The Washington times., 1913-06-08
.UJMPlRING KEEPS
ATTENDANCEDOWN
Continued Service of "Rags 0Lougn as Abiter in Washing
ton Still Has Bad Effect Upon Gate-Amercan League
Officials Disgust Jennings
By SENATOR

How long is Rags" O'Loughlin going
to be assigned to the Capital? This Is
a most important question to the fans.
1t should be even more important to the
owners of the Washington ball Cub.
O'Loughlin's guessing behind the plate
and on the bases has shown SO much
manifest incompetence in the once
greatest umpire in the world that the
fans are waiting for him to leave be-
fore going to the park. Indeed. OLough-
lin, more than anything else. is killing
interest in the Griffmen here. 1t is time
that some information were asked OF
the head Of the league by the owners
of the washington baseball team
Rags" O'Loughlin came here with
the Griffmen on May 20. He has been
here ever since He guessed funny
things all through the Boston series, re-
peated during the doubleheader last
Monday, did the same thing while the
Brownies were here, and apparently In
tends to remain during the series with
the Tigers. The Detroit club Is un-
fortunate in playing here while this OBJ
jectionable official is in charge Of the
games. for certainly the gate will not
be as large as 1t ordinarily would be
Hughey Jennings, like most managers
in this league, is disgusted with the
work of the officials. While in Phiiadei-
at his worst After banishing Jennings
from the field, Ferguson endured al the
taunts and insults Of the Tigers without
a murmur, revenging himsef on mem
by giving them the rawest kind of deals
whenever possible. Ferguson was team
ed with Rags" O'Loughlin at the open
ing of the season, and has learned his
lesson we'll He can be Just as obJec-
tionable as the once greatest umpire In
the world"
Needs Only Nerve.
In saying that 1t needs only nerve Tor
every manager and player In the league
to express his dissatisfaction. over the
umpirIng, Jennings is perfectly right
! There is this view to be remembered.
though. that no matter how much nerve
the managers and players have. tneiI
protests on the field cannot bring about
the discharge of these worse than use,
less officials. The nerve to speak and
the concerted effort toward the Danish
ing OF these officials must come from
the owners OF the various clubs. This
They are helpless under the system
| in vogue in the American League.
There the umpire. bad as he may be,
must be endured IN silence or the earn
est player risk being suspended ana lost
| to his team. No matter what he does,
the umpire Is backed UP to the limit by
Ban johnson. 1t Is no wonder. then,
that Billy Evans Is justly popular with
the players. He has manhood enough
to give and take on the field or on the
field. and not run with the sorry tale to
Ban Johnson. demanding that So-and-so
should be fined and suspended His
reticence in Chicago does not make
/ Evans very popular with johnson. but
public opinion Is too strong to allow Of
| his being punished on this account.
The fans. as well as the players, are
| with Evans
| How is Ban johnson, who adores the
| idea Of irreproachable umpiring, gving
| to know that O'Loughlin's eyesight and
| Judgment is nil? How Is Ban johnson
going to learn that Ferguson Is biased !
| How is he going to know that O'Laugh.
lin. Tommy Connolly. and Bill Dtneer
\ are able to carry out pretudices In
| league ball games. How, is he going tc
learn that McGreevey and Egan are