New-York tribune., 1912-02-19

L. H. writes to me as follows: In ref
erence to your baseball problem Of last
Monday: Supposing there were two down,
q man on first, and the batter drives out a
home run. The ball is f1elded to second and
the runner from first base declared out for
failing to touch the bag. Would that out
be retroactive and retire the side, shutting
out the score Of home run? According TO
your equity rule. II would not. And yet
that would be stretching things a lot"
The cases are not analogous. as the con-
ditions are entirely different. No question
OF fairness or equity could be considered
under the case as stated The rule spe-
cifically provides that a runner who cuts a
base is out IL caught doing it, and bats
man is not credited with home run until
he has completed the circuit. In the ques-
ton under discussion last Monday only one
man was down when the umpire ruled that
the player who made the home run was
out because a runner who had been at first
at the time failed TO touch second base. 1
still maintain that this ruling worked a
distinct hardship and regret that prece-
dent has been esta blished in the National
League which will call for the same unfair
ruling in future cases. In no way can this
case be confounded with the one suggested
by my correspondent
Another reader Of The Tribune writes
TO applaud the suggestion made by Clark
. Griffith, the new manager of the Washing
ton Senator'S that the umpires should
stand outside the diamond with runners
on the bases TO avoid any possible interfer-
ence. He urges that the idea get all possi-
i,e publicity. but unfortunately there is
no use OF pleading. inasmuch as no meeting
of the joint rules committee will be held
Ibis year.
Chubby Charley Murphy and mis- ever
vagging tongue have been curbed by the
resolution adopted at the meeting of the
National League and baseball will be the
cainer. II the American League accepts
the offer OF lasting peace in the spirit in
which it is offered. the now famous war
resolution adopted in pique at The annual
meeting last December will be forgotten
So far as can be discovered, it never was
operative.
, Il begins TO look as II Ban Johpson was
not czar after all. and that & every
,.ord was not law as has been indicated in
fbe past some owners in the American
League actually baked at the general
waiver rule in the new national agreement
ana refused to subscribe. i'm spite of the
fact that Ban b. had set his stamp OF ap-
proval This action VIII occasion further
delay. Dut Is not likely to cause any fric-
tion
Indications point TO an even bigger gath
ering OF those interested In turf and field, in
dog and horse. this evening at the second
annual sportsman's dinner at the Waldorf
Astoria than was the case last year. When
Harry w Smith, master Of the Grafton
Hounds. first conceived the idea of bringing
sportsmen together from all parts of the
country to exchange Ideas he quickly found
that he would not lack for cooperation,
and the first dinner was SO successful that
II was decided 10 maze II an annual fixture.
Those who have a fcndness for thorough
bred racing, steeplechssing, hunting, polo,
trotting. felc trials and shows for the
dog and horse welcome the opportunity
10 meet and talk over ways and means
20 lend stimulus to the various branches
IN which they are most interested. Mr..
Smith worked hard last year and results
spoke for themselves. lie was anxious at