Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-08-29
PUBLIC should
BE Considered
INLEAGUERO
Baseball Troubles Considered
from the Standpoint of
Supporters of Game

interest ard affections OF the Honolulu
public that the row IN the Oahu league
over an umpire's decision has been
widely heralded and commented upon.
One of the teams protests loudly
against a decision in a recent game
and has threatened not to play IL I'm
pires Stayton and Bruins are retained.
Yesterday the manager of the protest
ing team announced that his organiza-
ton will take part in its scheduled con-
test on Sunday, but that its appearance
must not be construed as meek sub.
mission TO alleged mistreatment. He
insists on the resignation Of the two
umpires.
The president and directors of the
league have been heard from--to little
effect as yet-sporting editors and fans
have been heard from-players and
managers are freely voicing their opin-
ions. Now IL Is time for word to be
said on behalf of the general public.
Under the umpiring of Capt Norris
Stayton and George Bruins, league
baseba I'm Honolulu has been brought
10 higher, a cleaner, more efficient,
a more sportsmanlike and a more
wholesomely enjoyable Etage than at
any other time in this baseball genera
tion. IL was not many years ago that
the Oahu League was surrounded by
some ugly, whispered scandals, most
Of them probably untrue. But the lax
fly Of management and the ms and
outs OF uncertain umpiring encouraged
the starting of such scandals. Betting
upon the games was openly indulged
in both in grandstand and b,eachers.
Fights on the field were not infrequent
and In almost every game there were
disgraceful exhibitions OF rowdy play
ing: A few bulldozing players could
run the games 10 suit themselves or
walk of the neld Discipline was at
its lowest eb0. Spectators at any time
were liable to be Disguised and in
suited by language hurled across the
field between players whose unbridled
excitement, knowing no external con-
tr3l, led them into actions on the field
they would not repeat elsewhere.
Under these conditions, organized
baseball in Honolulu fell greatly in
public esteem from its secure place in
"the old days. when the Saturday
games at Moiliili field drew large and
representative crowds from all over
the city.
Capt Stayton's first appearance on a
local diamond inaugurated a new era
In the conduct Of league baseball. His
knowledge OF how game should be
run was so apparent that the league
oficlals and most of the managers Of
teams Joined In supporting his orders.
There were a few rows, on the field
and on but Capt stayton was recog-
mixed to be impartial and unyielding
and with remarkable swlftBsss~1oMgoe.
baseball was brought to its present
high plane Of conduct. The star alle-
tn repeats only what scores OF visitors
from the niainland have said in MAIN
tanning that the Oahn league baseball
games are now run Far more swiftly.
efficiently and in more blsinesslike
way than tie majority of professional
leagues on. the mainland.
The president and directors of the
league and the team-managers and
players have helped contribute to this
result. But the main work has been
done by these two umpires.
Every umpire makes mistakes OF
judgment on the field and every UNI
pire occasionally errs in his interpre-
tation OF the rules. Both Stayton and
Rruns have done this. But that is a
minor thing. The main point is that
though the players and fans often dis
agree with the decisions of the arbi-
tiers as players and fans do the coun.
try over-it is recognized generally
that the umpiring is both honest and
competent
The umpire is the symbol on the
field OF baseball discipline and author
ity. When his work has been as uni.
formly successful looked at not on
one or two or dozen decisions but in
broad way--as that Of both Stayton
and Bruins, he should be upheld.
The present row may wreck the
Oahu league and organized baseball
here unless IL is settled now and set
tied right II is serious enough to be
given attention outside of active base.
ball circles: il Is matter in which all
Honolulu is interested
The demands of the public Tor clean
baseball will not be regarded If two
upright and respected officials are al
lowed to be sacrinced to the necessar'
lily partisan and biased demands CT any
manager or set Of managers.