The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-01-05

thing for the popularity that it has
done in many years when it selected
Thomas ]. Lynch for president. The
public was not so anxious for a reten-
ton of Heydler, as it was opposed to
the reasons prompting the magnates to
turn him down-reasons that were per-
sonal and prejudicial to the honesty of
the game
But in the choice of Lynch the league
secures man in whom everybody has
confidence. He was the king of UNI
pires in his day. In that period the
assault of umpires and fights among
players were common with every UNI
pire but Lynch. He was the real cZar
of the diamond, and was finally re-
leased because he was too strict. He
was able to keep Griffith. the fire
eater of Brooklyn, in center field with
the wave of his hand. Arson, Con-
nors and their ilk had no terrors for
Lynch. His fines were frequent and
he never failed to send them in for
collection. The players could talk to
him about the rules of the game only.
and the willy ones got so that when
they had kick to make they would
rush out with rule book in their
! hands and try to get in a kick by
r h q
the rules.
The speech of John T. Brush, of New
! York, in nominating Lynch, one Of the
most eloquent speeches of baseball his
tory, was as follows:
MIR. Chairman, the National league
is the oldest body of baseball in ex-
! istence. 1t is the premier organization
1t always has been, no matter what OBJ
stacles it has encountered, and I be-
,lieve that it always will be. l believe
that it will retain it's supremacy be-
cause of the character of men that
compose it. Their interests are sucn
that it compels them to maintain the
high standard to which it has attained
mo matter what differences we may
have. what contentious may separate
us for an hour or for a day, when II
h, comes to a question of the best inter-
ests of baseball we get together. Tha'
is the history of the National league.
!. I'VE have had since it's organization
in 1876, as president, Mr. Buckley, from
Connecticut, succeeded by Mr.. Hulbur'
who probably was the greatest organ
izer that we have ever had, and mar
who did more for the National league
than any other individual who has ever
lived.
Mr. Hulburt was succeeded ~ MT
A. G. Mills, who served only short
time and was f2lloWed by Mr.. n. T.
Young. Mr.. Young was president OF
the organization from 1885 to 1901.
During all those years the game
improved in all respects with reference
to the playing rules, but it deterlorateo
with respect to rowdyism and lack OF
discipline upon the ball field, so that
during the last years of Mr.. Young's
presidency the actions Of the players
upon the ball field were scandalous
and action was taken by this league tc
: correct and reform it III that particu-
lar.
"The latter years of Mr.. Young's ca
reer as president were marked by what
will call leniency toward everything
unsportsmanlike that took place upor
the diamond, so that unwarranted DIS
> putes. assaults by the players upon un
hires and upon each other were over
looked. and it became necessary to fakt
some stringent measures to correct ano
reform that condition.
! "Out of that condition and the efforts
for reformation has grown improve
ment. The public demanded II ano
, continue to demand it, and probably
the greatest card that this Natlona
nublic would be to establish II 1t coulo
: beyond question, that the Natioha
league has a good corps OF uHplreS
: and sustains them
5 ct sustain the umpire!' was the wal
f cry of Mr.. Pulliam. 1t has been th'
/ war cary of Mr. Heydler. With no as
) respect to either Mr.. Pulliam or MT
5 Heydler or Mr. Young, the unfortun'
: ate conclusions upon the ball nee
V which create dissensions among th'
: c,ub-owners are due principally To pa'
umpiring
8 $50 I hold that the most lmportah
: qualification for an individual VINO oc'
e cunies the position of president OF TINS
Y organization is that which enables MIN
o through his knowledge and unher
standing of the game to determine To-
Q himself whether an umpire is goa o.
a ,,bo+bar he is bad: that it should no