Evening star., 1947-11-01
OConnor Mapping Lone fight Against Chandler
PenaIized Chisox Boss
To Slug Out in Court
With Baseball Gar

win DdSeDdII IzdI
By Froneis E. stonn
star Staff Correspondent
CLEVELAND, Nov. Having
stolen the spotlight from the Notre
Dame and Navy football squads on
the eve of their 20th game by threat
ening Federal Court action against
A. B. Happy) Chandler, Commis-
sioner Of Baseball, General Manager
Leslie OConnor of the suspended
Chicago White Sox today limited
that he would cut loose with another
barrage early next week, when he
will issue formal statement.
O'Connor, suspended along with
the White Sox for failure to pay q
$500 fine for signing an allegedly
illegal high school player last Sep
tember, took q bold stand here
against Chandler and strongly indi-
Gated that even If his American
League colleagues failed to back him
up he would carry the fight against
the former u. S. Senator from, and
Governor of, Kentucky.
chandler should be forced to
operate according to the rules"
O'Connor stated last night following
hastily-called five-hour meeting Of
representatives from all American
League teams. "He has been guilty
of four or five acts exceeding
his authority and I intend to bring
these up in my statement, which Is
half prepared"
Carrying Ball Alone.
Asked by neWspapermen II he
were carrying the ball alone or re-
ceiving support from the rest OF the
league" O'Connor replied:
"Well, I'm carrying the ball"
Earlier, however, the man who
served for "a years as secretary to
the first commissioner Of baseball,
the late Judge K. M. Lands, declared
that he felt the league was in accord
that Chandler had exceeded his au-
thority when he read his own inter-
pretations into pact agreed to by
the major league Executive Council
to not sign nor approach high school
players whose schools are afhliated
with the National Federation OF
High School Associations until the
class of the players sought have been
graduated.
O'Connor agreed that Chandler,
in subsequent February and May
bulletins interpreted the treaty as
including all scholastic athletes,
probably was operating with the best
Of intentions.
my point is that Mr.. Chandler
violated the rules Of his office in
issuing those bulletins without con-
sulting the major league Executive
Council.
There is no more important mat
ter in baseball than to restrain the
commissioner from making rules on
his own edict," he said.
chandler, as chairman OF the
major league Executive Council
which consists of the two big league
presidents, Warren Giles Of Cincin-
natl, and myself was empowered to
call a meeting to consider the
amendments" O'Connor explained.
HE should have done so without
acting on his own"
Chandler Rejected "ComprOmise."
The White Sox manager revealed
for the first time that during the
World Series he attempted to COM
promise" with Chandler. He said
that he wanted the fine remanded
in exchange for the contract OF
George Zoeterman, the 17-year-old
pitcher from the Christian High
School of Chicago whom O'Connor
signed in defiance of Chambers in
structions.
"This compromise was to exist
until the next meeting Of the Execu-
tive Council, scheduled for Cincin-
natl on November g." said O'Connor,
''but Mr.. Chandler wouldn't listen. "
O'Connor admitted that when he
had been fined $500 for an illegal
signing Of player earlier IN the
year the White Sox were at fault.
lone Of our scouts signed lad
named George Murphy, who fell
into the National Federation OF
High School Associations category" ;"
he said. II did not know of this
act, else I'd have prevented it.
When Commissioner Chandler fined
us was glad to pay and give up the
boy"
"But," he added significantly, II
signed Zoeterman deliberately. I
felt that similar punishment by
Chandler would not be in good
faith"
OConnor, who gave the impress
sion that he not only will carry his
case to court, but who mentioned
the Federal Court in Cincinnati
(home Office Of Chandler), said that
he did not think baseball would be
adversely affected by such action.
after ALL" he explained, we're
only talking Of an injunction to
affect only one case concerning only
one ball club"
Baseball men who literally quake
at the mention of court action, do
not as q whole seem happy about
the determination Of O'Connor, who
since his suspension also has taken
occasion actively to participate in
his clubs affairs by signing Short
stop Luke Appling to his 18th Sox
contract. American League Presi-
dent Will Harridge openly ex-
pressed the hope that no court &C
tion would develop, even after the
special meeting to consider the
question, was ended.
Clark Grimth, president Of the
Washington club and pro-Chand-
ler man in the fight, did not at
tend, but the Mats were represented
by Vice President Calvin Griffith,
who introduced q resolution, sec
onded by the st. Louis Browns, that
the American League president be
authorized to appoint member
Of the league to fill O'Connor's