The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-10
(Reg. U. s. Pat. Off.)
 By Leo H. Petersen United Press Sports Editor

New York, April 1O-(UP)-If re- ports from Chicago are correct, they mean that Ford Prick will be the next baseball commissioner.
 The reports have it that the four man committee which was appoint ed by the Major Leagues to sift the candidates for the post will not recommend James A. Farley. If true, that means only one thing-Farley did not want the job.
 It has been pretty definitely es- tablished that Farley, former post master general and who as chair man of the Democratic party di- rected two of President Roosevelt s campaigns, could have had the e50,0O0 a year post had he wanted it. Farley isn't talking, and neither are the members of the committee. But Farley was known to have such backing that the committee mem bers, regardless of their personal Keeling, would not have gone so far as to eliminate him unless there was good reason. And the only good reason most baseball men can think of would be for Farley to have come out and informed the committee he wasn't interested.
 If Farley did that, 1t is under standable. He is making $25,000 a year more in his present capacity as an executive of soft drink firm (Coca Cola) and besides he wouldn't have had the power in the commis- Bioner's post which the late Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis had. For Major League club owners clipped the wings from the job at their win ter meeting. That may have turned Farley against it, although the sal nry angle is the more probable.
 The same Chicago sources said that Prick and Leslie J. O'Connor, Landis' secretary, were recommend ed by the committee and that J. Edgar Hoover, director of the Fed eral Bureau of Investigation was among those candidates mentioned prominently-Farley being another A-who failed to win approval.
 The position on Hoover is under gtandable for Hoover had said he would not leave his present post during the war. And baseball didn't want to go and take a man from Q vital war job in Washington be- cause of the possible public reaction which might have resulted.
 All added up-and the under ground whisperings which have been going on since the baseball search for a new head started haven't added up very often-it leaves the field clear for Prick president of the National league.
 He almost got the job when the majors met here last February, but q technicality prevented the mat ter from coming up. At that time he was said to have been sure of ii votes. That number is reported to have dwindled to eight since I then. Twelve votes are necessary to elect.
 But between Prick and O'Connor. there is little, if any doubt. O'Con- nor once said he would not take the lob under any circumstances. He may have changed his mind, but lot of club owners haven't changed their minds about him.
 As Landis' secretary, O'Connor did c lot of the dirty work which the commissioners office called for AS result, he drew the ire of own- CTS time after time. And although { the documents carried Landis' sig mature, those owners knew the D'COnnor label. .
 OiConnor's strength is in the west
 ~Where all members of the com tnfttee come from. They are Sam Bpeadon of the Cardinals, Don Barnes of the Browns, Phil Wrig- Iey Of the Cubs and Alya Bradley ei .nt Indians Cleveland, in major