Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-14
Grid Draft Opposed
By 9 Of 10 Owners
OF Pro Clubs
Most Mognotes Believe
League Must Suspend
Play for Durotion
BY SID FEEDER.
Associated Press Sports Writer.

Nine of the National Football
Leagues 10 club-owners favored
passing up the annual draft of COL
lege players at the regular December
meeting to be held at the New Will
lard Hotel here today, because of
the doubt over the loops wartime
future.
The big question among most of
the owners heading for the meeting
room was in trying to decide just
how to go about canceling the draft
and still stay within the loops con-
stitution.
Unanimous vote Is required for
cancellation, and the owners couldn t
get it, because of the one member
opposed. However, the others
couldn't see any good reason for
having the draft, because no one
knows where the drafted players
most of whom are slated for military
duty-will be by next fall.
The actual question of suspension
Of all operations for the duration
isn't expected to come up until the
annual meeting next April or a
special meeting later. But more
than one Of the magnates already
was convinced that there would
be no more National League foot
ball until the war is over.
Ram Owner Fav0rs Suspension.
Danny Reeves. head of the Cleve-
land Rams, already has said he was
in favor of suspension. Corpl. Alexis
Thompson, owner of the Philadel-
phia Eagles. indicated as he left
for his hrmv post at Camp Patrick
Henry (Virginia) that he felt a de-
cision to close down for the dura-
ton might be good thing, depend
ing, Of course, on the trend OF the
war in the next few months.
AS for the draft. ali signs pointed
to the development that somehow
the nine opposed owners would find
legal loophole to pass it up, for the
time being at least Chief among the
methods suggested to get 1t by this
meeting were 1) immediate ad-
journment as soon as the meeting
goes into session. 20 failure Of a
quorum to appear at the conclave,
and 90 a neat little trick which
might be called "the silent filibuster. "
This last idea had some Of the
boys IN stitches with its possibilities.
This is how 1t works: The constitu-
tional provision for the draft says
that each club shall have selection
in order" beginning with the club
that ended the season with the
lowest percentage No club can be
overlooked or passed. on its turn
at picking player, unless that club
agrees.
Easy to Reject Draft.
But there is no limit on how long
that club owner has to make up his
mind which player to select. So.
what's to prevent, say, the owner Of
the last-place Detroit Lions from
just sitting there and saying nothing
when his turn comes? Surprising
Fred Mandel, the head of the Lions,
does just that, and after about an
hour of waiting for him to make up
his mind, some other owner becomes
little impatient, stands up and
says, "Oh, we'll, let's call the whole
thing off. adjourn and go home"
Thus, the owners who want to
would get their opportunity of watt
ing until they finally decide on
operating next season before think
ing about picking the graduating
college players, and every one would
be happy. That is. almost every one.
The lone owner who wants the draft
wouldn't be inclined to pass the
cigars about it.