Arizona republican., 1908-02-27
UMPIRE G0RMfLY
 UNJUSTLY ATTACKED
A Man Who Has the Rules and the Technical Decisions on the Rules at His Instant Command.

Arrangements are being made to
 bring the Tucson baseball aggregation
 10 Phoenix 10 play the Woodchoppers
 Sunday March Sth. At the same time
 it is hoped to arrange an excursion
 from the old Pueblo at an attractive
 rate. While the knockers have poked
 their noodles from out the brush since
 the Florence game the Woodchoppers
 are paying no attention to the small
 pipings of the jay fans or the barking
 of the canine crowd. The team is going
 ahead and play ball at least makes one
 more effort to wake up the cold footed
 from their dreams. The warmer days
 are expected to assist in this process and bring out a much better attendance
 than during the last three contests.
 An undue and unW arranted agitation
 has been raised regarding an umpire. At first the ball players were disposed
 to laugh at the yapid 'airings of the ill-informed. Later the same source exuded another highly colored yarn. Yesterday .he ball players expressed in vitriolic language their feeling for such agitators. Who of the fans have ad- vocated expending gate receipts woe fully small to bring Wyncoop over from Tucson? Leaving Wyn- coop's capabilities unquestioned, though he was moobed in the Tucson tournament and pro- nounced rotten by the Western league players. except in one or two quarters which don't count anyway. the verdict has been eminently favorable to Cor mely who umpired the four games here to the entire satisfaction of the Wood- men. the Mesa players. the Florence boys, and to the Indians. If there were any crude stunts pulled off they were in the grandstand last Sunday not in the umpire's position.
 In view of the agitation MT. Cor mely has issued a challenge to any body in Tucson or Phoenix who wants to meet him in a test on a review of national league rules. with the cash in view. There is no desire among the ball players or fans. that can be locat- ed for anyone but Gormely t. hold the indicator fir the game with Tucson. Coach Pierce of the Indian school nine, was overheard to tell Gormely that he umpired the best game he had seen since leaving the eastern league Williams of Mesa was another who found no fault with his work. Manager Sharpe of Florence to a reporter last Sunday ex- pressed his satisfaction. Manager Bushell and every man on the Wood men team is backing up Gormely in his decisions.
 One thing that must be commended besides his good judgment on balls and strikes, and that is in hurrying the game along by making the batsman take his position promptly. From 20 to 90 minutes of time has been saved by this move. Section 2 of rule 51 allows a batter one minute to take his place. if not, he is out. Gormely is the first man 10 take correct notice of this wise provision. Also, it must be added that no man deserves one minute to take his place. If the batters in the 8 or mone times at bat" on each side in game took this minute, enough time would be lost to play an entire nine inning contest. This lack of prompt ness had been the bane of every bali game by amateurs in Phoenix. till GorInely took them to task and illum- mated the rule so he who runs may read by calling the Florence man out 1 after he and half dozen other batters | on the same nine had delayed the game | by not knowing when they were at bat | Even then Florence made no kick.
 Another thing he has stopped. is cut ting bases. The decision calling Will | Hams out on this grounds, has been | howled down, even in view of the fact | that the bleachers saw him, yelled for | him to go back before he reached third. | and he himself admitted he stepped | over second. It might be added here | that stepping over a bag is a miss as l good as a mile. This it is | deemed is only a just defense of a man | who has been very unjustly and re- attacked. whether through | spite. ignorance. or friendship for an- other umpire, it matters not.