Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-11
BY J. ED GRILLO.

The disgraceful scenes which have been
enacted on the National League diamonds
this season give conclusive evidence that
the discipline in that organization under
the present regime is no better than it
has ever been. Ball players and umpires
engage i'm isticuffs as they did in the old
days Of rowdy base ball, while club own
ers break into print with statements
charging the umpires with having robbed
their teams of victory.
The National League staff of umpires
is no doubt just as competent as that In
the American League, so that the trouble
is not caused by incompetency from this
source. But the trouble appears to be
with the club owners. By their attitude
toward the umpires and league president
these men undoubtedly encourage the
players to acts which would result in
their elimination from the game If hap
pening in the American League. Presi-
dent Lynch is empowered to preserve or
der on the ball field. but he is constantly
being hampered In this by the very men
who gave him such power. Unfortu-
nately, Lynch does not appear to have
any more backbone than several of his
predecessors, and for this reason has
made little or no progress in advancing
clean base ball. If the National League
had a man at it's head who would insist
upon the rules being observed regardless
of whose feet he had to step on, or what
effect his actions might have -on his re-
election, base ball in that organization
would soon be as clean as 1T is in the
Johnson circuit.
The assault on Umpire Fenneran by
Cutfelder Magee on the Philadelphia
grounds yesterday was one of the most
disgraceful exhibitions witnessed on
ball field in recent years, and it is to be
hoped that Lynch will have the nerve
to do his duty and shelve Magee for the
remainder of the season, in addition to
inflicting heavy fine.
Ru,nors have been going the rounds
for some time that McAleer would not
be at the head of the Nationals next
season, but no one seems able to locate
the source Of this information. McAleer
is now serving the first year of two
year contract, and he has never minated
that he intended to sever his connection
with the club at the end of the present
season. nor is he likely to take such a
step. That he should feel discouraged
over the teams poor showing this season
stands to reason, and yet he hardly
blames himself for it's failure.
While no one outside of the club and
McAleer is in a position to know the ex-
act figures in McAleer's contract, 1t has
been said to give him yearly income
of $4,000, an enormous figure, to be
sure, and hardly one that McAleer nor
any other man would cast aside simply
because the team this year did not come
up to expectations. The chances are
that McAleer will be found at the head
of the Nationals again next season.
Bill Cunningham of the Nationals I'M
doubtedly has the rather unenviable dis
tinction this year of having struck out
more than any player in either major
league His trouble appears TO be
curve ball. and the opposing pitchers,
knowing this, never hand him anything
else to swing at. 1t would be supposed
that a player Of Cunningham's youth
would try to correct his error at the
plate by persistent practice. If he would