The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-10-31
(Reg. U. s. Patent Ofiice) BY JACK CUDDY

Limited Press Staff Correspondent
 New York, Oct. 31 - UP0-Now that the Hosannahs have been chanted and the paeans have been sung for both Branch Rickey and the Brooklyn Dodgers board of di- rectors, it might be timely to inter rupt the general kSslapping with the warning that oil and water do not mix.
 We mean that Hickey, a "long hair" of the old school in personal life, is tossing the dice in one of the biggest gambles in baseball history when he attempts to succeed Swash- buckling Larry MacPhail as general manager and president of the Dod- gers.
 Brooklyn takes its baseball seri- ously. But the human equation is far more important along the banks of the Gowanus than the mere winning of pennants. Flatbush fans-accustomed to the Uncle Hobbies, Casey Stengels, Max Careys and Larry MacPhails-can grin and bear it when the tide of fortune turns against their team, if they like the guy responsible. If the man in the limelight-the target-is their type, they can say, as they often have done, "just wait till next year. !"
 But when the man isn't their type, as Branch Hickey certainly is NOT, you have situation preg- nant with any number of possibil- ities.
 And we can tell you now that, al- though Rickey has a five-year con- tract to ride herd on the Flatbush flock, his success and the length of his regime will depend entirely up on whether he elects to operate be- hind the scenes, as he did at St Louis, or whether he takes the stage up front and center.
 If Hickey operates behind the scenes and lets some hail-fellow- well-met manager command the spotlight, he should do well. But Ii Hickey attempts to emulate Mac Phail and at the age of 62, tries tc be a heavy" instead of a behind the-scene grip" he will wind up ir the ash can-but quick.
 It's very simple. Rickey, despite his inimitable baseball shrewdness is not the type to front for the Brooklyn club. And this is no criti. cism of Branch, who promised hiS mother that he would not attend Sunday baseball games and has kept that promise. It's no criticism of the man to whom religion means SC much-the man who has been call ed the great Rotarian" because ht always is ready to make speech that might help to achieve sanel world in which there would be nc drinking or gambling
 But If Hickey tries to front fol the Dodger club, you'd see a broker Branch. While behind the scenes al St. Louis, the Cardinals at times were one of the toughest. toughest aggregations ever to play ball. They were called the Gas House Gang. And Hickey lifted both hands ir horror at their antics. He regarded Pepper Martin, for example, as 6 savage" And the airs of Pepper. 'mudcat band" gained as mucf recognition from Branch as tht Strip Polka" is getting from tht radio censors.
 Some of the experts have insisted that Rickey's big problem will be t accustom himself to spending money for players instead of selling them We don't believe that's true. Brancl never will fail where it's a mer, matter of dollars and baseball tai ent. David Harum will do all right the all-important decision tha Hickey must make is this: To talk the stage or operate behind tn scenes. If he insists upon command ing the fioodlights, he is bound t fail-because he's not the Brooklyn type. But if he will continue his rol of back seat driver he may do well