Evening star., 1951-08-05

| No Standout Choice
For Commissioner,
IAP Poll DiscIoses
By the Associated Pres.

4 NEW YORK, Aug. A conf
Dental poll Of big league clul
owners made by the Associated
Press indicated today there is M
outstanding candidate in the fiele
for commissioner of baseball.
/ In fact, strong opposition was
expressed against making fina
choice at the meeting to be helt
here Tuesday.
Instead, the sentiment seems tt
be to narrow down the list oil
candidates to three of four, with
the final ballot coming some
weeks later.
In order to get the right man
one owner said, baseball is ready
to boost the salary to $75,00(
yearly. A. B. Chandler, who was
refused reelection after serving
since 1S45. received $65 900.
Several owners mentioned the
possibility of a military man. Tht
name most widely discussed in thiI
connection is that of Gen. Mac
Arthur.
Others talked of a business man
So far. no top flight business exec.
utive has been mentioned excepr
James A. Farley. former Post.
master General who now is chair.
man of the board of the Coca Cols
company.
3 Big Baseball Names.
Three big baseball names came
up spontaneously in the discus.
Isions-Ford Frick, president of tn,
National League; George Traut.
man, head of the minor leagues
and Warren Giles, president of tn,
Cincinnati Reds.
One club owner close to tn
Screening Committee said:
I 1--WE had about Is names OF
our list. but you can discount 81
per cent of them" He was askes
If Macarthur, Farley, Giles, Traut
man. and Frick sounded like tn,
hard core of flrst-line candidates
"YeS," he said, "but there is on,
other name so highly placed tina
it would embarrass him if i
were to be known"
One owner said he wanted tt
settle Tuesday on about four
candidates-one each from thu
worlds of baseball, public life, bust
ness. and military affairs.
I Another said:
II am emphatically not in IA
lvor of a politician or a baseball
man. A politician might be il
favor now. and out of favor to-
morrow. A baseball man is sur,
to have some petty grievances.
just want to narrow down th.
field. and then take good lool
at each man. We don't want II
) make snap judgment"
None Has Candidate.
/ To the direct question, "Hav'
you a candidate" every club owne
If1atly said no"
| Except for the owner who salt
he was opposed both to a politi
clan and to baseball man, al
the rest indicated open-minded
ness on choosing between a maj
from the game or national figure
i Said an American League owner
There's a lot of baseball men
respect both in my league and il
the other-Warren Giles. for in
stance"
Said another from the sam
League: II made up my mind
but my man wouldn't take tn
JOB. If it is to be some one from
baseball, I think it will be Traut
man. / would be in favor 0
some one the public knows"
! Said a prominent Nationa
League owner: II hope the elec
Ition doesn't happen next Tues
day. We ought to take NOR,
time. I have no pre-judgment-
Ut could be business, the Army, O.
baseball"
i Not Hiring Category.
i An American League owner de-
Iclared that I'VE are hiring mar
and not a category" He pointet
out that the private call for th'
meeting did not indicate an cleo
Ition was assured, as it read "Fo
1.-THE purpose of discussing and pos
lsibly selecting" the commissioner
i One owner, who said he hat
no candidate, facetiously added
How can we overlook Celler. H,
was the panacea for everything
1T looks like he's the boy"
i Representative Celler, Brooklyn
Democrat, is the chairman of th
House Monopoly Subcommitte'
now investigating baseball. Base
balls new commissioner will p'
called on to deal with the con
Igressional inquiry, along with ;
flock of other headaches, such a.
the reserve clause, and the fu
Iture of television and radio il
baseball.
P--