The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-02-22
WILL Be SIX TEAMS.
IN NORTHERN
LEAGUE
President Price Assures Even
ing Times That Duluth
Will Be in the Game.

go
This morning during the course of
a conversation over the long distance
telephone, President Price of the
Northern league gave out statement
which he hopes will set at rest some
of the rumors that there will be no
Northern league this season. Else
where in this issue of The Evening
Times will be found a communication
from President Price in which he dis
cusses the so-called censorship of the
press and other matters which have
been the subject of much comment.
There will be Northern league
this season." was President Prices
most emphatic assertion this morning.
There is absolutely no question of
there being a six team league this
season; in fact the money is in sight
in some OF the towns to run the team
through. There are four towns of
which we are absolutely sure, and
have advices from other towns which
authorizes me to make the statement
most emphatically that there will be
a Northern league. The affairs are in
somewhat chaotic condition but not
half as bad as they were last year
at this time.
"This talk about Duluth is all wrong.
1t eminates from the old managers
there who are down and out of it. 1
have the assurance from business men
whose word cannot be doubted, that
there is $4,000 ready to support a
Northern league team. In fact all ar
rangements have been made. Duluth
will be in the Northern league; in
fact they cannot get away. They can
not leave unless we release them and
l can speak for the Northern league
that they will not be released. There
is no time limit. We can hold them
uAtil such time as we see fit to re-
lease them. They are talking about
the copper country, but the fact of the
matter is, the copper country towns
do not want them, they are too far
away
The Circuit.
There is not member of the board
of control or the circuit committee
who wants Crookston. They are out
of it, so far as present plans go. We
are trying to frame up a league which
will have three towns within reason
able distance here on the west and
three on the east end. Winnipeg,
Grand Forks and Fargo furnish us the
towns here and Duluth, Superior and
Ashland on the east end. am at work
with the circuit committee, and have
not a question Of doubt but that the
circuit will go through in that shape.
Signing Players.
There is misapprehension relative
to the signing of players on the part
of managers and franchise owners.
The signing of players by March 1
does not obligate the manager or
owners of the franchise in any way,
nor does it necessarily work a hard
ship to the player A contract with
a. player never obligates the manager
to keep him, he may be released at
any time. The managers Of the North
ern league simply signs up his players
to begin playing on a certain date,
unless he is released before that time.
The player can be held until the day
before the season opens and then re-
leased. We all sign UP many more
players than we use each year but re-
lease them before or shortly after the
season opens. 1t does not work
hardship to the player in that he can
sign elsewhere subject to release by
the Northern league. If it goes to
pieces he is all right and if it goes
through and he makes good, he is all
right There will be no difficulty in
signing up the players.
Contracts Sent Out.
President Price sent out contracts
today to all of the players in the
Northern league last year who were
placed on the reserved lists, includ-
ing the reserved players of Crookston
and Superior. 1t is the object of the
league management to strengthen the
organization and no city will be per-
mitted to be identified with the organi-
cation without positive guarantee.
Ashland is a good baseball town
and has a population of about $4,000.
Superior is anxious to remain in the
league, more anxious than heretofore.
She wants to make good, but the
league wants a strong guarantee that
she will make good.