The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-12-08
VIRTUAL WARFARE
AS BREAK WIDENS
Decision To Curb Happy's
Powers Is Next
Nv SID FEEDER

BY SID FEEDER
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. = The
hottest-but ''untradingest"
minor league meeting in years
wound up today with approval Of
law barring all player bonuses
in baseball and a green light for
the Pacific Coast loop to move ur
into the big leagues, if it can gel
the big leagues "okay."
Both of today's actions, of course,
must be seconded by the major
leagues at their get-together In
Chicago next week. But, just as II
was here, the hotfoot in nex1
weeks sessions will be in the fight
that now amounts virtually to soper
warfare between baseball mer
generally and the games high
commissioner, A. B. Happy)
Chandler.
Not since the attempt to Dust
minor league car, Judge w. G
Bramham, failed three conventions
ago because the late commissioner
Kennesaw M. Lands merely walk
ed into the meeting room, has any
annual meeting aired a battle in
side baseball such as the legisla-
tive punches the minors threw al
Chandler here this week.
Powers Curb
And. with their decision to curb
his powers sharply coming up for
concurrence at the major league
conclave, along with a vote on the
new major-minor agreement which
is reported to slice even more au-
thority from him, there is no doubt
the fight is a long way from the
last round.
Coming up, too, next week will
probably be at least a few more
player deals to accompany the lone
major league ivory transaction put
across at the meetings here-the
sale of pitcher. Johnny HUMPHREYS
by the White Sox to the Phillies.
The trade winds were blowing
here all right, but they were large
ly blowing around in circles, pos
sibly because most Of the big
league moguls were busy lining
up widely expanding farm sys.
TENS from the 10 new and II old
minor leagues which will operate
in 1916.
Trades
As a result, the ivory market
probably will be buster in Chi
cago. It is known more or less
definitely that Cleveland outfielder
jeff Heath, Cincinnati first sacker
Buck Mccormick and 20 of the
world champion Detroit Tigers,
headed by first baseman Rudy
York, are on the block. The In
dians are also willing to sell sec
ond baseman Roy Mack and pitch
err Jim Bagby. Bagby may 60 TO
the Red Sox.
/ In addition, Bob Carpenter. the
Pills new president, and Horace
Stoneham, the New York Giants
boss have had their checkbooks In
their hands all week long-and
money still speaks a loud piece on
the market. The Boston Braves,
too, were busy and have lie inside
track for catcher Walker Cooper
if the Cardinals decide to sell him.
The minor league presidents,
who refused yesterday to change
their own bonus regulations which
Chandler ruled 'illegal and un-
fair" voted IA to 2 today to have all
basebau--majors and minors alike.
wipe out extra-curricuiar pay
ments to players. Acting Piedmont
League President Frank Law
renee said the action would hurt
Independent club operators in COM
petition with farm affiliates Of ma
jor- leagues. He and Frank Shat.
ghnessy of the International league
cast the only dissenting votes.
The Pacific Coast circuit was
given unanimous permission to re-
tain its membership in the minors
National Association of Profession.
al Baseball leagues pending de-
cision next week on its bid to break
the 40-year exclusive major league
circle formed by the American and
National loops. \
Pacific Coast club representa-.
tives believe they have enough sup.
port to get the big leaguers' bless.
ing next week, but it is certain to
run into a storm, in Chicago never.
theless.