Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-05-10
AOODLUMISM IN BASEBALL.

HOODCO MlSM in BASEBALL.
It appears to the Graphic that the
time mas arrived for President
Wheatly of the Cotton States Base
bal League 10 put an Effective check
upon the hoodlum spirit which has
exhibited i,self on the part Of some OF
the players of some CT the teams oil
the league The league season ha:
OILY fairly opened, but there has al
ready been some very disgracefu
scenes on the diamond.
At Vicks burg NatcheZ player
threatened to kill Umpire Oldfield be
cause he rendered a decision whict
the player considered unfair to his
team. Two of the players CT the
Natehez team were fined by the um
pire for wilful violations of the rules
of the game, and the police had to In
terfere to prevent violence toward the
umpire. 1t is stated by the Vicks-
burg Herald that both of the players
bitterly resented arrest, HallcW par
ticularly indulging in wild and foolish
talk. Among other things Harlow
sta ed that he would get even by hav-
ing the entire Vicksburg team ar
rested as soon as they reach Natchez,
and that he would have Umpire Old
field fired eally next morning. They
all, We're inclined to abuse the Off
GERS.
AT Baton Rouge las Saturday I'M
pre- Bassett had to have body
guard Of poliC % prevent being
mObbed by Baton Rouge players wAo
objected to some of his rulings. The
game was a close one and no doubt
required sem vely nice harsplitlng
at times to arrive at a decision. 1t
may be that the umpire erred in some
of his decisions, but that can be no
reason for such demonstrations of
ht z.Hlulnism as occurred at Baton
Rouge IN. Nicksburg If the umpire
makes an erron Gus decision there is
the right of appeal open to the man
ager of the team.
In the game at Baton Rouge. prior
tc M one in which the trouble oc-
CURED, Baton Rouge won. but we
he of no wrangling on the part OF
the Pine Bluff team, which was de-
feated. Speaking of that gama the
Baton Rouge Times spoke of Umpire
Ba asett in The highest terms, saying
that he was W II up on the points of
the game and perfectly fair in his de-
cisions. On Sunday Baton Rouge
Wcn again, and while there comes no
KICK on the part of Pina Bluff. the
Baton Rouge players and fans seem
10 he very highly pleased again. Is it
IGs.lble that Baton Rouge is deter
n ned to win by any means, foul or
fair?
The Graphic is pleased to ncte that
tie Pine Bluff team is free f.om any
OF these charges of rowdyism Cen
uenlen do not engage in it--Only the
mug and the bully The rules of the
game positively prohibit rufiianism,
and if the players are not made to
comply with the rules in this matter.
ihe great game of bas ball will pass
into such disrepute that the b IT.
class Of the people will remain away
from the games.
resident Wheatly would retire
d : " bullies permanently from the
league II would have decided effect
toward making gentlemen out of the
players who are inclined TO rufianism
and 1t would very materially increase
pubic respect for th,. great national
sport. If the players were made to
comply With the rules of the game
fher' would be no mere complaint
tina, fans became undulv dcmCnstra-
Nv toward the umpire. The fan
VIII always quarrel with lie umptre
frem the beathers and a. e,anJ
stand Whenever decision is against
Inc nome team, bus that is as far ae
IL fNer goes with the fan unless
trouble Is started by one of the play
ers, The fan often jeers the umpire
when he knows the umpire is in tue
right The fan is simply roofing foY
his team. The Graphic believes that
the players are sometimes encourag-
ed to make trouble foH the umpire