The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-05
COACH LATHAM
 IS THE TARGET
Legislation May Be Started
 Against Baseball Coaches
WOULD MUZZLE VETERANS
Barney Dreyfus, 1t Is Claimed, Seeks to Keep old-time Player and
 Comedian Out of Llme-
 Lisht-Waener's Goat.
From the New York Globe.

From the New York Globe.
 Barney Dreyfuss, owner of the Pitts burg club, is after Arlie Latham's job. Sounds queer. but it's fact. Barney isn't an applicant for the position of third intend to propose legislation to eliminate from the side lines all but those athletes who are hired for their ability to play ball. The only exception he is willing to make Is that managers in uniform may be allowed to coach as usual
 The Pittsburg mans effort to exclude superannuated athletes from the field Is directed particularly at Latham, as he Is the only person in the league who wears uniform solely for the purpose of giving vocal encouragement to the home team and to toss consternation into the ranks Of the enemy. If the measure ism made especially to fit Latham. he Is. at least, the direct cause of 1t.
 Harldng back to the season just depart ed, the circumstances that led to the suggestion of this rule will be remem- bered by the fans who saw the last se- ries of Pittsburg games at the Polo grounds. It was one day early in Septem- Der and the Giants were engaged in wal lopfng the Pirates, who at that time were beginning to feel nervous and apprehen- siue over Chicago's last desperate bid for the pennant. The Buccaneers were straining to win every game here and their tempers were anything but angelic
 Remarks Stung Pirates.
 In the game Latham was perntctously active and his remarks stung some of the Pirates. The Giants knocked crack pitcher out of the box. Deacon Philippe, a veteran who has withstood many cross-fire from the first and third base coaching boxes, went to the rubber.
 Be careful now, boys. the Deacon has a few tricks up his sleeve" sang out Latham, and he followed this remark with serio-comic advice to the Giants. ad- vising them to have great respect for Philippe's arm. In one inning he had Philippe's goat" The Pittsburg pitcher complained to tho umpires. but they de- cided that Latham had not addressed his remarks to Philippe, but to the New York players, and that he had used no bad language, therefore they refused to re- move him.
 Manager Fred Clarke, who had accumu- lated fine grouch, added his protest and so did Tommy Leach and Wagner. Be- tween innings Arlie continued to prod the beaten Pirates, and they fiercely re- taliated by referring to him in terms of great contempt which found utterance usually in applying to him the opprobri- ous epithet of "has-been."
 The climax came when Hans Wagner, up for the third time. went out on an easy pop-fy. The great Honus was in the midst of one of the worst batting slumps that ever overlook him. He had been going without his bingles for several games and in this one in particular he had failed to hit safe.
 As he walked back from first base with downcast head he heard voice.
 How are you hitting these days, Hon us?" inquired Latham from the New York bench.
 Got Wagner's Goat.
 Wagner nared up. and after a few more quips had sunk under his skin he wheeled sharply toward the New York bench and came to a stop in front of Latham. The big German was so mad that he could not find words to express himself He just doubled up that big ham-1ike fist and waved 1t menacingly. It was the most temper he had ever ex- hibited on the field, and his dander mounted as he walked to his own bench, realizing that he was getting the worst of the conversation.
 Next time up Wagner put the ball far into the left field bleachers for home run, but the Giants won the game any how. That night Clarke complained bitter ly of Latham, and it was he who induced Dreyfuss to have Arlie muzzled. Barney was hopping mad himself, and resolved to aim some legislation at Latham
 Barney. therefore put the episode down in his little book and now they say he Is going to introduce & rule to bar from the field everybody but regular players and stan photographers. He hopes to get this adopted by the rules committee, and if he does Latham will have to earn his salary some other way.
 It is said that the Chicago club will second any motion Dreyfuss may make in this matter. Latham has had several run-ins with Frank Chance last summer. Once in Chicago MoGraw went to the front for the veteran, and he has since declared that he will stand up for Arlie on all occasions. He thinks that special legislation against the veteran is coward ly, inasmuch as Arlie is merely doing his best to earn living on the dia- mond in the only way that is left for him.
 Anyhow. if they do put q muszle on Arlie finally, he will have the fun of knowing that he got the official "goat" of the Pfttsburg club from President Dreyfuss down to the bat boy.