Evening star., 1951-03-13


Senote Appointment. Pase Al
the is club owners come up with
a desirable and qualified sue
cessor." Needing a dozen votes to
win a new contract, Chandler
polled only nine yesterday, and
now there's the possibility that
Happy will be named by Gov
Wetherby Of Kentucky to fill the
senatorial vacancy created by the
death of Senator Chapman in an
automobile accident.
Plans to Go Home.
Chandler. following his latest
defeat, indicated he will leave fol
his home in Versailles. KY, in-
mediately to visit the folks" He
said he had plans, but that moth
ing is definite"
tThe Associated Press said 1t
had learned that Chandler will
resign within six months regard
less of whether a successor has
been chosen. In that event. the
commissioners powers would be
exercised by the Executive
Council, which includes Will
Harridge and Ford Frick, the
two league presidents. Tom
Yawkey of the Red SoX and
Warren Giles of the Reds.
"a close friend of the COM
missioner told the AP Chandler
had debated the idea of quitting
Immediately after his repudia-
ton. but was advised against it,
Meanwhile, the pressure is on
the seven club owners who voted
against Chandler-not necessarily
the same seven owners who first
pulled the rug last December al
the winter meetings in st. Peters
burg. 1t is their responsibility,
primarily. to deliver a candidate
who. unlike Chandler, can win IL
of the Is votes.
No StandOut in Sight.
There is no standout candidate
at this moment. A Screening
Committee consisting of Lou Per-
I'M Of the Braves, Phil Wrigley
of the Cubs,s Del Webb of the
Yankees and Ellis Ryan of the
Indians has furnished a list OF
"25 to 30 names" according to re-
ports, but apparently they range
from the ridiculous to several cuts
below sublime.
Chief Justice Vinson, for in
stance. is reported on the list
Likewise, G-Man Edgar Hoover
Neither has sought, nor is in a
position. to accept the nomina-
ton. The solid baseball men who
are candidates, voluntarily or
otherwise, are Frick, Harridge
and George Trautman, car OF
the minor leagues.
Two newspapernen were on
the list Of candidates, according
to one American League club own
er who was pro-Chandler. Grant
land Rice, dean Of sportswriters
was one; the other is unidentified
Charles Segar, an assistant to
Fr1ck. also was on the list, but
not Earl Hilligan, his counterpart
Hilligan is publicity director OF
the American League, and the
pair good-naturedly discussed the
matter and shrugged it off.
Toots Shor and Schacht.
Approximately 100 newspaper
men. photographers and radio
sportscasters made up their own
lists of successors during the
dreary meeting hours and came up
with such as Toots Shor, AL WE'LL
and AL Schacht. among others. In
q final analysis these seemed nc
sillier than those offered in q
more serious vein.
Chandler was not asked to re-
sign Immediately or requested to
allow his contract, terminating
April 80, 1852. to be bought up
1t wasn't surprise defeat
Happy admitted after the meet
ing.
"One day I thought I'd have Il
supporters" he said, "the next
day thought I had 13. On othe,
days I felt I didn't have enough
people behind me. One thing I'll
say. and that Is that if all the
people who at one time or an
other during the last two months
told me they were in my corner
I'd have won."
When the clubowners convened
yesterday, following separate
"procedural" meetings by the two
leagues Sunday, Chandler was
certain of support from Wash.
ington, the Athletics, Detroit, Gin.
cinnati. Cleveland and thu
Giants. Three more clubs wen
along with this half dozen, but
they weren't enough.
Long Speech by Griff.
It seems certain that five anti.
Chandler votes were cast by the
Braves, Browns, Yankees, Cardi.
nails and Phillies. Probably the
White Sox also voted against him