The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-11-27
(Reg. U. S. Pat. Off.) BY JACK CUDDY

United Press sStaff COrrespondent)
 New York November p. = (UP)- While the baseball world speculates upon a successor to the late Com- missioner Kenesaw Mountain Lan- dis, we suggest that the "Op Jedge" be enshrined forever in the Coopers- town, N. r., Hall of Fame among other Uamond immortalS.
 Though Landis wa Sneither player nor a horsehid pioneer" his contributions to the sport during the past 8 years doubtless were more important and lasting than those of any other individual since Abner Doubleday laid out the first diamond at Cooperstown in 1839
 His fearless, impartial interpre- tations of the baseball code have given the game a lasting heritage of honesty-an enforced heritage, per- haps. because the precedents of his widely publicized decisions will be hard to violate in the future with out evoking tremendous criticism.
 The "Czar' Is dead; but the law of Landis lives on in the records of his rulings-pronouncemen that should prevent the taint of gambling from encroaching upon the national paStime; that should prevent mo- nopolistic club owners from using blind contracts, cover-up transfers, and cold-storage "saleS" to hold flocks of players in virtual peonage; that should prevent arrogant owners from controlling or intimidatdng lInpires; etc.
 The baseball magnates hired Lan- dis in 1921-after the Black Sox Scandal-to guard the games inter ests and to enforce its laws. Landis didn't make the laws. He inter- preted and enforced them. He did it with an iron hand. He had to use the mailed first because, at times, the very men who paid him his sal- ary (ranging from $50,00O to $65, 900 a year) spent much time trying to find loopholes in the code-trying to out-smart Landis-for their own selfish interests.
 The man with the white mane revived and maintained public con- fidence in baseball through his fortnight decision. He was un- swerving in his determination to keep baseball free of any direct or indirect connection with gambling with racing or boxing. Club owners who had racing interests were forced to sell their baseball hold ings. He refused to permit Tex Rickard, Mike Jacobs or Bing Crosby to become connected with baseball. He barred William D. Cox, president of the Philadelphia Pfiil- lies, from baseball for life because he admittedly had bet on his own team during the 1943 season.
 Some club owners sarcastically called Landis Abraham Lincoln" and "the great emancipator" be- cause of his drastic rulings against the illegal manipulation of players, particularly those controlled by chain-Store systems. In 1888, he freed almost 100 players from St. Louis Cardinal organization for cover-ups, etc.. And in 1940 he freed 9l from the Detroit Tigers. They were merely stand-outs in long parade of somewhat similar actions.
 Unquestionably, the name of LandiS should be enshrined at Cooperstown. with such players as Iy Cobb, Babe Ruth. Honus Wag- ner, Christy Mathewson, Walter Johnson, etc. and such pioneers as George Wright, Morgan G. Bulke- ley, Ban Johnson, John J. ,McGraw, Connie Mack, Alexander Cartwright and Henry Chadwick.
 Meanwhile, it is our opinion that the major league meetings at Chi cago, Dec. II, will appoint three man commission to rule, baseball for at least year. That commission probably will comprise Leslie M. O'Connor. secretary of the commits sioner's office; Ford Prick, president of the National league; and Will Harridge, president of the Amer ican circuit. A lone commissioner may be named later; but if and when that is done, you may be cer- tain that he will be a person who never has had any connection with politics. We emphasize this political