Evening star., 1944-02-04
Nat Prexy 10 Present
Rehabilitation Plans
Al Landis' Meetinq
BY JOHN b. KELLER.

| Organized baseball's full protec-
ton of its players that come back
from the war and a postwar policy
that would give the minors back to
themselves will be urged by Clark
Grifiith, president of the Washing
ton Mats, at the major and minor
leagues joint sessions in New York
tomorrow.
The Washington clubs big boss
headed for New York today, hopeful
OF winning support from other dia-
mond moguls for the plans he will
present at the meeting called by the
games commissioner, Judge Kene-
saw M. Lands.
Griffith would have baseball
both major and minor-give its mer
coming out of the armed forces
every chance for rehabilitation in
the profession. He will urge, he
said today before leaving, that play
ers released from service be re-
stored to their former jobs and given
ample time to prove they are ca
pable OF resuming baseball Of the
caliber demanded by the league po-
sitions they left to go to the defense
of their country.
Urges Full Chance for All.
MANY of these men will require
much time, perhaps, to get back to
the playing form they had when
they were called from baseball" !"
Griffith said. ''They should not be
given only brief tests and then
thrown back to lower grades or out
Of the game entirely should they
fail to reach peak.
They certainly will deserve every
consideration organized baseball can
give and I certainly will demand
that they get such consideration
These men helped baseball maintain
high level in sport before the war.
Now it's up to baseball to help them
get back on their feet"
AS to the minors, Griffith de-
clares he Is eager to see them oper-
ating themselves as they did in the
years before the major leagues
stepped in and took over many of
the little loops in farm chains. He
is strong advocate OF self-owner-
ship for the minors.
II believe the majors should assist
the minors in working out a plan
whereby the smaller circuits will be
able to handle their financial as
well as their playing interests" the
Washington president declared
Some territorial changes appear
advisable, something that would
make more compact minor circuits
and thereby build up the natural
rivalries among neighboring cities
and towns"
Haste Not Advisable.
Il would cut down farm systems
as currently conducted" he added
Il believe major club should have
not more than one farm in each
class OF minors But this is some
thing that can not be done hastily.
After all, the minors came to the
majors and asked them to under
write little clubs during the depres-
sion in the early 30s. Now the
majors are entitled to several years
to make financial adjustments"
Griffith had no comment as to
what should be done about the
many players in minor leagues that
disbanded who were taken over by
the major league clubs to protect TO
some extent their property rights in
farm clubs. They were reserved by
the major leaguers on the theory
that with the end of the war they
would be turned back to the clubs
employing them.
1t has been rumored that Lands
may decide to declare all such play
ers free agents" Some major
owners, however, have contsnded
that the players If under reserve to
some big league club will find it
easier to re-establish themselves In
baseball than if they were forced to
shift for themselves as free agents.
Griffith has no worries about big
league baseball carrying on this
year, nor does he believe any other
leaders in the game doubt that the
game will be able to continue. I'VE
went through the other war right
well and gave the fans pretty good
baseball he said. Were ready
to go along this time"
The meeting Of the joint commit
tees of the majors and minors is
scheduled for tomorrow only, but
Griffith feels that the single e-day
session will not dispose of all the
business that confronts The baseball
folk. He expects another session to
be called by Commissioner Lands
to clear up the situation.
The Mats prexy is combining
pleasure with business on this trip.
He will remain over until Sunday
to attend the annual party of the
New York Baseball Writers Associa-
ton.