Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-12
UMPLRES ALLOWED
TOO MUCH LIBERTY,
SAYS PAT MORAN
Claims Players Rights
Have Been Usurped and
Arbiters Too Important
SENDS MOTE" TO TENER
BY CHANDLER D. RICHTER

Manager Pat Moran. OF the Phillies. a
leader who has never been known TO
''suueal" or blame the defeats of his team
to poor umpiring. has written to President
Tener Of the National League, explaining
his views Of yesterdays fasco and also tell
ing the former Governor just what he thinks
of all National League umpires In gem
eral and few in particular.
Just how Moran worded his letter we
do not know. but judging by few things
he told us this morning. President Tener
will not be so well pleased with himself
Moran declares that the umpres have be-
come too important" and that they are al
lowed too much freedom, whereas the play
er's rights have been taken from him.
Moran further states that Bill Killefer
who is considered the best catcher in the
National League. may never be able to play
because Umpire Harrison permitted Louden
to step across the plate and jab the Philly
receiver with his bat just as he was about
to throw TO second TO stop an attempted
steal by Neale. Moran insists that Harri-
sons attention was called to this trick, but
that he never pays any attention to the pro-
tests,
II KIIlefer is lost to the Phillies for any
length Of time 1t will mean that the team
is out OF the pennant race. Eddie Burns
is a capable receiver as his work last tall
after relieving Kllefer proved conclusively.
In discussing the Phllies protest of
Yesterdays game Manager Moran said !:
II am protesting the game because
don't think Rigler had any right to make
the decision A decision or that sort
rests entirely with the umpire behind the
plate, and Harrison was walking on the
field when Rigler called us all back.
"If Rigler had been tending to busi-
ness he would have been watching Du-
| gey and Stock to sec that they touched
| ali the bases How does he know whether
| one or both did not cut a base 10 or 10
| feet II he had his eyes on the outhed?
81 have seen a lot OF incompetent UNI
piring in my time. but it never was so
| bad as it is this season. They raised a
| howl about the umpires under Tom Lynch
| claiming that they were upheld in every
| thing and given too much power, but II
| was nothing like II Is now. President
| Tener recently upheld the umpires wher
| several clubs protested against the work
| of a few officials but no one knows why
| He evidently has not seen much of them
I'VE are not protesting the game merely
| to have II thrown out. We want 1t award
| ed to us We won II fairly and should
have it. No doubt President Tener viii
| uphold his umpires again. but II he doeI
| il is an outrage that Is all l have to say
| Rlgler butted into something that did no
concern him, while Harrison was sount
asleep. as he always Is
Harrison stood within two feet OF Lou
den when he deliberately interfered witt
| Killefer when Neale was stealing in th
ninth inning. We protested, but he sai'
he did not see IT, ] did not mind tn
fact that Neale afterward scored the run
that put the Reds ahead of us, but be
| cause I.Ouden iabbed Killefer In tn
| shoulder with his bat and the arm, whicl
was injured last fall was hurt again.
There is no telling how seriously Kille
fer Is injured II is possible that Iittl
rub and a light workout today vii
bring him around but there also is chahc
that he will be ruined forever. You knoy
Killefer's arm is not any too strong yet
although he has been throwing splendidy
and any sort of an accident may put hin
back where he was last fall.
"Ali have 10 say is that II the Nationa
League does not get some umpires sooI
or take the chip on the shoulders OF thos
they have now and make them work, tn
fans of several cities will not patronize TN
team long You have never heard me roas
an umpire before, but there is limit
everything"