Evening star., 1951-08-07
Calvin Griffith Goes
To New York Meetinq
With an Open Mind
By Burton Howkins
Sfcr Stoff Correspondent

BY Burton HoWkins
Star Stoff Correspondent
NEW YORK, Aug. Z. - Major
league baseball club owners sat
down today to the task of selecting
a new commissioner or at least
narrowing the field of nominees.
BY early afternoon there was
no word from their meeting at the
Waldorf Astoria Hotel as to how
the session was going.
The meeting started shortly
after 8 am. and 1t was considered
likely that it would be a long one.
Calvin Griffith, representing
Washington, said he had IAN open
mind" in regard to his ballot now
that Chief Justice Vinson. the
Mats choice, had declared himself
unavailable.
Rickey Arrives Late.
Other American League repre-
Isentatiyes present were Tom Yaw~
key, Red Sox; Charles Comiskey
White Sox: Ellis Ryan, Indians;
Walter o. Briggs. jr., Tigers; Del
Webb and Dan Topping. Yankees;
Roy Mack. Athletics, and Bill De-
Witt. Browns. Topping will cast
the Yankee vote, but Webb was
invited because he served on the
committee that made the first sur
vey of available men.
The meeting started without a
Pittsburgh representative, but
Branch Hickey arrived soon after.
Other National League men pres
ent were Phil Wrigley, Cubs; War
rem Giles, Reds; Horace Stone
ham. Giants; Bob Carpenter,
Phillies; Fred Saigh, Cardinals;
Walter OMalley. Dodgers. and
Lou Perini, Braves.
1t was considered probable that
a new commissioner to succeed
the deposed A. B. Chandler would
not be selected today. Young Grit
fifth said he expected that at least
one ballot would develop, how
ever.
II wouldn't be surprised if they
take a secret ballot" Calvin
declared. "and if one name ap-
pears eight or 10 times we may
keep right on voting until we elect
a commissioner. II that ballot
shows a wide selection we'll proba-
bly, adjourn without electing any
body"
Opposes Ford Frick.
While Calvin processes an open
mind. he will oppose the election
of Ford Prick. president of the
National League, who has been
proposed for the post.
Chief Justice Vinson was the
candidate of 81-year-old Clark
Griffith. the Mats president. but
Vinson told Griffith he would not
consider taking the position.
Gov. Frank LauSche of Ohio
withdrew from contention yester-
day with the statement that he
would like to see George M. Traut-
man. boss Of the minor leagues,
get the job. Trautman is accept
able to the Mats. as is Giles, pres
ident of the Cincinnati Reds.
With VinSon and Lausche elirni-
mated. the list of outstanding
names being considered for COM
missioner includes Gen. Douglas
Macarthur, James A. Farley,
Frick. Trautman and Giles. Far
ley, former Postmaster General
and now chairman of the board
Of the Coca Cola Export Co., re-
turned from Europe yesterday.
Gen. Macarthur, who has re-
mained silent on the subject,
nevertheless is considered a can
didate. He has attended all home
games of the Yankees when in
New York and has seen the Dod-
gers play IL times at Ebbets Field.
He watched the Mats and Yankees
play last night.
Favors Trautman or Giles.
'If we, choose a baseball man,
either Trautman or Giles would
be suitable to the Washington
club" Calvin declared.
Evidence that the owners would
like to select a commissioner and
have a spokesman for baseball
while the game is being investi-
gated by the House Monopoly
Subcommittee was contained in
the early hour they were sum-
moned to meet.
Baseball has been without a
commissioner since Chandler re-
signed July Is. He failed to re-
ceive enough votes for reelection
in a surprise meeting of club
owners at st. Petersburg last De-
cember. They made the custer
official in another meeting at
Miami Beach in March, but Chan
dler remained in Office four
months before the remainder of
his contract was bought up.