The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-31
BY JACK CUDDY

| United Press Staff. Correspondent
 New York, Jan. 31-(UP) - A guessing game with two questions but as yet not even one answer, puts baseball's 16 Major League bosses on the spot as "Quiz Kids this weekend and a few million fans are awaiting what they will have to say.
 They want to know first whether the Tycoons will see fit to name a new high commissioner to succeed the late Judge KenesaW M. Landis, and If so who will 1t be?
 The high guys of the diamond with a long reputation for conserv- atism never want to be rushed into anything, but the extreme urgency of the problems now confronting baseball may bring them to the se- lection of a commissioner, although in normal times the post probably would go thrilled for at least an- other six months.
 The setting for the meetings will have all of the local color of a po- litical convention on small scale. There is a definite bloc of owners in both leagues which wants Ma tional League President Ford Prick for the job, but his known support CTS will need to rally two or three more votes to assure his election.
 That there will be smoke filled room" with persuasive efforts to swing bcrderline executives on to the band wagon appears certain, al- though if Prick falls short of the necessary 12 votes, 1t is conceivable that a compromise candidate might emerge. More likely, however, II such a situation arises, will be the tabling of the matter until a can- didate arrives upon the scene who can rally the support necessary for election.
 A factor in Tricks favor appears to be the revelation that the re- gently drafted Major League agree ment, which sets the pattern for the election of commissioner, takes from the high office much Of the power that Landis yielded.
 The agreement, which is expected to be ratified Friday without debate, provides the club owners with veto power over all league legislative matters. Thus, they could put into the books rules which the commis- sioner might not sanction or which perhaps he might oppose bitterly.
 That clause might soften the op- position of some of the more not able conservatives to Prick, who has been a liberal, though not always forccful executive as head of the National League.
 Owners, who often insisted that Landis had too much power" de- manded the veto clause when the 1O-man committee was named to draw up the agreement. Landis had the final say-so at all times and particularly in matters which per- tained to farm system baseball he incurred the displeaSure of many Of the magnates.
 Although what campaigning he has done for the job has been in a quiet and indirect manner. Prick seems to be sure of the support of six or seven of the owners in his own league, with only Warren Giles of the Cincinnati Reds a known dis sentcr. In the American League. Clark Griffith of the Washington Senators, Tom Yawkey of the Bos- ton Red Sox and both Colonel Lar ry MacPhail and Edward Barrow, representing the new and old regimes of the New York Yankees have endorsed his candidacy. Don- aid Barnes of the St. Louis Browns also was reported in line at one time. although he has been non- committal since the mid-winter baseball neetin0S