Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-07-22
V.-BEHIND THE MASK
From 1.-THE Ten Thousand Dollsr Arm
and Other Tales Of the Big League"
Copyright. 1912. by Small. Maynard q Company

players thought De WINS 100 stern ana
too fond Of showing his authority,
They would have been glad to see him
give way to younger man. who might
on occasions listen TO reason or stand
for" an argument on the field. The
crowds had never really loved 0'Hig.
gins because there was nothing about
the public side Of his character which
attracted anything like affection or
noisy enthusiasm.
A cigar store Indian is good sign
and faithful to dnty in all sorts OF
weather. but nobody ever gave three
cheers for one. Look mp the public
idols of the day-you will find them
very human and full OF faults, which
may be the very reasons that make
idols OF them. They are SO much like
the rest OF us
Poor old 0'Higgins chose respect
and Confidence cold. but solid, back
ing-and Younger umpIres elbowpd him
aside IN the race for public favor. But
the league presldent-the third one
since O'Higgins' arrival in fast com
paIly-advised the younger men to
copy O'dIggins' style as much as pos.
sibIe. None OF them ever succeeded.
The thirteenth year brought trouble
with the umpiring STAFF. There were
three new men TO be tried ont and It
Is n great deal harder to find a good
umpire than II is 10 discover new
left handed pitcher. II y0n do not be-
lle7e that ask the next baseball mag
nate who happens to run across you
81 MS French touring car.
One of the new men was incom.
peteDf and tried to bluff hfs way
through. He failed. -Asgtner had not
the requisite amount OF nrmness neces.
safy to handle eighteen high strung
athletes. Bali players are Ike colts
they know by instinct whether the
driver knows bis business or not. The
third man was only passable and six
towns were bowling about incofnpe-
tent nmpiring.
Along in June, when the race was
stiffening up. Joe Kerrigan. a veteran
of long service. went all to smash. and
interested parties had no trouble in
proving that Joe's eyeslght was very,
very bad. Joe took his broken heart
into the saloon business and it seemed
as IL the very devil himself was after
the big league umpiring STAFF.
II was at this time that Cornelius
o'HIggins In bis old derby hat and
double breasted gray travelling suit
put in an appearance at the Office OF
the president OF the league.
..Mr. DAILY" said o'Higgins, Tvs
never asked any favors or you
Go to it.' said the young president.
What's on your mindg'
II want to ask you II You can let
me take ten days of"
The president leaned back In bis
swivel chair and roared until be was
red 10 the face. Boiled down to
thick broth. the extract OF his wall
was to the effect thar the leagne was
in the worsr shape It had ever been
from the standpoint OF competent urn.
piring and that OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ed that Mr.. o'T1iggins should stay at
his post.
~ know that said o'HigSins ear
nestly. but this is important"
Maybe this league isn't Important
interJected the president Then he
talked facts ana backed them up with
figures The race Vas close. o'Hfg.
gins ms the best umpire In the husf-
ness-the saive passed without nod
was scheduled to care for the impor-
tant games II was impossible TO spare
him. 49,
-But II yon knew
II Know that Eerrisan Is out" said
the president II know that Harding
amt worth bis salt. know that Fam
ming hasn't made good. know that
an the towns in the fcagne are howl.
ing. Umpire! Ufnpirer Why. man.
we can't spare you: You've got to
stick@
o'Hlggins did not press the point
He accepted the situation. made an ex-
PLANTATION ana Went away at last look
inS gray and old -
As President Daily watched bis vet.
eran umpire slip through the door IT
struck bin thar Origins had aged
since the beginning OF the season.
0Higgins had come to New York to
oficiate in the series between the New
York club and the Reds. both fiahtfng
for Arst place. His assistant wouid
be- young Harding. a yodngstef from a
western league good on balls and
strikes. but lacking the tirm hand IN
pinch. A great deal depended upon the
series between the two clubs. and
DAILY hoped that Harding would be