The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-22
American League
American AssOc,nt son.

references being made when they met
the "ingratitude of the man we made"
1t is significant that the attitude of
John T. Brush toward certain policies
has changed considerably since Lynch
became president. The New York club
owner is the only one of the anti
Heydler crowd who has been consist
ent. He promised, as did all his coll
leagues, to uphold Lynch. and he is
the only one of five who have done
so. Mr.. Brush deserves credit for his
conduct. Always notorious as a trou-
ble-maker and a man who is in base
ball simply. and solely for his own
personal gain, he has shown that he
has the interests of the league at heart
Friends Have Deserted Him.
1t is also Significant that the only
opposition to Lynch has arisen in the
ranks of the men who forced him on
their fellows. The Pittsburg club own
ers have never uttered word against
the president, and have expressed their
entire satisfaction with his admins
tration. Nevertheless Barney Drey-
fuss was the last of Heydler's support
ers to agree to support any other can
d1date. Garry Hermann was in the
same class, but the Cincinnati man has
been as staunch in supporting Lynch
as has Dreyfuss. The same is true of
John Dewey of Boston.
Hence, If Lynch has a fight on his
hands this winter, it will be the men
WHO less IILan a year ago posed as his
true friends who will make the trouble
However, it is not believed that there
VIII be any change in executives It
is practically certain that Mr.. Lynch
will be reelected, if he desires the
position for another year, and he has
said he does.
President Lynch has done very well
indeed in his first year in office. He
has advocated no strenuous reforms,
but has followed rather closely in the
footsteps of his predecessor, the Ia
mented Harry Pulliam. 1t will be re-
when he was asked what his policy
would be, he said that he felt he would
be doing only right to carry out the
work started by Mr.. Pulliam.
He has tried to do this, and he has
met with considerable success It is
true that the umpiring question has
given him lot of bother and worry,
but it is not likely ever to be other
wise, so long as partisan patrons show
deep-seated interest in the national
game.
Certain it is that the National league
staff of arbitrators is far from being an
ideal one. There are men on 1t at pres
ent who have outfived their usefulness
in that capacity. They have passed
that time when they are physically
able to Judge balls and plays. and they
should be retired. One or two others
evidently in the spring took their cue
from the published stories Of Lynch
determination to stand up for his ar
biters in every case, and became auto
cratic.
No Life Job for UmpiFes.
However, Mr.. LyncTfs attitude on
this question has been exemplary. He
has declared that none Of his urnpires
has life Job, and that IT is up to each
of them to give satisfaction, or step
down and out. He has stated that he
intends to do some wedding out this
fall There is no doubt that there is
work for him to do along this line. But
one obstacle arises, and that Is the dis
covery of capable men to fill the gaps
which would be left by the ousting IF
present members of the STAFF. How is
the fitness of a candidate to be judged
1t is a difficult task to pick men who
will fill the bill-far harder than 1T APP
pears on the surface.
There are hundreds of men willing to
try, but President Lynch has declared
that the National league is too impor-
with umpires, and that he will not ap-
point any except those whom he knows
| to be competent
IT has been suggested that the double
umpiring system be done away with
| Why? Because, it is said, 1t IS not
| without thinking of eight. However
| this contention remains to be proved
| Certain it is that the double unpirlne
system is ideal, if the men are COM
| petent.
1t goes without argument that two
| men can handle game better thar
one, provided both are fair and rei1ahle
| ant on the other hand, it is better t
| have one good official than two pool
| ones. or than one good one and ons
poor one. In the latter case, the mis-
takes of one reflect on the work OF th'
| other.