The Washington times., 1907-09-20
SILK OIOUGHLIN SAYS
CLUBS CAN SUPPRESS
THROWING OF BOTTLES
Not Necessary to Prohibit Sale of Soft Drinks at
Ball Grounds Umpires Take Their
Own Mistakes to Heart
By THOMAS S. RICE.

The Times was perfectly correct III
its statement that II is unnecessary 70
prohibit the sale OF soft drinks at ball
grounds in order to deprive roWdles Oh
missiles to throw at umpires. All that
is needed is a display Of nerve and
Rameness on the part Of the club own
ers and police authorities, followed Dy
a proper administration OF justice by the
police maglstrateS'
So spoke silk O'Loughlin. the Ameri-
can League umpire yesterday. Ana
SILK knNws. He has acquired such ia
cility in twisting his neck TO avoid fly
ing glassware that the doctors are bid
ding for MS body when he dies. Silk
has been in roughhouse affairs in every
city In the American League circuit, and
before that league was formed he served
an apprenticeship in the New England
and New York state Leagues, where
some Of the hest bottic-thrOwing talent
IN the country came into contact with
him.
Wondered at His Own Escapes.
It's always been a mystery TO me
that all OF US umpires who have
been in the business any number or
years have not been killed. While l
have learned 10 make the nimble flea
look ike a club-fOoted man with the
govt in the matter OF lodging, ii has
sometimes made my hair stand on end
10 think Of the cloud Of stuff that was
hurled at me by strong arms, and yet I
escaped alive.
The last time I saw Billy Evans,
whose skull WIS fractured by a bottle
thrown in st. Louis last Sunday, was in
Chicago. We had a long talk ana
swapping of experiences on this very
subject The only conclusion we could
reach was that umpires have their share
of that proverblal baseball luck which
makes Il such q rare occurrence for
baseball teams to be caught In railroad
wrecks Now the spell has been broken
and Billy, the youngest, one Of the clev-
crest. and most likeable men who ever
broke into the business, has probably
had his career spoiled for life.
Likes Times Suggestion.
Il What's tne answer? Go after the
rowdies with both hands and blood IN
your eye, as suggested In The Times.
j have been up against baseball mobs SO
often I know the COWardly spirit which
Eliminates most OF them. and If the club
owners would sick the police on the
roughs. the assaults would soon cease
The right idea IS not an appeal to the
bottle-throwers to be quiet and let tbs
poor umpire go in peace. but to sail intC
them. arrest a bunch. and have then
fned $50 OF 800 apiece, with jail SEN
tence as an alternative If the arbitrator
has not been hit, and a stretch in The
pen If he has.
such a policy would accomplish tht
desired results. just as surely as Billy
Evans is now in a hospital. The stopping
OF the sale Of soft drinks, TO keep bot
ties out of the hands OF a few rockies.
and cowardly persons. is an Injustice U
the other fans who really want some
thing to + cool them of while roofing
yelling. and enjoying themselves at
ball game.
How an Umpire Feels.
That umplres are human and vii
make mistakes is too we'll known Il
discuss, but the public should remem
Der that an umpire is just as anxiou.
10 have as high an average Of correc
decisions as players are to have a bis
batting average. When we get in bal
we feel it just as keenly as the playe
who makes a foolish error OF a bone
headed throw. but while the gang viii
excuse the player II never extends AM
mercy 10 an umpire.
a case in point was that decision o
mine on Tuesday, IN which l caIlet
Delehanty's safe hit q foul. I know
now that II was fair and should hav,
gone for a home run, but l gave tn
decision exactly as I thought i saw Ii
and IL had TO go, for II we stopped ant
.rn Hs1a
team differed with me, ball gam
would last twice as long as a cricke
match and man would be able TO SCI
only about two IN q lifetime. It Ger
tainly grabbed me to realize I had beel
so far wrong, but the public, in SuCl
instances, seems TO suppose the UNI
takes a dendish delight IN making him
self a joke by handing out a punk yer
dict. AS q matter OF fact, we get thor
OUghly sore on ourselves after a raw
one; and in thinking some Of them Owe
afterWard at LAY hotel / have WtShe
Jim Jenries would come up and sass m
so I could lick him and work of m
crouch against myself.
Foul Lines Need Attention.
'If you think 1t an easy thing to Civ
snap decisions on foul balls from be
hind the pitchers box, just step on
there one afternoon and take IooH
Then you will be surprised 10 find HOY
many OF them we get right. The rule
-equire that the foul lines be elevate
and freshly lined so that they viii %
easily visible 70 the umpire. but IL ism
done anywhere IN this or any othe
league with any consistency In man
places there are depressiOns along IN
foul lines and the marks are entirel
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