Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-04

he is charged number1ess times with being
neartless. There is only one man to whom
he Is supposed to reveal the fact that he
really has a heart. That is his league
president To him the umpire is permitted
to speak his mind. This is because 1t fire.
quently becomes necessary for the presf-
dent to take a hand in the wrangles born OF
an uinpire's decisions. 1t is allowable for
the umpire to admit to his chief: II made
mistake when / decided that way but
it is not good base ball for the president
to rectify the error. He must back up
his umpire, right or wrong, if he hopes to
have clean and satisfactory base ball. This
is a generally recognized requisite. Il IL
back you up, right or wrong" says the
president when he calls his staff OF UNI
pres together for instructions prior to the
opening of the season, 'but for goodness
sake, guess right
Spring Conclave of Umpires.
The spring conference of the umpires is
highly important to the welfare of the
game
At the meeting they go over the revised
rules with the president, and decide on
what shall be the universal Interpretation
of each rule. This is to prevent possible
conflicting decisions. and the resultant pro-
test on the part of some player, but listen
here So-and-So decided just such point
as say 1t should be decided" Uniformity
the ulnpres easier, but it elevates the game
in the, eyes of the public; hence. a half
days conference perhaps, over such a ques-.
ton as how much balk of the pitcher to
stand for.
If this meeting is held but few days
prior to the opening of the season, as is
usually the case, before it is over the UNI
plres generally receive their initial assign
ments from the president, who alone has
this power; "o'Day" says Pulliam of the
Philadelphia; Emslie, you can go to Bos-
tom Sheridan" orders Ban Johnson,
New York for you; and you, Kelly, to
Detroit"
These assignments are kept secret Not
until the opposing teams behold ODay or
Sheridan or Emslie or Kelly walking on to
the field do they know who is to umpire.
All subsequent assignments of an UNI
pire are likewise surrounded with Sc
crecy. They are also made at will by the
league president Perhaps only two games
Of the opening series have been played.
Nevertheless an umpire is handed tele-
gram which informs him he will be re-
neved next day and is to report forthwith
In city good FIVE hundred miles distant.
Why the change no one knows except the
ing 1t. Perhaps there were stiff protests
to the league president by both teams
against the umpire's decisions. Perhaps
there was no protest at all. Perhaps the
pi Simply uSClucS 10 SILL the UNI
pires-for the good of the game. Well and
good; and the next afternoon. when the
teams at Philadelphia. say. all ready
for the game to begin 10 and behold. to
their unconcealed surprise, new man
walks out and sings in the clarion voice
which good umpire should possess, "Play
ballt'
OF course the greater part of this shift
ing Is done for a very good and all-suffi-
cient reason-to keep the confidence of the
public IN the integrity of the game. The
umpire understands this. and SO does not
take umbrage feel downcast when he
receives a sudden summons to steal away
in the night like thief for parts unknown.
The Umpire and the "Roasts."
affected by the slurs, the insults and the
badgering of the fans as the latter are fond
of imagining.
What did you think of the roasting the
fans gave you this afternoon?' a friend
asked a well-known umpire. He had GER
tainly been roasted for fair" as the ex-
preston goes
Ibid they roast me?" the umpire asked
In innocent establishment.
did they roast your the friend echoed
astonished in turn.
well l declare, admitted the umpire
after q moments pause, Il guess | failed
to connect with their choice epithets"
1t is fact that quite a few umpires who
are prominent on the fields of the country
at the present time do not even hear the
taunts of the spectators, so absorbed are
they in following the game-a task which