Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-07-16
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y Don't Want to Incriminote'

CAL GRIFFITH DIDN'T WANT to do It but he finally
fingered Leo De Orsey the member Of the Washing
ton Baseball Clubs board Of directors who instgated the
latest motion to transfer the baseball Senators to some
place else specifically Minneapolis
Senator Joseph C. OMahoney acting chairman Of
the Senate Antitrust and Monopoly Subcommittee in the
absence Of Senator Estes Kefauver grew weary Of the
mystery and asked who is this director who told you
the Washington club ought to mover"
do have to dvulge his name?" Cal asked. II don't
want to incriminate anybody"
Senator oMahoney smiled There was tittering in
Room Asst OF the Senate Office Building Griffith batted
the Senator identity for few more minutes.
Besides" Cal said, hes not in this country right
now"
At the most recent meeting Of the directors, when
1t resolved that individual member could enter
tain offers from other cities De Orsey absent He
In Canada Realizing the Jig up, Griffith called
De orsy by name although his identity no secret to
baseball men.
CAL WAS TELLING Senators oMahoney and John
A. Carroll that all he doing was exploring when
the latest transfer threat was posed
Are you through explorng?" Senator oMahoney
asked, a trife acidly.
yes, sir am" Cal replied. emphasizing the II"
do you fully intend not to leave Washington" asked
the lawmaker. what is your real intention"
John Powell club secretary and q lawyer, undertook
to answer some of the questions directed at CAL Powell
who also director admitted that the recent resolution
could be rescinded by the directors.
"Wi the Washington club entertain any future of1er!
Senator OMahoney wanted to know.
well. IL an offer was presented to all seven board
members" Cal replied, wed listen. That's only common
courtesy"
"Then there's nothing to bar another resolution"
asked the Senator.
Powell shook his head NO." he answered. Personally
I'm not interested hope don't get any offers to move
CAL, ALTHOUGH ADMITTING that So per cent Of
stock owned by the Griffith family insisted that he
doesn't control the board of directors. At this point
Powell brought few smiles to the subcommittee when he
backed up Cal
"The board is not group Of yes men," Powell stated
How did you vote when this offer from Minneapolis
came upp" Senator OMahoney asked.
II voted yes along with the Others" came the reply
The subcommittee wanted to know why the Senators
finished in the cellar and the deep second division SO OFTEN
Lack Of good ball players, guess" Cal said at one
point Then he spoke Of being unable to match certain
other teams in handing out bonuses.
"The highest bonus paid was $4,000" Cal
sad probably referring to the time the late senator
Herman welker of Idaho helped to sell the Washington
club on Harmon Kilebrew. We've gone higher, but we
didn't land the boys. other clubs got them"
BEFORE THE SESSION was the subcommittee
remarked ON the trades of Early Wynn and Mickey Vernon
Senator oMahoney said that he felt the senators SUN
had pretty good ball players
"Your bench isn't very Deep" he said to Cal, and
then Paul Rand Dixon the committee counsel asked the
Senators president isn't your minor league system
weaker than the other cubs2 You to be in pretty
bad shape"
I'VE didn't have farm system until l94S" Cal replied
I'VE hope it's getting better"
How many ball players have you in Triple ball9"
Dixon asked.
"wel there's Pete Mesa and vadivieso and guess
that's all" Griffith traled off,
The subcommittee didn't lean CAL 1t was pretty
obvious that the system started in l98 hadn't
duced much in 10 years and that there isn't too much
hope for the future However, Cal optimistically re-
minded the that with unrestricted draft his
club might strengthen itself by claiming some minor
league cus belonging other and taent-wealthy
teams
II didn't quite come off, remnants aren't won by
hoping that Is other big league clubs make so many
mistakes in appraisng talent.