The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-08-08

Memphis. Tenn. Aug. 7.-(Special.)- Following vigorous assertions made by many baseball writers and managers and moguls interested in the welfare of baseball in the South that there would be no change in the Southern League circuit which forms the present organization. official utterance to this effect has been made by no less a per- sonage than Judge w. M Kavanaugh, president of the Southern Baseball As- sociation and the man whose word will settle for time at least all prospect ing and forecasting for the chain of clubs to comprise the 1905 circuit.
 Judge Kavanuagh says that Little Rock and Shreveport will be included in the 1905 Southern League and that there is hardly possibility of a change being made from Montgomery to Chat tanooga or a change of Alabama base from Montgomery to Mobile.
 It Is true that the constitution of the Southern League gives the league q right to dispense with the member ship of any club provided q three fonrths vote is cast to abandon any city. The clause in Section 10 of the League constitution provides for the officials to drp on the head of any mem- Der of the league, holding a franchise, provided business reasons" can be shown. In legal circles any act of this not be upheld in court of justice especially in face of the franchise which Judge Kavanuagh has caused to be drawn up and issuedsto each present franchise holder in the league.
 T am not speaking officially when I say that there will be no change in the circuit from Montgomery" said President Kavanuagh, but I will say that neither Little Rock nor Shreveport will be missing from the league next year. Of course it Is for the clubs themselves to decide and if an owner of franchise sees fit to dispose of his holdings at a profit there is nothing to prevent him from doing so. but Shreve- port and Little Rock will be in and this Is final"
 Captain w. T. Crawford, owner of the Shreveport franchise, who was here recently at the league netting had not even heard of the rumors which as- sociated his club with a Bush League" report with laugh. A man of great financial means with baseball as his hobby and with a self-confession of being willing to foot the annual bills of $10.000 loss at Shreveport. Captain Crawford Is regarded as being fully able and capable of carrying out any thing he might attempt.
 The newspapers are guessing" said Captain Crawford. No vote taken by any league could hold good in a franchise in the Southern League would show that franchise which pro- vides against any conspiracy of a ma 1ority of club managers voting to abandon city. There Is nothing to 1t. Shreveport will certainly be ready to play ball as long as the Southern League wants to continue"
 According to President Kavanuagh Atlanta and Memphis have shown the greatest increase in public patronage this year while Little Rock and Nash vile have been the cities where the greatest gate deficit Is noticed. Numerous rain postponements at Lit tie Rock coupled with a general stam- pede all over Arkansas to visit the Worlds Fair Is given as a cause for the Little Rock slump, while two pen nant winners In three seasons played at Nashville may explain their slump. increase over 1903 gate receipts accord ing to Kavanaugh