The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-15
.NATIONALLOOP
 PRESIDENT MAY
 BE NAMED FEB. 5
By LEO H. PETERSEN United Press Sports EditOr)

New York, Jan. IS CUP0 - Baseball hoped for another green light from Washington today for 8 fourth wartime season and should the game survive an expect ed manpower crisis, it appeared al- most certain that it will be under the direction of National League President Ford Prick as Its new high commissioner.
 A l0-man committee now is com- pleting new agreement under which the successor to basebalIs first and only commissioner, the late Kenesaw Mountain Landis will serve. Although its work will not be done until early next month. Prick seemed assured of the support necessary to get the position.
 Despite denialS to the contrary, he has been campaigning silently for the job. The former sports writer, who left his typewriter and radio work in 1884 to become head of the National circuit, reportedly lined up enough American League backing to overcome the opposition of club owners in his own league.
 His elevation to Landis post is expected to follow the February meetings here. The agreement com- mittee will convene February with a joint sSsion of the majors scheduled to begin February 5. That is the meeting at which the l6 major league club owners are ex- pected to elect Prick as baseball's second commissioner. His powers probably will not be as great as Landis were, but he still will be the games controlling factor.
 Tricks advancement, of course, would vacatc another prized base ball position and to succeed him. Prank Shaughnessy, president of the International League, appeared to be the leading candidate. We'll versed in every angle of the game, Shaughnessey was expected to re- ceive the backing of at least six of the eight National League clubs.
 To keep the line of acceptance going, it looked like William A. Manley, who has been secretary of the International League for many years, would be the logical successor to Shaughnessey.
 As important as this is to the fu- ture of the game. however, the ques- tion of Landis' successor was not the foremost in the minds of baseball men today. Their first consideration was the United Press revelation that the forthcoming ban on non-esser- tial usage of electricity will not pro- hibit night baseball. The War Pro- duction Board spokesman said that the order which WIPE Chairman J, A. Krug will issue soon, will not apply to the use of lighting for any outdoor recreational activity.
 Baseball men felt that the WIPE ban on the issue was an indication that perhaps President Roosevelt will give the game another green light such as he did in l042 in let- ter to Landis.
 Failing in that, they hope that War Mobilization Director James r. Byrnes will issue a directive veri- flying the administrations attitude toward baseball and other sports in l945.
 The lG major league club owners were not too concerned that these proposed manpower edictS, even if enacted by congress, would force them to close, Although they may have to scrape the bottom of the manpoWer barrel they feel they have enough men to go around this year If Washington does not apply the same yardstick 10 baseball as 1t did to horse harness and dog rac- ing,