WIL Not Coming to New Westminster

Plans Revived In Fan Bid For Franchise
SALEM, Ore., Sept. 20—Plans by baseball fans here to buy the Salem club franchise in the Western International League were revived again today.
Donald A. Young, attorney for a group here, said negotiations were again under way with owners of the baseball franchise and Waters Field. Young said George Norgan, owner of both the Salem W.I.L. club and the Pacific Coast League Portland club, had put a $50,000 price tag on the Senators.
This figure is substantially lower than earlier figures and Young said the chances of raising the $12,500 down payment looked good. The balance would be paid over five years, Young said.
Young said it was planned to sell 2,000 shares of stock at $25 a share. Stock option circulators were going the rounds today, the attorney reported.

WIL Circuit Refuses New B. C. Entry
TACOMA, Sept. 23—Western International baseball league directors, in session briefly Saturday in Seattle, “unanimously decided against approval of a franchise for New Westminster, B.C.,” it was announced here by Robert B. Abel, president of the circuit.
Abel declined to elaborate on the statement, but it was assumed that New Westminster interests seeking a W-I berth had been balked by one of two factors involved, or by both, namely:
1—Refusal of the Vancouver, B.C., Capilanos to waive territorial rights, and
2—Progress by a local group in a drive to purchase the Salem Senators from the Portland club of the Pacific Coast league.
Earlier this week, reports from Salem indicated that a money-raising campaign to buy the Senators was virtually assured of success. Portland's asking price for the franchise had been set unofficially at $50,000, with $12,500 required as a down payment and the balance forthcoming within five years.
In view of the fact that all of the other seven members of the circuit were on firm financial ground at the end of the 1950 season, it was considered unlikely a franchise would be available for transfer.
Organized baseball's “territorial rights” regulations provide strong protection, with the result that Vancouver could automatically veto any attempt to place a W-I club in New Westminster.
The league's annual meeting will be held be held November 1 and 2 at Wenatchee, Abel announced.