The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-12-07
DRAMHAM SEES 'FINANC|H'. DISASTER
By CARL LUNDQUIST United Press Sports Writer

| Columbus, O., Dec. 7-(UP)- Judge William G. Bramham, presi- dent of the Association of Minor Leagues, expressed genuine concern | today that an inflationary trend Is developing which may lead many teams to financial disaster and urged reconsideration of hastily passed legislation"
 Bramham, like Baseball Commis- sioner Albert B. (HarpD Chandler, did not attempt to conceal his dis approval of some of the amendments to the major-minor league code which were adopted yesterday in ex- ecutive session.
 'They all think they see the golden gate ahead" Bramham said. "They feel, perhaps rightly, that a great boom is in prospect for all sports, but they are willing to spend too much money to share in it."
 Statuses Elevated
 He particularly criticized the sud- den elevation of leagues to higher classifications, Since the start of the mid winter meetings here, eight Of the 31 leagues expecting to operate next year either have elevated their status or have signified their inten- tion to do so.
 "The Pacific Coast wants to be major league, the International League and American Association fellows want to be Tripla-A, and the Southern Association and Texas League wants to be Dollible-A," he said. Everybody wants to move up. /"
 Bramham said that he was afraid 1t is over-enthusiaSm."
 Of course one of the factors is the increased draft price that the leagues get for players in the higher class, but the elevation carries with it the liability of higher salaries"
 May Lose Power
 Bramham also vigorously opposed yesterdays passage of an amend ment which would prevent Conmis- Sioner Chandler from exercising veto power of legislation of which he did not approve. It was this veto power which gave late Commissioner K. M. Landis his power, and its abro- gation would take most of the im- portance from the commissioners office. The amendment now must be approved by the Major Leagues, but such approval was regarded as cer- tain.
 "The amendment is ill-advised," Bramham said. Professional base ball should not put itself in the po- sition of pulling down the shades to protect it against revelation that it is guilty of conduct detrimental to baseball in cases where it is guilty."- Chandler told the delegates that the legislation was personally offensive and obnoxious to me-"
 Bramham said that the war and the profit motive had brought out clearly that ambition and competi- tion make good men do things they wouldn't do ordinarily"
 Worm Large Slate
 Rounding out the third and final day of the eventful mid-Winter meetings, the club owners produced large slate of legislation for the major league owners to consider at their meeting next week at Chicago
 It was believed that the bid of the Pacific Coast loop for major league recognition had an excellent chance to be approved by the major league owners.
 President Charles Graham of the San Francisco Seals said he had been given the assurance of at least three Major League club owners that they would not only support the move but urge it's adoption. He emphasized that the coast circuit would not at- tempt to compete with the American and National Leagues in paying of salaries for star players.
 Give Majors Chance
 What is more, if We have star players who are worth more than we can pay them, We will give them their chance by selling them to American and National League teams" he said.
 Chandler. rebuffed in his efforts to administer the $50,OO0 fund for establishment of a baseball founda- tion met for more than an hour with Raymond Dumont of Wichita. Kan, the president of the National Non professional Baseball Congress, and endorsed it's plan for a $150000 bud get to develop the diamond sport.
 Dumont said Chandler gave full approval to the program of Con- gress and urged a closer working re- lationship between that organization and professional baseball. Chandler also promised to attend the Nation al Tournament of the Congress at Wichita next August. He asked Du- mont to discuss his plans with War ren Giles of the Cincinnati Reds, the head of the Major-Minor Promotion al Committee, and to try to persuade