t he should be
fined and punished as sternly as an offending player.

It is contended that the position of the umpire has been rendered more
arduous by reason of the world's series. The argument is advanced that
the players are more intractable, by reason of their eagerness to play
in the post-season games. That argument would be stronger were it not
for the fact that some of the worst disturbances emanate from the
players of the clubs that have no chance to play in the world's series.

As a general rule two good reasons may be advanced for disputes on the
part of players.

First: Desire to "cover up" the player's own blunder.

Second: General "cussedness."

There are players who make honest objection on the excitement of the
moment from sheer desire to win, but their lapses from Base Ball
etiquette are so few and far between that their transgressions usually
may be forgiven with some grace.

The Editor of the GUIDE would offer one suggestion to league presidents
and umpires; it is this: whenever two possible plays occur in
conjunction, instruct the chief umpire always to turn to the spectators
and inform them which player is out.

For instance, if a player is at bat and another on the bases and two are
out and an attempt is made to steal second, as the chief umpire calls
the batter out on strikes the public should be clearly informed that the
batter is out. If the play looks close at second base the crowd
frequently believes the runner has been called out and resents it
accordingly. In line with the same play, when the runner is called out
and the fourth ball at the same time is called on the batter, the chief
umpire should turn to the spectators and to the press box and make it
clearly understood that the batter has been given a base on balls. It
saves a great deal of annoyance and fault finding.

By the way, although it has been said elsewhere, the Editor of the GUIDE
would beg the indulgence of repetition by stating that the work of the
umpires during the world's series of 1912 was one of the finest
exhibitions of its kind ever seen on a ball field, and somehow it seemed
as if the players, would they but deport themselves during all series as
they did during the world's series might find that there are more good
umpires in the world after all than bad ones.

BASE BALL WRITERS OF THE SOUTH

While the Base Ball writers of the cities which comprise the Southern
Association have no organized membersh