Evening star., 1940-08-28
Little Support Given
Grid Pros by Press,
Fans in Coast Town
League Rival Troinins
In Seattle Is Needed
To Hold D. c. Team
BY BILL DISMER, Jr,
Star Staff Correspondent.

SPOKANE, Wash, Aug. 28.-Un-
less another National Football
League team can be persuaded to
train in Seattle next year ard play
'home- home" games with the
Redskins, it's extremely doubtful
that Spokane will remain the
Indians conditioning site.
Whether he sensed growing COOL
ness or not, Owner George Marshall
addressed the Chamber of Commerce
luncheon yesterday, calculating on
the advantages of any city becoming
recognized as the training base for
q major professional football team.
On the whole, Spokane sentiment
toward the Redskins this year has
been rather apathetic. Not only
have smaller crowds turned out for
recent daily workouts, but alto
gether there hasn't been as much
publicity in the two daily papers
since the Redskins started train
ing here just three weeks ago today
as there was in Seattle during the
squads three-day sojourn there last
week.
Abb Dubious.
Even Joe Abb, the Georgetown
University alumnus who is president
of the Athletic Round Table which
underwrites the Redskins guaran-
tee, has expressed skepticism over
a the feasibility of bringing the
Indians here again.
"I don't think this town could
go for just an intrasquad game for
q third year." Abb told your cor
respondent. CTonight's game, like
last years, represents the round
tables sole means of paying the
guarantee without dipping into their
reserve fund.-
with the Redskins playing an
other professional team, yes; but
among themselves again, no." was
Albis conclusion.
In contrast to the overflow crowd
of more than $4,000 which turned
out to see the Redskins play in
Seattle last Thursday, Gonzaga's
stadium's seating capacity of 10000
isn't expected to be taxed severely
tonight when Coach Ray Flaherty's
Fasteners attempt to make it two
straight over Turk Edwards West
erners.
This is being blamed partly on
the publicity, or lack of it, which
the morning and afternoon papers
have given the Skins.
"I don't know what you have to
do to wake these sports desks up
around here" Abb was moaning
today
Not so long ago, the round table
succeeded in getting the next ma
tional public parks golf tourna-
ment for Spokane. But was there
much to do about. it? And did we
get even a little pat on the back?
Not so as any one could notice It,"
- Find for Redskins. T.
From the Redskins angle, the
present site couldn't be improved
upon. Climatic conditions always
have been regarded as ideal and
they have yet to lose a days prac-
tice in two seasons because of rain.
What's more, they like the idea Of
training in their coach's home town.
But should Spokane fail to in
vite the Skins back in al, or lower
the guarantee to a figure that the
expense of training here would be
impractical, the Indians have sew
eral directions in which to turn.
Fon Du Lac, Wis, little town
some so miles north Of Milwaukee,
offered the Redskins even more of
a guarantee to train there this year
than they are getting from the
round table, and the Chamber Of
Commerce of Asheville, N. c., sent
them an invitation to train in that
mountain resort. Because the Skins
already had signed contract to
train here, they didn't even nego-
tiate with Asheville to learn the
amount which would be offered
there.
Although no figures are given, 1t
is believed the Redskins receive
around $4,000 from their Spokane
sponsors. Last year that figure
combined with what guarantees
they received from exhibition games
in San Francisco, Los Angeles and
Boston still left them nearly $1,000
in the red on their training ex-
pense, it is reported.