The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-03-20
SPORTS
.UMP|RES STAGE A
SARAH BERNHARDT'
Pop Bottle Targets Will
Retire" Unless Stipend
Is Increased
LOCALLY WIRE
Bx ROB PIGLE

Memphis, March 19-What S
ailing the jumps this year?
Only one of the handlers OF
the Indicator for the approach
ing baseball season has at
tached his name to a contract
Dan Pfehnniger, who has
found everything satisfactory
Bill Brennan, who umpired last year
with considerable eclat has returned his
contract unsigned, stating that he feeis
that inasmuch as the old nightmare OF
high cost of living is still in evidence, ne
believes he is entitled to a boost in pay
as the dining cars on the trains do not
serve food for nothing and the hotels
where he deposits his Empirical carcass
are not giving away any free rooms Bin
says he is anxious to umpire in the South
ern this year, as he likes the league ana
was treated fine last season. But more
of the coin of the realm is what he de-
sres and what he must have il ne IS 10
perform. Bill was very nice about the
matter and stated at length i'll letter
to President Martin what he thought ne
was entitled to and why.
The league president is considering the
matter and will make an effort to satisfy
Bill. Brennan Is in New Orleans at pres
ent, but expects to tour with the Giants
this spring and handle the indicator IN
their exhibition games. Bill Is an old Ma
tional league umpire and highly regard
ed. Southern league fans are hoping that
Brennan will not be permitted to escape
from the association, for he is the best
nj al
Dixie major, beyond any question, and II
he is lost the league will be the loser.
JACK KERN SILENT
Jack KERN, who is listed as being a
native of East PeppereH, Mass, was
evidently stricken speechless when he re-
ceived his contract, for he hasn't said q
thing regarding coming back to Dixie ana
did not even go to the trouble to return
the paper unsigned KERN has not COM
municated with the Southern league
headquarters since the season closed last
June and he may or may not want TO
come back. He has been offered good
contract, and IL he cares to sign he may
do so, and If not he may do otherwise.
There will be no pleading or entreatins
OF this years umpires to sign There are
| too many applications for that
\ Billy Carpenter, another of the Dixie
l
to work in the Southern this year, has
returned his contract unsigned, with the
usual memoranda attached. More money
! is what Carpenter desires and, in fact
must have, for he, like Brennan needs
all possible kale to keep the wolf from
the Carpenter doorstep. Carpenter Is {
good man and is a credit to the league
and it is hoped that some arrangement
can be made to keep him. 1t is likely tina
| ~ MOI
reach some sort of compromise in tn
salary matter.
This quartet has been counted on t
serve as umpires-in chief, and any o
them who fail to come into the fol
/ when the time limit is up Will be replace
by some of the 65 applicants who ar
now on the waiting list.
SOLDIER IDEA DYING
The idea of having four wounded sol
dier-ball players to act as umpires O.
the bases is slowly dying natural death
for there has been but one application
George Harrison-and he has decided o.
second thought to pass up the job Q
handling the indicator. Harrison has no
been discharged from the service as We
and states in letter to the league presi
dent that he thinks it the wiser plan t.
remain out of the league until later. III
states that he might be inclined to serv
later in the season. There are no othe
applications from wounded soldiers, ant
lit looks as if President Martin will hav
to name his four auxiliary umpires froN
1.-THE list he has on file at league head
quarters.
Nothing has been heard from Doll
lStark, former Memphis ball player. VIII
was cabled an offer as a base umpire thi
year The message was sent to Dolly II
i Do nd Va thHQa
\ four days before any news is heard.
! The list of arhitratorS will be com