Evening star., 1949-01-21
By Lewis T. Atchison
Stor StoH Cores sspondenf

CHICAGO, Jan. 21.-Secret meet
ings between certain individual club
owners of the National Football
League and All-America Conference
today renewed conjecture Of an end
of the All-America Conference and
peace in professional football.
Nobody in either group would
comment on the situation, but there
was ample ground for speculation.
The National League owners, mean
while, were scheduled to resume
their meetings early this afternoon
when the matter Of Ted Collins
removal from Boston to New York
was to be considered, officially, and
the l949 schedule was to be discussed
1t was taken for granted that
Collins, having reached an agree
ment with Tim Mara of the NeH
York Giants, would receive of1cial
sanction to transfer his Yanks to
the big town.
Commissioner Bert Bell, who was
voted new 10-year contract at $780,
900 q year yesterday, said the l949
schedule would be discussed, but
would not be adopted at the time.
He has a 5-year program in his
pocket, but Boston's transfer to New
York makes some changes necessary.
Peace Sessions Seen on.
No names were mentioned in the
hush h-hush dealings being carried
on, but an All-American Conference
meeting, scheduled last night, was
not held. For one reason, Dan Top
ping, owner of the New York
Yankees who wants to quit and
rent his Yankee Stadium to Collins
and Mickey Mcbride, owner of the
champion Cleveland Browns, did not
appear until time to adjourn. Nc.
Bride owns one of the three teams
that want franchises in the National
League.
George Halas, ner-coach of the
Chicago Bears, and Curley Lambeau
coach and general manager of the
Green Bay Packers. leaders Of the
peace movement with the NFL, were
late for their own leagues meeting
Earlier in the day, the pair had sud
denly and quietly vanished for seve-
raj hours. The logical assumption
was that they had met with Topping
and Mcbride in an effort to further
negotiations.
i Last nights National League ses.
sion adjourned at 1913 after it was
agreed that each club could decide
whether to televise its own home
games. President George Marshal
of the Washington Redskins, ar
ardent television supporter, won hi!
point in this debate, but none Of th'
other clubs wants television. The.
think it hurts attendance.
Partial Victory for Marshall.
/ Marshall's victory was not com
plete, however. for he still mus
1 persuade Philadelphia and, in Ney
York, Mara and Collins, 1t will b
good to televise the Redskln game
from those cities.
/ Marshall was buttonholed b
Lambeau Immediately after tn
meeting adjourned and they wen
into a "no-admittance' huddle. l
was a reasonable guess that Lam
beau was trying to win Marshal
support in the peace movement. I
promised to be stubborn argument
however, for the Redskin boss is re
ported to be insisting that Baltimor'
be included in any new setup tina
rt, nf
But there is another roadblocl
that must be removed before tht
pro football moguls reach the prom
ised land. Rufus J. KlaWans, Sar
Francisco attorney and commissions
of the four club Pacific Coast Foot.
ball League, is here Haunting FIVE
year contract with the NFL, signec
two years ago. guaranteeing his or
ganization territorial rights on the
West Coast. The document wa:
signed by Bell. Klawans and each
individual club owner Of botf
leagues. 1t seems to be powerful
legal weapon.
Klawans Holds Weapon.
/ KlaWans also has a renewal o.
Frank Ciraolo's application-with {
certified check for s25 5,000-for ar
NFL franchise in San Francisco. HI
has, too. new application from
HOLLYWOOD He will insist that Cira.
olo be given preference over Tony
Morabito's San Francisco 49ers. The
49ers, runnersup to the Browns fol
the AAC title. have been considered
almost certain of National League
membership if the AAC folds.
Most NFL owners evidently for.
got about the document in Klawans