The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-18
By JACK CUDDY

New York, Jan. IS - (UP0 No one could blame Dan Ferris, the chipper impressario of track and field if he should get on his mark, get set and go!" To quiet made house today where he could forget all about runners especially milerS.
 For months now, Ferris has been trying to get Gil Dodds,, the mete- oric minister from Boston, and Gum der Hagg, the Flying Haberdashery salesman from Sweden, together for the indoor mile of the century,. The principals were willing, the Amateur Athletic Union of which Ferris is executive secretary was willing, and above all thousands of fans were willing to come out in droves to see them.
 Dcdds, holder of the world indoor record and Hagg, who ran the fast est outdoor mile ever recordd in America, both made long range plans to get together for the week. ly indoor track sociables, beginning January 27 at Philadelphia, with the general object to stride to a four minute mile.
 So what happened?
 That's a question that Ferris can't answer lucidly, because by the time the extra editions are on the streets the whole thing may be changed. That is why he'd like to get Na- poleon hat and take a brief furlough in the happy hatch"
 The climax to the confusion came in a welter of conflicting reports from Stockholm. Haakan Lidman, slated to be Hagg's travelling com- panion, said that transportation arrangements would have to be made this week If Ferris wants us to participate in the American in- door championships at New York on February 24."
 Charles Janson, secretary of the Swedish Athletic Association, was quoted first as saying that the trip would be off unless Hagg was given assurance in four days that boat transportation would be available. Later, he said that he understood everything was arranged and that Hagg would arrive at New York, on groundhog day, February 2.
 On the heels of all that came a communique from Dodds at Boston, who said yesterday that regardless of what happened to Hagg, he would give up his track career on Janu- ary 2. and join gospel preaching group in Los Angeles.
 Hence, even If Hagg gets here, he will be on hand for what amounts to series of "walkovers" since the Boston board burner was the only miller calculated to give him a tus- Sle.
 Previously Dodds had indicated that he would be available for the indoor, tour. regardless of what complications might beset Hagg in his efforts to get to the states and there were a legion of them. Now 1t appears that there is no hope of getting Dodds to change his mind. And If h does, Hagg probably will miss the boat. or Sprain and ankle. or have words with his employer. Stuhre Ohlsson, whose only interest in life is in selling neckties. It was Ohlsson who put a crimp into Hagg's original plans to come to the states, because he insisted the miller had been too busy breaking records to peddle his quota of cra- vats.
 Ferris said that there were a few first rate milers available with whom Hagg could compete, but that none would be likely to extend him into lowering Dodds indoor mile mark of 4:06.4. set last March at Chicago. And the customers won't see any stretch race to the tape with the old rivals biting the board with their spikes in an effort to beat each other-if nothing else.