Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-06-23
PRES. 'COLLUM
SCORES ROWDY|SM

teams, has addressed an open letter to
the board of manager. of the league
calling attention to and deploring the
growing tendency to rowdyism on the
part of both players and spectators at
league games.
The subject which President McCol-
lum rightly speaks of as menace to
the popularity of the game on the Sus-
quehanna league circuit, was treated
in an article of less length in The
Morning News several weeks ago
President McCollum' S letter follows
Wilkes Barre, June 90, 1910
To the Board of Managers of the
Susquehanna League.
Gentlemen: At the opening of the
season the president issued instruc-
tions to the umpires ON the necessity
of suppressing rowdyism, vulgar and
profane language and senseless and un-
warranted kicking Copies of these in
structions were also furnished manag-
ers for the information of managers
and players.
AS this action was in the line of en-
couraging the attendance of respect
able and decent people to your parks
and solely for the good of the game it
would naturally have been supposed
that as a matter of self-interest, if for
no other cause it would have met with
tho baartv co oparation of tha ,nanau.
ers. But this seems to not be the case.
Despite the fact that the league has a
capable and intelligent staff of um-
pires that would be creditable to a
more pretentious organization, these
men in the line of their duty have
| been subjected to abuse by players
| during games and by insults and
! threats of personal harm after games
by spectators who have been misled
| by the unwarranted kicking of play
| ers 1t has reached such pass that
capable umpires object to going to
certain towns and if allowed to con-
tinue will prevent the league from Sc
curing competent men to act as UNI
pires.
For instance, last week in an emer-
gency umpire John Walsh, capable
honest official with professional train
ing in class b leagues consented to
work. His work at the Bloomsbury
Danville games was so uniformly sat
isfactory that he was commended on
all sides.
Yet at the game at Nanticoke on
Friday, June the 18th, though umpire
Walsh did first class work he was SUBJ
jected to vile insult by player Bren-
nan, of the Danville club. The remark
was of such an offensive character
that any man with red blood would
resent it, which Walsh did, and the
game was marred by AL incident that
nearly developed into fight.
The president Of your league was
present at the game in gu 'Stlon and Is
satisfied that umpire Walsh ump Ied
as nearly perfect and impartial game
as could be expected of any one. The
incident in question occurred at the
plate with Brennan at bat. He disputed
"a strike and moment later when fin
ally awarded base on balls, instead
of going to first base, turned and griev'
ously insulted the umpire by calling
him vile name.
For this action player Brennan OF
the Danville club is fined 81 and il
notified that repetition of the offence
will subject him to an indefinite sus
pension.
At the game played at Bloomsbury
on June II, dispute arose over the
adjudication of base play by umpire
Yerrick. Though the rules plainly
state that a decision of this characte.
must be accepted without dispute
manager Foster, player Heist and play
er Flaherty of the Berwick club abused
, and berted Mr.. Yerrick and addressed
him in vile and outrageous language
shocking in the extreme and dis
grace to the men who used the langu
age. The case is further aggravated
bv the fact that manager Foster i'll
5 stead of performing his duty to hi
, club and the league was himself
/ party to this conduct and also allow
ed his players to defy and refuse t
opey uruers issued by umpire 9errick
in the line of his duty, and i'll the in
terests of necessary discipline. As t
the offense 70 the Berwick players al
i: so led to tho blocking of play and tn
3 subsequent forfeiture of the game it
l even more aggravated.
y For his part in the vicious attac
q upon Yerrick. his refusal to obey tn
0 order of that official or TO compel play
0 ers under his contracts TO do so, Man
y ager Foster of the Berwick club
fined 50. For their vile language play
. er Flaherty and player Heist are eac
= fined 81. For their refusal to obey a
4 order of the umpire, player Flahert
and player Heist are each fined 81
:. making 81 in the case of each player.
s Messrs. Foster, rlaherty and Heis
: are also notified that repetition c
- xrilI cnb1af