Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 103, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 May 1918 — “SILK” O’LOUGHLIN DISCUSSES UMPIRES [ARTICLE]

“SILK” O’LOUGHLIN DISCUSSES UMPIRES

Dean of American League Staff Talks of Baseball Arbiter. Man Must Be Honeet and Wave Courage of Convictions—Knowledge of Game la Essential for I idlcator Holder. “What’s the recipe for successful umpiring?” is the quizz that was put to “Silk” O’Loughlin the other day. And the dean of American league arbitrators replied: "Well, first of all, a fellow has to be honest; he has to have the courage of his convictions, then an intimate knowledge of the game —and a genuine love for it. He must have common sense in abundance. Last, but certainly not least, a man who aspires to make good handling the indicator must be a student of human nature and rpust be a believer in the theory, “treat others as you would have them treat you.” ■ “Most players,” continued O’Loughlln, "are as temperamental as prlraa donnas. No two players are alike. Therefore, an umpire who wants to make good must learn the characteristics of each man and then handle him in the way that will eliminate as much friction as possible. “The fans who sit in the grandstand have the opinion that the arbitrator is unjust toward some players and favors others. That is because ■ they are not fully conversant with conditions. They have not made a study of all as intimately as an umpire. There are some players who attempt to alibi their own failure by ragging the umpire. There is another type which—odd though it may seem—bait umpires merely in the hope of Setting publicity as peppery, aggressive players. Usually those fellows are given the ‘gate’ in a hurry when they start to howl, because It is obvious that their walls are not slncere-Hthat they are attempting to pull some '■ tewspaper stuff for themselves. “A star player is easiest 'to handle. Ty Cobb, fiery and aggressl re though he is, has caused the umplrel less trouble than almost any man t Tat wears a big league uniform today. I ‘ew greater players have lived than I Iddie Collins, yet he rarely figures U the role of complainant “The same thing goe» i 'lth Tris Speaker, Joe Jackson, Ray Schalk, Stuffy Mclnnis, Ray Chapmi n and all the other really great players. They have as much pep as the player who seeks publicity and have the interest of their club at heart even more.