The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-06
NORTHERN LEAGUE
NAY BE WRECKED
Future of Organization VIII Be
Decided at Meeting
This Week.
Special to The Globe.

special to The &IlODe.-
DULUTH, Mimi. March 5.--BasebaH
history, in minor league circles in the
Northwest, is to be made during the
present week when the magnates OF the
Northern league will come together In
this city on Saturday for the purpose
of completing final details as to the
circuit, arrange the schedule and close
up the business of the league prepara-
tory to the opening of the playing sea-
son. 1t will be virtually fight for
life on the part of the organization
against the efforts of promoters in Du-
luth and other cities to disrupt It.
The fight against the Northern
league, as it is now constituted, will be
led by Leonard Van Praagh, president
of the Duluth club, who has entered
into negotiations with Calumet, Hough-
on-Hancick, Ashland, Superior and
a number of other cities for the forma-
ton of an opposition league which will
have more compact circuit and will
permit of a longer playing season. He
asserts that he has positive guarantees
from money men in these towns that
they will put in teams with ample
backing in the event he decides to
carry out his threat of seeding from
the Northern league.
Two elements contribute to the dis
senSionS which now exist in the North
ern league. The presence of Winnipeg
in the circuit is one of them and the
sentiment for a>three months playing
schedule. Both of these are objection
able to Van Praagh and his associates,
and it is asserted that strong repre-
sensations will have to be made to
them If they are induced to continue
the membership of Duluth in the
league.
Winnipeg Too Far Away.
The objection to Winnipeg is not on
account of the enthusiasm that is
shown there by the fans-for it is adj
mitted that the Canadians have en-
tered into the full spirit of the game
but from the fact that the town is al
most inaccessible from practically
every other town in the circuit. The
jump from Duluth, a distance of 500
miles, makes it necessary that one day
be lost, and in addition to that, Win
nipeg has set her foot down fatty on
Sunday ball. so that it is claimed that
the profits of the big attendance is
practically eaten up by railroad fares
and hotel bills. Another objection to.
Winnipeg is that the unsettled condf-
ton of spring weather there makes 1T
impossible to begin the season early
and a playing schedule of three months
is all that can be carried out.
AS the Northern league is now con-
stituted, it is made up of Winnipeg,
Crookston, Fargo, Grand Forks, Su-
perior and Duluth. Duluth and Winni
peg, according to the attendance of last
season, are the best in the league, from
the box Office standpoint. Superior lost
money, Crookston was practically on
its last legs at the close of the season
and neither Fargo nor Grand Forks
rallied properly to the support of their
teams. 1t is feared that these condi
tons may be repeated during the COM
ing season. Winnipeg has had the
pennant cinched ever since the league
was organized and that has contribut-
ed to the feeling against the Canadian
metropolis.
What is known as ''the copper coun-
try" in which Calumet and Houghton
are the principal cities, is baseball mad,
so to speak, and the semi professional
teams which have been playing there
in past seasons have been drawing
crowds which would do credit to a big
league game. This fact has induced
President Van Praagh and others who
are interested with him to look over the
field. Calumet and Houghton have
both insisted that they would not join
the Northern league as long as W1nnf-
peg held a place and as there seems
to be no good chance of dislodging that
town, the only alternative is to form a
new league.
All Depends on Meeting.
Much will depend on the negotiations
at the Northern league meeting ito be
held here this week President D. J.
Laxdahl has announced that the
Northern will have a team in both Du-
luth and Superior, no matter if the
present teams give up their member
ship. Neither of the cities at the head
of the lakes is sufficiently large to sup
port two teams, so that in the event of
war; it would become a case of "the
survival of the fittest."
A strong effort will be made at the
league meeting to have the, playing
season heightened out beyond the al
lotted three months. All of the cities
on this side of the Canadian border
are anxious for longer schedule, and
1t is expected that they will be able to
carry their point.
& Superior fans are making desper-
ate effort to put their team on firm
footing and to that end a subscription
paper is being passed around and stock
in the club is being offered for sale.
Holders of this stock will enjoy no
special privileges and will be required
eoft1o Oh ho rofo soma or