connecticut league managers is so far from a decent standard that it is shameful to consider the shortage of manliness in the majority of them.
 Poor umpires have been plentiful enough, but the fact is that no um- pire in the league is good unless he can be moved by threats and belly aching. Officials who displease some managers in single instance are roared at and cussed. The league stands for it because the chief off, cial, James H. O'Rourke of Bridge port, is one of the most unreasonable men that umpires have to deal with. The fact that MT O'Rourke is intelli- gent, keen in baseball law as well as Blackstone, serves to make unbear- able the tortures of Connecticut ! shrewdness, outside of the umpire question, is the one thing that keeps the league fairly prosperous The example he furnishes in his handling of umpires keeps the circuit from be-. ing one of the most satisfactory in the country.
 At the beginning of the season Dan Shannon, Charles Kennedy, Bob Durnbaugh and McLacllan made up the umpiring staff. Kennedy and shannon were the only competent men. McLachlan was wholly unfit ted for the duties because he had no nerve. He soon got chased
 Steve Lambert of UnionvilIe, an old-time player and official, served for accommodation sake as an umpire, Tom Lovett, the old Brooklyn pitcher, lasted but short time. George Bone formerly with New Haven as a play erh umpired we'll at a Springfield Meriden game in this city and then signed with Meriden as a player.
 No official appeared for duty, so Warren Mclaughlin and Carson Hodges, pitchers, got into action un- der the double umpire system in a New London Meriden game. A young man named Gaffney from New Ha- ven pried his way into the league. Gaffney was a raw performer, hay ing neither judgment nor courage.
 Joe Gilbert, Meriden man. has filled in acceptably in emergency cases. Dave Hill, an ex-league off, cial, worked we'll when invited to llm- pire at New Haven. Pitchers Me Lean and Mclaughlin of the Worces- ter-Norwich and New London teams umpired Memorial day, in the morn ing game at New London until John H. Conway of Webster began his term as a league official. Buckley and McCue were asked to help out at Meriden on the first holiday of the season.
 John J. Kelly, a splendid official of wlue experience, umpired in Hart- ford on June l, being on a visit there George D. Morse of Worcester. bas ketball official, tried it for one day at New London. Dan Mccormick of Hinsdale, N. H., soon had the stamp of disapproyal put on him. Pitchers Treat of Springfield and Corcoran of New Haven were called upon at Hampden park June 10.
 Pat Cray; an official who is better qualified for the work than many who attempt it, deserted his refreshment stand at Holyoke one day to give de- cisions in a New Haven -Holyoke game.
 Dennis Reardon, the present super visor, then came on duty to heIp Supervisor shannon. Dave Nulcahy of Waterbury, a very vigorous gentle man, tried umpiring. He retired af- ter being abused by Hartford owners. Gus Merick of New Haven braced himself for the severe strain, and again tried Connecticut league umpir- ing, but he didn't treat J. H. O'Rourke with the consideration due the secretary Of the league, mag nate member of the National associa- ton of minor leagues judicial board, and divers other important baseball bodies, so he got switched off into retirement. MerricF, however, is um- piring again, only he doesn't work where Mir O'Rourke is.
 J. H. Bronson, q New Haven anna teur, of1ciated once in that city. O'Donnell of Meriden was a one-day worker. Henry Martens was employ ed few weeks and got O'Rourked out of the league. Wordford officiat- ed in game at Hartford where no regular appeared. P1att went in at New Haven to replace Dan Shannon July IS.
 Tom Finn of Holyoke helped out for few days. Walter Hickey, a westerner, who was with Meriden as second baseman until illness seiz- ed him, made return last week, but spiking put him off the staff Pitch CTS Voorhees, and Corcoran of Holy oke and New Haven umpired Tues day in Connecticut city. On the same day Charles Kennedy, the leagues best official, tired of the trou- bles and retired, giving J. H. O'Rourke a chance to conduct the game. It is possible that Kennedy will return to duty. He is too we'll equipped for the service to be allow ed to get away. It is far more diffi- cult to umpire satisfactorily in the Connecticut league than in either of the major organizations, because in this league players, managers, spec tators and the newspapers turn on the officials. In other organizations the umpire is respected as man who may make mistakes. Until there is