Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-08-15

HoIus Dynasty
Here to Stuy
BY MORRIS sIEcEL

FOR OUR OVERNIGHT VISITORS from Chicago, the
Bears the selection Of the Nations Capital staging
natural Here, too family connections i'm
portant and the big show also is run by kinfok.
For 43 years the Bears have been almost a one-man
operation. Last spring there was slight change in the
lineup. In the intramural shakeup, George Halas
the only president the Bears had known decided to step
down from an office he had held since 1920.
Papa Bear summoned the press and with understand
able paterna pride pointed to his successor my son. the
president"
The new titular head was George s. Halas jr. The
retiring president threw in extra title for good measure
Papa Bears S7yearod cub also would be the teams gen.
eral manager He would have all the rights and authority
of the high office-except one.
THE ELDER HAIAs PROMOTED himself to chairman
OF the board and reserved the exclusive right to fire the
coach Who Internationally, was Halas himself The
delineaton OF duties was mere formally
Halas had precuded the possibility Of being fired by
anyone other than himself when he founded the Bears
In addition to playing end and coaching he had the fore
sight to own the team.
Connie Mack another who found this arrangement
conducive to longevity Mack remained manager Of the
Athletics for so years. He had the kind Of under
standing with himself that HalaS currently enjoys
In the office reorganization HalaS went step farther
to guarantee that the dynasty would be in immediate
danger Of being overhrown To make certain he would
know where the Bears going, Haas appointed his
brother, Frank, the travelling secretary.
DESPITE HIS FANCY TITLE as board chairman Halas
continues to every little detail Of the Bears opera
on He still censors press handouts which he always has
regarded as a necessary evil.
He refused to release the names of the dozen Bears
who funked the tortuouS mile T don't want the other
teams to think have any laggards around here he
explained.
Once he deleted sentence referring to player as
being at 225 the hghtest of nebackers" He elmi-
mated the weight grounds that other teams might pick
on him when they read it."
In TIE area of publicity Haas is throwback to Knute
Rocne. Both deemphasize optimism. They would have
you believe their teams couldn't make first down against
strong wind Rockne rebeed at press release which
said that "twentyfOur letermen will be hand when
Notre Dame opens football practice next week"
1t came out vastly different by the time Rockne
through penciling "Notre Dame must replace 10
players who graduated last June football prac-
tice opens next week." the revised version read.
THE BEARS HAVEN'T WON as much as a nrec,nct
championship since 1885, This year Halas aims to correct
that painful situation In training he has driven his en-
poyes harder than at any time in his SO years of onean
rule.
Two winters ago, in banquet appearance Haas
went to Green Bay for testimonial for Vince lombard
whose Packers had ended long famine by grabbing the
first OF two backtoback National Football League titles
Looking at the stern italian face Of lombard Haas
sad Il would much enjoy being to bury Caesar
not to praise him"
The Packers again the avortes but this year the
Bears have added something extra their undisguised
effort to derai Green Bay. Dan Desmond their publicity
man. has been named prayer coach regular attendant
at Sunday services during the season. Desmond now goes
on the weekdays the Bears play exhibition games.
Last Saturday night in Ithaca, N Y, the Bears re-
sponded with 177 victory the Giants 1t naturally
delighted Desmond I'VE might be outpayed but we won't
be outprayed" he warned.