Evening star., 1949-01-20
Conference SET
For WARM 1949,
.Dons' BossSays
Junior Loop Seeking
Busis for Continuing
Talks, Skeptics Feel
By Lewis F. Atchison
Sfor Sfoff Correspondent

| Star Staff Correspondent
CHICAGO, Jan. 20.-The ALL
America Conferences sudden de-
cision to operate another year os-
tensibly snuffed out the last spark
of hope for pro football peace in
1e49 But as National Football
League club owners met here today
for their annual midwinter meeting,
some observers had feeling the
AAC was trying to establish some
basis for continuing negotiations.
If such is the case yesterdays
announcement was futile gesture.
Few National Leaguers had any
comment, but Tim Mara, New York
Giant president seemed confident
that the three-year war was over
with the National League the win
ner.
Its only the shank Of the eve
ming yet," he said, when asked for
his views on latest developments on
the AAC side of the fence. He i'm
piled that more important news may
be forthcoming.
President George Marshall of the
Redskins was not at all dismayed
by the statement, in fact he seemed
pleased.
Statement Battles Scribes.
I'm glad to hear that they have
the courage to try it again. he
said. "I suggested in Philadelphia
that they try it another year. I
repeatedly have said that if they
are a success they'll help us. and if
they are a failure they'll only hurt
themselves"
George Halas of the Chicago
Bears simply shrugged and said he
thought "it's the only thing for them
to do. Another year will solve all
our problems and We won't even
have to worry about taking in two
clubs"
Before yesterdays unexpected an
nouncement newspapermen covering
the two meetings almost unani-
mously had agreed that the con-
ference would fold, with San Fran
cisco and Cleveland coming into the
National League. There was some
dispute whether the conference
would try to continue with six teams
and much talk about Baltimore be-
ing the crux of the argument.
1t is now certain that the No. /
man of the AAC is Ben Lindheimer,
Chicago race track operator and
owner Of the Los Angeles Dons.
Lindheimer is reported to have ad-
vanced a large part of the money
to keep the hapless and financially
disastrous Chicago Rockets going
flor the, last two years. He also is
reported to have insisted that Balti-
more be included in any revised
lpro setup,
Marshall Needles Ward.
All-America owners have been
meeting in Lindheimer's Offices in
the Chicago Loop section. Arch
Ward, founder of the conference
and promoter of the Chicago ALL
Star game who threatened to sue
the Redskins last year, is reported
vacationing in Honolulu. The suit
against the Skins, for using Harry
Gilmer in preseason game after
the rookie quarterback refused to
play in the All-Star game, never
was filed, although the Tribe called
the promoters hand by playing him
in the Green Bay game at Birming-
ham.
Marshall couldn't overlook Wards
absence.
Hes probably organizing a Far
East division to fight the National
; League or maybe he's getting a
Hawaiian lawyer to sue the Red
skins" said Marshall.
l Marshall now looms as the hero,
rather than william, over the battle
of Baltimore" He was reported
to have blocked the neighboring
Colts admission to the NFL at the
secret meeting between National
League owners and a committee Of
conference members last month at
Philadelphia. But he came to Chi
cago prepared to fight for the Colts
If two teams from the AAC were
taken in.
He offered the Baltimore COM
mittee, headed by Jake Enbry, the
same territorial deal Tim Mara
made with Ted. Collins of Boston
when the latter moved his Yanks
to New York. The offer still stands
if the Colts are accepted into the
League. This only can be ac-
complished by a unanimous vote of
the owners and Baltimore, mean
while, is hog-tied by the confer
ence.
Topping Deadline Nears.
The Colts now are in the tantaliz-
ing position of seeing a good chance
to gain their long-sought NFL
affiliation frustrated by their own
league If the conference did quit
and that still is possibility-Cleve-
) land and San Francisco will have a
knock down -drag-out fight for the
, 18th franchise.
Meanwhile, skeptics still believe
the AAC will make another peace
; bid before the week is out. The
meetings are being held across the
street from one another and de-
velopments are being watched
closely.
AS one writer pointed out today,
the Conference couldn't announce
1t had decided to quit and would
put two teams-or three-in the
National League. That's for the
older organization to decide, and