The Washington times., 1908-04-11
President of the Boston
American Team Objects
to Employment of
Coarse Language.
Claims InceSSant Swear
ing FaStens Stigma on
Everyone Connected
With Game.
By THOMAS S. RICE.


LOUISVILLE. Ky. April lI-PresI-
dent John I. Taylor. OF the Boston
American League team. announced yes
terday in Columbus. Ohio, where his
team met the Washington regulars, that
he would either write President Ban
Johnson. OF the American League. about
or call attention at the next meeting Of
the league to the needless and fncessant
use Of profane language by many pro-
fessional ball players on and of the
held
Mr.. Taylor travels constantly with his
team and has long been trying to curb
the flow Of bad language which IS a
disgrace 10 many OF the best clubs and
which has done the business vast harm
IN the eyes of those Of the public who
have come in contact with players when
not In uniform
Worthy Of Support.
This move by Mr.. Taylor Is worthy
OF the strongest support by all club
owners and managers. and comes none
too soon, for there is already an objec-
ton on the part OF many hotels TO re-
ceiving ball clubs The incC ssant pro-
family Is entirely matter Of habit, and
inc Vllest epithets are frequently applied
by the men among themselves without
to an outsider it is extremely grating.
and can but lover the users in the es-
umatiOn OF casual hearers.
SO habitual does this flow Of scurril-
lous language become that the offend
ers are frequently unaware what they
are saying and are much mortified when
their attention IS drawn 20 It. Also
scores or youngsters join the profession
al ranks every year comparatively free
from the vice, but hear so much OF IL
that unConSCioUsly they begin to follow
the custom, and in the course Of a sea-
son are as fluent in profanity and even
obscenity as some Of the Old-timers.
Big Howl Coming.
There viii be a big howl TO the effect
that Mr.. Taylor is 10 make moIIycoddles
out OF diamond stars. and doubtless. va
rious excited baseball writer's will rush
TO the rescue OF the teams with which
they are affiliated. but, as a matter OF
fact, there will be no occasion for either
cry. There is certainly not a team in
the American League free from a
charge Of inOrdinate profanity on the
part Of at least some OF its members
on and off the field, in public and in
private places. and there is no intention
on the part of Mr.. Taylor to bring con-
glgn punishment upon the rufIled ath-
lete VINO happens 10 rip out a hearty
English oath when duly rlled
When all het up he can express
himself pretty freely, and some or the
exhibitions OF his ball club In the past
nave not brought from mis- lips ChOica
selections from the prayer book. What
he is aiming at is the senseless and es-
sentially common and vulgar repetition
of gross profanity IN discussing the
most trivial subjects which IS TO be
found among some members Of every
club in the big league, and the same IS
probably true Of the minors.
Players Object.
Many OF the players themselves OBJ
3ect strenu0usly TO this cursing on the
part of their fellows. fully understand
ing that It IS placing them in a most
unenviable light but there has never
been any systematic attempt at reform.
Now and then an individual manager
calls a halt in his own club, as far as
ne is able, When the reproof is prop
erly and forcibly presented the swear
ers generally take it more to heart than
might he supposed. feeling more or less
mortified. while outwardly rebeIling.
Mr.. Taylor's proposed attempt at a
general movement to stop the profanity
will be the first know OF. and If he
succeeds, even partially, he will have
done a great thing for the national
game.
times for Washington IS the form shown
by Charley Smith this spring. Last
year Charles was slow In starting, acct
dents and sickness keeping him under
cover. Now he Is going good, as was
shown by his work IN FIVE innings
against Cincinnati on Thursday. With
Smith, PaIten7 Hughes, and Bill Burns
in shape. Washington would have a
pitching staff to be dreaded OF the
four Patten and Burns are lefthalders.
and Washington has long needed two
good sOuthpaws. This is saying nothing
about the prospects OF Coates becoming
a fixture or Walter Johnson getting
into harness about June L
The Washington infeld, with Shipke,
Mcbride, and DelRhanty Of known abiI-
ity as fielders, and Freeman likely to
live I'D to his American Association
record. is a strong front TO present TO
any enemy. and II twirlers come up to
exDectatiOns and their own present
statements about themselves. the team
may vet throw a surprise into the
American League. for the Outfield IS OF
n high order, both in offensive and de-
far-1r