Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-16
PANS ROWDY FANS
FuItz Sends Letter to National
Commission for Fraternity.
ABUSE MUST BE STOPPED
Suggests That Umpires Be Empow.
cred to Maintain Order
in All Parks.

NEW YORK. December 16.-David L.
Fultz, president of the Base Ball Players
! fraternity, and known to generation of
base ball fans as Dave Fultz, has
made public letter which he sent to the
national commission December T. in an
effort for the suppression of rowdyism
in jOr league grandstands. The letter
! is the outcome of the strike of Detroit
ball players last summer. which took
place after ''Ty'' Cobb of the Tigers was
indefinitely suspended by President john
son of the American League for attack
ing a spectator in American League Park
in this city.
The letter suggests to the commission
that suitable signs be posted in all ball
parks, warning the public not to address
abusive language to the players. 1t also
asks for better policing of the parks by
officers under the Instructions of the UNI
pires. Fultz also would be in favor of
vesting the umpires with more authority
and holding them responsible, far as
would be practicable. for the acts of all
persons within major league parks. His
letter to the national commission fol-
lows:
On behalf of the Base Ball Players
players from the National and American
leagues of professional base bail clubs,
we wish to place before YOU d matter
which we think of sufficient Importance
to justify its being brought to your at
tent'On.
From time to time during the past, as
you gentlemen well know, there have
been numerous occasions upon which the
players during the performance of their
duties on the field have been subjected to
inc, and 1h Ia OF SO 4
to them by spectators. The occurrences
have not only had harmful effect upon
the mental condition of the players, but
have Disguised many of the better class
of fans to whom the cheap, vulgar
: language is exceedingly offensive. Ii
would therefore seem as though some de-
termned effort to minimize this kind of
(, thing would not be out Of place.
I'VE appreciate the difficulty of such an
undertaking, and also the fact that the
spectator is entitled to cerain attitude
in the expression of his feelings, but we
feel that when ne exceeds this latitude
the interest of not only the player but
the fair-minded public demands that all
reasonable efforts be made TO put a stop
to such OffenSeS.
1T may seem advisable to YOU gentle
men to pass legislation that will render it
obligatory upon every team to adopt such
safeguards as Will most effectively do
| away with the evil in question This, we
think can best be accomplished by post
ing suitable signs in conspicuous places
by properly policing the stands with at
tendants who are made to realize that
they are there for IL purpose; by giving
the umpires supervision over these at
tendants. and by vestini; in the umpire a
more complete jurisdictit over and hold
ing him responsible, as Ear as practical
BILE, for the action of al persons within
the Enclosure.
1T is the effort of our organization as
far as possible. to do away with all row
dyiSm on the field, believe that
rowdyism in the stands is o'ten a potent
factor in causing trouble on the field, and
we trust you will cooperate with us in
our endeavor and will accept these sug-
gestions as evidence of a sincere desire
on our part to lessen the friction for the
players concerned and to make base ball
wholesome and attractive to the better
classes of the sport loving public"