Show NORTHWESTERN IS STILL UP IN THE AIR Meeting Called for January 17 at t Seattle to Decide Seasons Season's Schedule By Sp Special News Service i SEATTLE Jan 12 The The Northwest Northwest- em em 1 n baseball league Is scheduled to hold holda a meeting here hele January 17 It If President Robert L. L Blewett t ever finds the opportunity opportunity to devote himself to something besides besides besides be be- sides his arduous law practice when the meeting mE-eting is held the fans around the circuit may find out something something some some- thing about the makeup of ot the organization organization for tor the 1918 1318 season The North North- Northwestern western league of ot all alt the circuits in organized organized organized or or- baseball has not made mad its plans for the coming campaigns although the impression seen seems to be general that there will be baseball Baseball writers rs' rs around the circuit seem scent to be divided as to what will be done At least one is of of- the opinion that there will be le only only four our clubs while another er predicts that there may be as many as eight MAY BE ONLY FOUR TEAMS TEAMS The four tour clubs If It this plan Is decided decided decided de de- de- de upon will probably be Seattle Spokane Portland and Tacoma These four clubs would make a tight little circuit and the expenses s could be held helo clown to a minimum Seattle has hag the largest payroll in Its history and al- al nough Northwestern tern league ball has not done well there the last few tew years It is to be expected l that with Portland a commercial rival in the league that the att attendance will pick up Surely It will if D D. D E. E Dugdale sees aces fit to loosen his purse strings and give his city a real ball club Tacoma with between and soldiers at its very gates should do well financially Last season was far from a fat from Russ Halls Hall's standpoint but the City of of Destiny supported the team better than for tor many years past A good club should draw well PORTLAND A QUESTION Portland was the weak sister of the Pacific Coast league the Jast last two years and It Is a question as to how the Rose city fans tans will take to Northwestern Northwestern Northwestern North North- western league ball They have be become become become be- be come accustomed to an article or baseball baseball base base- ball little short of ot major league class and anet may not take kindly to tho the brand served up in the Northwest The rhe natural natural natural nat nat- ural rivalry with Seattle and other Northwest cities however should help On the whole the addition of at Portland Port ort ortland land should be a grea great t factor In making I the league a success Spokane has held up its end regardless regardless regard regard- less of or conditions It is true that I P. P C. C Parr has not grown rich in bandling handling han ban the tho Indians but he ho has always been willing wilting to give the fans tans a a. good team and they have supported his team better than the average of or the other Northwest dUe cities 8 BROWN OWN WILL PROTEST There is sure to be decided opposition opposition opposition tion from Bob Brown the Vancouver owner if It the four club plan Is adopted Brown has been In baseball practically all his life and anti previous to the war made money at Vancouver He lie will not relinquish his rights in the organization tion ion without a hard fight tight President Blewett is said to be in favor of a six club league with Great Falls Falls- and Butte Included The Montana Mon Mon- tana cities supported their teams well last year and Blewett is said to think they wll wil draw well this year The main trouble with the Montana teams Is the cost of or transportation and weather con con- If It eight eight clubs clubs are decided upon Vancouver Vancouver Vancouver Van Van- couver is sure to be the seventh and the he eighth will wUl probably be another Montana city Just what other Mon Mon- Montana tana ana city however can support a team Is 3 a question 1 Helena andI and Billings have been mentioned as I |