The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-05-15
PHILOSOPHY Of
CRACK UMPIRE
Silk 0'Loughlin Indifferent
to Roasts.
FANS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE
Arbiters Must Learn to Disregard
Shouts of Crowd-Bottle Throw
ing Days.
FANS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE

CLEVELAND. Ohio. May 15.-Silk
o'Loughlin, the famous strike tub
arbitrator of the American League
staff. travelled West with the Washing
ton club, and, like it. also by a sudden
change Of plans, probably missed being
blown up by dynamite in the horrible
wreck near Harrisburg on Thursday
morning. Silk was duly thankful for
his good luck, but could not resist max
ing a joke about it.
1.-THE joke writers and sassy baseball
scrihes missed good thing. l suppose,
when missed the wreck he remarked
in Cleveland. .iAll over the country
they would have chirped TO the effect
that while it was a dreadful event, yet,
like all catastrophes, it had its humor-
Gus side, and in this case the bright spot
was the fact that at least somebody had
killed the umpire But I fooled EN-
and am still ready for business at the
old stand.
Killing the Umpire.
"rhis thing of killing the umpire
makes a hit with me. It has also hit
me several times, but I emulate the lit
tie brook and go on. I stand behind the
plate and hear the fans call me all
sorts OF names, but it makes no differ
ence IN my work or opinions.
..When they get real busy and say
things I know that baseball still re-
etains its hold upon the people. and say
to myself: Go II, fans, If you did not
j have energy. enthusiasm ana local pa
ftriotism enough to roast the arbitrator
you would not have enough TO give up
your good coin To see the games, ana
when that happens We Will all be out
- 2 Ion azrez n
vile nor offensive to the ladies and you
don't throw things, hoIler all you want,
continue TO dig up the price OF a seat,
and let all Of US in. this business con-
finue to make an honest living.
Years Ago.
But. at that, times are changing, and
we arbitrator do not have to endure
what we did in the old beer bottle days
of some years ago, when the police
escort was an ordinary occurrence, and
the average bleacherite could throw a
bottle from the grandstand 10 the fence.
THE rowdies on the field and in the
stands have largely been suppressed,
and the energy and enthusiasm which
was formerly expressed ii young riots
and much disorder by the enraged popu-
lace now finds vent, except IN Isolated
cases. in vocal objurgations, which are
seldom meant at their real worth, and
are 1ofgottSh ny al Sc41SSiitS1 AAS1NS
day
Hard to Stand.
Sometimes it's pretty hard to stand
for the remarks that are made. but /
always figure that While the languages
may be torrid it is due to excitement
and should be treated with the same
Indifference with which cool-headed per-
sons regard the utterings OF a drunken
man.
1.-THE unreasoning manner IL which
players and public consider decisions is
t an interesting study. a team VIII go
ali to pieces occasionally and allow six
or seven runs to cross the plate in one
thinning because OF the rankest kind OF
Ework. Then, maybe. tina other fellows
kdo the same thing and the score be
Eeo1es stied around etheFeighthS or ninth
ginning.
Forgot aplays.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS c-matter which team
/. wins that game. after both have played
Sahe rottenests giYsd<of bah. the losers viii
invariably blame It on the arbitrator
and notsonce7wfEthe stop.to tlinIs that
FIT WAS their own rank misp1ays thai
gave the other fellowssa chance. MOI
ON yourrain check
.sThey-1orgets all about. the. errors, The
Emember every blessed time the man
with thegindicator gave a decision with
(which they did not agree, go of and pal
Eahemsefges upon the back and tell one
Eanother that ifFsthey had received a
Esquare<sdeaF s1hey7w ould have sxgoncbyF Z
mile.
/: EvidenceFof Interest.
but this unreasonahIeness Is only
another evidence OF the intense desire
5 OF the players OWN and the absolut,
s honesty of the sgreat American game
saE played. by both professionals an(
/ amateurs. When we consider the enor
Tszpous number OF ball games played II
( the last twenty years and think Of the
:. very. very rare instancesI1n which i
has even been limited o1t most diul1,
( suspected that. there was cFookedRess
8 We have TO take off our hats 10 base
: ball. as the tcleanest. manifest sport il
: the world 7. g. r.