Spokane Reacts to Player-Shortage Claim

WIL Faces Good Year Says Owner
SPOKANE, Jan. 23 — The owner of the Spokane Indians predicted Tuesday that the class B Western International baseball league will be able to operate as usual next summer, despite the military draft.
Roy Hotchkiss, whose Indians are a charter WIL franchise, said the league is looking forward to another ''good year."
"Nearly all members of the league are farm clubs of the Pacific Coast League teams and none expect to experience a player shortage," he said.
The class A Alabama State and the Class B Southeastern leagues have already given up because so many young players are going into the services.
Hodgkiss says he thought the WIL is in no danger of folding.
"The Indians expect no player difficulty," he said.