Evening star., 1945-02-20
Frick, Harriidge, Heads
OF Loops, Seek Way
To Continue Game

Baseball came to Washington to-
day to learn from Federal auhtori-
ties just how far it might expect to
go in It's fourth wartime season
whether manpower demands would
strip it Of talent, and what handi-
caps travel restrictions may impose
The presidents of both major
leagues. Will Harridge snd Ford
Frick, were to call on James F.
ByrneS, director of War Momibili-
zation late today in an effort to find
out what manpower directives might
do to club rosters. There have been
strong hints that baseball might
have to use youngsters under 18, and
old timers of the game who have
passed the 45-year mark in order
to put clubs on the fields this year.
Travel troubles and lighting lin
itationS also are part of baseball's s
problems which Harridge and Prick
appointed by the major leagues to
confer with Government ofiicials
were hoping to discuss, but up to
noon they had been unable to reach
Col. j. Monroe johnson, head of the
Office OF Defense Transportation, to
request an appointment.
Griff, Ill, Can't Go Along.
Clark Griffith, president of the
Washington ball club, had hoped to
60 with Harridge and Frick as they
visit Government authorities, but
suddenly was taken i'll at his home
early this morning and was advised
by his physician to remain in bed
at least through tomorrow. His
illness was diagnosed as an intes-
tinal ailment.
The two major league presidents
had a count of and 2 against
them, with Byrnes pitching for the
Government, as they came to the
plate. and anxious fans frankly
didn't know whether they would hit
or strike out. Byrnes, after a medi-
ocre beginning, recently has shown
more stuff and some of the boys on
the big league bench were afraid he
might get both Prick and Harridge
with fast directive right down the
middle.
That's what Frick was hoping for
when he arrived here last night
Harridge, who came in today. backed
him up in the contention that all
they want is something to strike
at, whether they hit or not.
Club Rosters to Be Scanned.
From New York the Associated
Press reported that Prick, prior tc
leaving for Washington, had armed
himself with list of the ma jors
personnel, consisting mostly of 4-Fs
discharged servicemen, overage and
underage players. The question is
whether the Government will per-
NIT them to keep enough of them
to make the big league wheels go
around, or force all-regardless of
classification-into war plants under
terms of pending legislation.
Byrnes, meanwhile, caught the
entertainment world with a smoke
ball over the corner that indicated
that night clubs and theaters aren't
completely out of the woods in the
manpower muddle. The War Mo-
bilization director requested" all
places of entertainment to close by
IL o'clock midnight, each night, be-
ginning next Monday. 1t was a
scattershot aimed at curbing un-
essential use of fuel, electricity and
manpower. Tantamount to an exec
utive order, with the implied threat
of harsh measures unless complied
with, the request" will be followed
by the entertainment world with
little complaint, If any.
Night Sports Not Hit.
The move will have no effect on
night sports, survey today indi-
Gated. Most indoor boxing shows
are over by II pm. and lengthy
night baseball games could be called
at 11:45 or midnight at latest. Bas-
ket ball, hockey and other indoor
sports events customarily are ended
before the new curfew.
Army Air Force officials, recogniz-
ing the need for wholehearted CO.
operation on all fronts to curtail
travel, have prohibited Air Force
basket ball squads from participat-
ing in any tournaments. Lone ex-
ception will be teams of the South
eastern Command, with headquar-
tiers at Montgomery, Ala, which al
ready were entered in a regional