Evening star., 1951-01-28

votes over to their side. Friends
of Chandler are supposed to have
won over Bill Dewitt. president
of the Browns, an original anti
Chandler voter. They also are
said to have Chuck Comiskey
president of the White Sox, on
the verge of joining them.
If true, it would mean that
Chandler will have the backing
Of at least II owners, just one
short of reelection, provided, OF
course, that the nine moguls who
voted for him last December
haven't changed their minds.
That is precisely what was in
the minds of the matchmaker
faction when it decided On Traut-
man as its candidate, it was un-
derstood. AS one owner put it:
"Trautman has a lot of friends
among major league club owners
He is liked by everyone. I know
of at least two Chandler voters
who will swing over to Trautmar
provided they can be convinced
that George can get enough votes
to be elected.
He is our key man" continued
the official who declined use oi
his name. "Trautman can get
the votes if anybody can. How
ever. it is going to be tough be-
cause there are owners who won't
vote for anybody because they
want the job themselves.
Administrator Is Desired.
"Trautman would be a popular
choice throughout the country be-
cause he has done so much for
the minors in practically every
city. His handling of the National
Association affairs at the recent
convention has won him respect
and admiration everywhere.
The 59-year-old Trautman, a
former American Association
president and Detroit general
manager before he was named TO
succeed w. G. Bramham in 1945,
appears high on the list of avail
able candidates drawn up by the
screening committee, according to
the informant.
The committee. named last De-
cember II, consists of Ellis Ryan.
Cleveland, and Del Webb, Yam
KEGS, in the American League and
Lou Perrin. Braves, and Phil
Wrigley, Cubs, National League.
The list also includes the names
Of several Federal judges.
"We don't want Federal
Judge" one owner said. 1--WE want
an administrator, not a name
Even when K. M. Lands was COM
missioner we had trouble because
1t took him years to familiarize
with the game. 1t was not until
then that he became a great COM
missioner, and he was in constant
hot water before that.
1T was different 80 years ago
I'VE were forced to get a national
figure to help US out of the rut
we found ourselves in after the
Black Sox scandal. A public figure
vino commanded the public's trust
was imperative then. We needed
an outside figure to clean up the
mess.
Joint Session Not Planned.
Things are different today
Baseball never has reached the
popularity and prosperity it enjoys
today. 1t is big business. Men have
tremendous investments in the
game. They don't want to trust
their investments to an outsider
who has no knowledge of the game
What they want is a baseball mar
who understands their problems
and knows how to solve them"
The majors are scheduled tt
meet in New York February
However, no joint meeting i!
planned. Consequently, no actor
will be taken either on Chandler
reelection or on candidates fol
the commissionership. Chandler
has issued no call for joint ses.
sion. Neither of the league presi
dents has asked for a meeting.
A Well-informed baseball figure
said that the committee plans tt
submit It's list of names to thu
owners stWithin two or three
months" after the league meet.