The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-02-03
CAME TO Be OR
NOT TO Be- AS
LEADERS WAIT
Prick, Teller Optimistic,
Gallagher, Peckinpaugh
Gloomy; Griffith Hopes
By PAUL sCHRFFELs
tunlsed Press stAff Cerresponden

NOMAOo1 GHeSS 0tSAk OVEkeSpUWuSubI
New York, FEB, 3.--(Up)-Base.
ball and other professional sports,
officials, concerned for the future
following War Manpower Commits
sioner Paul v. McNutt's "work or
fight" order, adopted Q policy Of
watchful waiting today.
A consensus Of comment, spear.
headed by baseball men--the sport
most likely to suffer the initial
casualties indicated there was no
other course for the INTO pursue
but TO await o government ruling
which would frther classify the par
Elephants.
McN0tts initial iaon.deferment
listings, contained IN his edict to
men between 10 through 81 not In
essential industries TO either get In
war work or fight, made no specific
mention Of sports performers but
VINO sources In Washington said II
was an apparent indicator Of more
drastic rankings to come.
Since It has been emphasized;
however, that q decision on their
''non.deferrable" status win de.
velop slowly while all angles OF
interrelated morale problems are
weighed, baseball men said they
would 60 ahead with their lo4S
plans and would open the gates
"as usual" pending further Develop
ments.
Reason for the somewhat gloomy
attitude adopted by Q few diamond
magnates was the recollection that
VINO has repeatedly stated that
baseball players are ne essential
Thus athletes, unable to obtain
draft deferments, even because Of
dependents, may soon he forced Into
essential occupations.
Has . Chance
Hope was held out, however, that
the government might place base.
ball and other sports In an ess
sential category because Of their
value to civilian morale. It was
recalled that President Roosevelt,
In awarding baseball Q green light
go.ahead o year ago, said he hoped
the game could continue. II also
was pointed out that ODT Director
Joseph Eastman had given his ap.
prevail to ctlrtailed major league
travel programs both for spring
training and regular season play.
CLARK Griffith, president Of the
Washington Senators and survivor Of
similar crisis In the last war, DUR
ing which the 1918 season was short.
ened. made perhaps the most point
ed comment.
II think It would be o mistake
to stop baseball or any other sport
appealing widely to the public DUR
ing the war;" he said. 1T would be
q step backward. It Is the govern
ment's Job TO formulate plans 10
keep the game going II It Is at all
possible. hope that It viii be pos
sible, but ] have no definite as.
suranceS from anyone on that
score"
Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw
M. Lands and President william
Harridge Of the American league
had mo comment. lands said
he had not heard anything about
1t" and when asked whether It
might not result In his comforting
in washington again with govern
ment officials, said:
there's no suggestion to indicate
such q trip"
President Ford Trick Of the Ma
tional league said: "It's obviously
an order which takes able-bodied
rnanpower from industries and
services where women can take over,
or men beyond the draft age"
Opposite Views
Two 0fficialS--Vice President
Roger Peckinpaugh Of the Cleveland
Indians and General Manager
James T. Gallagher Of the Chicago
CubS-predicted the games end for
the duration II II should be classed
as non-eSsential.
General Manager Jack zeller Of
the Detroit Tigers adopted exactly
the opposite slant.
even If the game Is not CLASH
fled as essential, wen stllI have
enough players TO get along WITH"
he said.
There are only ten men over 80
on the rosters Of the major leagues.
Various physical ailments may get
certain number deferred but
scarcely enough TO supply the neces-
sary amount Of players.
Only one division Of baseball was
affected by Mcegutt's initial iistings
the ground keepers. Most Of
them. however, are over the age
limit.
The majority Of thee ther base-
bal Iofficiais said they would 90
ahead with their plans II accord
ance with data assembled at the
major league meatlnRg In ChlnARQ