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Show NORTHWESTERN IS INQUANDARY Waiting for Coast League Moguls to Decide About Portland. SEATTLE, Wash., Dec. 10. Though ho won his fight to have n new , 1 roserve clause Inserted in contracts by ; which minor league clubs dan retain j claim to players, whether their leagues lea-gues finish their schedule or not, it is) not retroactive, and President Bob, Blewett of the Northwcstorn league i admits that the league when it reorganizes reor-ganizes for next season must start all over again in signing players and building up teams. He docs not, however, believe tills will bo a great handicap, for there should bo many capable players who are free agents ?nd nnxious to sign contracts that northwestern clubs can offor. particularly if this league, through the inclusion of Portland, so-cures so-cures class A rating. Not lack of reserve clause, but war work at high salaries, is likely to cost the Northwestern, some of its stars. Many of the best known players of last ' season now are employed in the Bremerton Bre-merton shipyards at pay ranging from , $5 to ?10 a day and even If they were inclined to give up this work next ; spring and resume playing ball it is doubtful if Uncle Sam would consent to It. The ship builders expect the ' government may be putting their work, under strict military regulations, with , the workers performing a sort of servitude ser-vitude more or less involuntary before I spring. I President Blewett is going ahead with plans for reorganization of the Northwestern circuit, but he necessar- I ily can not do anything definite until I some decision is reached by the Pacific 1 Coast league concerning the status of Portland. Contrary to expectations, President Blewett Is in favor of retaining Great Falls and Butte in the league. He was I supposed to favor cutting off these ! towns, but something has happened to cause him to change his mind. In order to give the Coast league a chance to act on the Portland matter, the league's annual meeting has been ' set over until after the Coast session, j which is scheduled the middle of De-1 comber. In spite of the war, Blewett ! is optimistic over the prospects fori 1918 and believes that the Northwestern Northwest-ern will havo an Interesting race and a satisfactory season all around. oo |