The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-11-14

better business man than an after
dinner speaker. The old league has al
ways heen a hotbed Of politics. Natural
ly, some Of the members cannot under
stand an official who stands aloof and
refuses to participate in factional dis
putes. His neutrality is not relished by a
certain restless element.
The charge that he supports his UNI
pires Is fortunately true. Were ne TO
allow petty disputes TO alter games, dis
cipline would be cast 20 the winds. Heyd-
Ter prefers to see games fought out on
the field. a protest must be unassau-
able from every angle OF baseball law 10
get by him. Harry Pulliam enforced
discipline. Heydler proposes to do the
same or step down and out. He VIII not
form petty alliances 10 hold hts Job.
That's how big he Is He may not be so
broad. but he is straight.
Started as Umpire.
Heydler first mixed up in baseball about
twenty years ago when the crack anna
teur teams OF the country played for the
championship. He learned the trade OF
a printer, and was employed IN Washing
ton at rle time he was appointed sub
stitute umpire 10 the National League.
That was in 1895. He umpired "off and
on for five years. From the type case
he gradually developed into a baseball
writer His first experience was on the
Washington Star. Then he became sport
ing editor Of the Washington Post. AZ
terward he went back TO the star
AS a printer Heydler made good, just
as he has IN everything else. lie once
set type on the New York Herald, and
still Is an honorary member OF Typo
graphical Union, No. 8.
During all these years Heydler has not
neglected his physical welfare. He thinks
baseball Is the best game In the world.
and al LIS summer home at ROckaway
Beach he misses no opportunity 10 bat
'fungoes' and chase them. One summer
when he lived In Harlem he was often
seen playing ball on the diamonds at Van
Cortlandt Park He loves every outdoor
sport. In his younger days he was quite
q roller polo player
Travelled with Teams.
In the old days the keeping of unofl-
cial averages was q new thing. Heydler
had statistical yurn Of mind. HIS fig
ures were copied all over the country. He
Travelled with the Washington team and
thus got the players angle Finally. he
quit the newspaper business 20 take serv-
ice with the National League as secre-
tary TO President Young. That was some
seven or eight years ago.
When Harry Pulljam was put in Office
Heydler remained as secretary. He made
himself so valuable that his salary was
raised several times. and finally the
league appreciated him By making his
Office an elective one. SO we'll did Heyd-
Ter serve that nobody eve~ thought of
putting another man in the place Pull
liam had his troubles. bus the secretary
was not touched by baseball politics He
attended 70 the books. and during the
last year OF Pulliams administration
practically ran the league. Pulliam al
ways consulted Heydler about mis- umpire
assignments. Last summer when Feyd-
le- was placed in the executive chair he
handled his umpires well. Discipline was
placed above everything else. and yet the
umpires were constantly admonisned to
avoid trouble and 70 overlook petty in
fractions
The campaign against Heydler has
earned the condemnation Of a majority Of
baseball critics and fans. The Chicago
magnate mas directed mvectives against
several other club owners on various oc-
casons, and has assaied the national
commission, OF which Heydler Is a mem
Der. One thing that the scribes cannot
understand is how tha magnates wash
their dirty linen during the playing sea-
son and then fall into eacd others arms
at the winter sessions and gush about
good fellowship. They call each orher
hard names In the summer time and have
their knives whetted at the league meet
inss, but exude nothing but compliments
in public. III their executive sessions.
however, the fur flies.
Stands on His Record.
In such chicanery Heydler is unskiIled
He stands on his record. II the league
doesn't want him. he viii step out. He
has printing business in Washington
that needs him. But II he is ousted the
National League Will make one more
mistake. and the organization has been
guilty Of a few. Heydler Is not an active
candidate, and he is not loading up with
obligations TO insure his re-slectiOn. He
doesn't care 60 be interviewed.
Il know nothing of what is going on"
he said, except what 1 read in the pa
pers, and 1 don't know how much of
that information Is accurate. I am ask
ing for no favors. The league has a per
feet right TO retire me. but II that hap
pens I will go out OF office knowing that
1 enjoy the confidence of the critics and
patrons of the game There is just one
thing will not stand for, and that is the
trumping up OF false charges against my
conduct in Office"
Which means that If Charley Murphy
reopens the KLEIN case he viii get bat
tie.
John Heydle- has worked up to his po-
sition. His is no unearned reward: ne
owes HIS place to no favoritls-n. and he
deserves the honor and the salary Then
why should he be retired on such ridicu-
lous charges?
Orientals Defeat Streets.
I'll.