Omaha daily bee., 1915-10-17
FRATERNITY TAKES HAND
President Fultz Urges Players to Put
Spsed In Their hovements and
Not Delay Games.
WILL MAKE HIT WITH FANS

Plans are already being formulated by
the officers Of the Base Ball Players
fraternity to make the big league games
faster next season. President Fultz Of
the fraternity issued very sensible
appeal 20 the members along that line
in the middle OF the present campaign.
lie pointed out that base ball was ex-
periencing a lean year. and would prob
ably have another I'm 1916. because Of
the European war and unsettled busi-
ness conditions He urged that the play
ers move to and fro from their positions
between innings on the run. cause no
needless delays In batting and otherwise
pepperize the pastime, so to speak. in
order to make II as attractive. and, there
fore. as profitable, as possible.
For a while Fultzs words bore fruit,
but recently games OF few runs have
been extending from two hours TO two
hours and half. because Of the dila-
tory and laelxadaisical tactics of the per-
formers. This has tended to disgust
many OF the fans who dig into their
Jeans to furnish the wages Of these neg
iected persons. The fraternity has taken
up the subject again, and may recon-
mend drastic legisl0tion by the powers
of base ball in order spur the lazy
athletes to more seemly activity.
Jake Daubert is an ardent booster Of
the campaign for speeding on the dia-
mond, and is In favor OF the suggested
legislation. said he:
'It In a crime against their intelligence
ana their incomes for ball players 20
waste as much time AZ they do now In
the course OF nine innings. Base ball
differs from foot ball, lacrosse, hockey
and such sports in that ell the partici-
pants are not engaged all the time. For
that reason Il Is easy for ball game
IN become dreerv and draggy. unless all
are on their toes and creating the i'm
preston that something Is going to hap
pen every minute.
"Ir a close contest. where the pitching
is good on both sides and runs are rev.
the fans may see comparatively little
action. A game at EbbetB field. IN which
nrookIyn made one hit off George Tyler
ana Boston made two off I'D Pfeffer'
was a case In point. II was perfect
exhibition. yet there were few occasions
for thrilling stunts.
Fans Expect Quick Action
.SFrans TO to a base ball park not only 70
ses the competition, but to enjoy the open
air and 70 have their minds diverted In
other words, base bali Is an amusement
with local patriotism as an added zest.
That's what the spectators pay for ana
a "a IN TO the men making n living out
of the sport TO keep those ticket buyers
interested all the time. When they do
not they are not delivering the goods to
the purchasers, who are the fans. 1 want
20 see the players go at their work with
vim and snap They should hustle TO their
positions and from their positions, as II
there were going to be big doings night
away No batter should walt to be called
nv the umpire. When at the plate this
useless stepping out OF the box and killing
time should be forbidden. Also, tht pitch
ers should not be allowed to loaf.
''I have been in some games this sea-
son that were a disgrace, and knew 1t.
1 have thought the matter over and am
heartily In favor OF any scheme which
vdl give someone IN authority on the
field the power to compel the players TO
keep the game going under full head
OF steam from the first inning to the last
"Another angle to the dtlatory tactics Is
that they affect the performers more than
YOU would suppose. For instance, george
Cutshaw and ! do not have far to 20 from
the bench. and neither OF MS is prone 70
loaf. Not infreauently, we have reached
our positions and couldn't see an out
fielder but not often. have seen It
occur much more often on other teams.
Now, suppose Cutshaw and 1 are
ready, but the outfielders are dawdling
20 their positions. We naturally begin to
talk. He will say. for instance, Did you
take your family down to try that shore
diner at skeexick'sT 1 might answer,
No, I found a place that beats skeeziek's
mile. They have a great bathing beach
and they cook fish just the way want
them and so on
Takes Minds Off Base Ball.
"In other words, the delay In starting
the innings has taken the minds Of the
early birds off base ball. and whenever a
man on the field begins to, think Of some
thing besides the signals, the peculiartties
of his pitcher, the hitting tendencies OF
the man at the bat, the sun. the wind.
the number out, the number of bases, the
count on the batter. the weaknesses and
the strong points OF the men next TO him.
and the hundred and one other things a
big Lacquer or small Lacquer. either. for
that matter, has TO keep at his fingers
ends, then that mans usefulness is dis
tinctly impaired. He may not pull an
obviously bone stunt, but he may lose
chance to pull a smart stunt OF decisive
Importance.
Base ball needs every ounce Of ginger
that can be injected into II In these hard