The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-10

for all present knew the generosity and unselfish spirit which prompteo such an offer. The man who made the of Was sSs oyaSegrn eaEue viii ing. in typical Southern manner, to re- linquish pride for the good of the sport of which he is one of the ablest and most honorable, exponents.
 Judge Kavanaugh's offer was not ac- cepted, for Ban Johnson was there to block the move, and did so, regard less. But the Southern Leaguer made one of the hits of the meeting with his as chief bulwark of the national game
 Judge Kavanaugh is almost Cin- up up in Kentucky, where his father was a Methodist preacher for many years. some of which were spent in Coving- ton. The future Judge was educated then located at Farmdale. now at Lin- den. Graduating, he went out into the great Southwest in search of fame and fortune and found the opportunity to secure the same in Arkansas. where he settled just twenty years ago. In 1887 he moved to Little Rock. the capital of the State, and went where so many other good men have gone--into news with The Arkansas Gazette. the oldest paper west of the Mississippi River. and showed his caliber by. rising from the OI cup reporter III 100 W editor and manager In lSse. The Judge has always taken an enthusias- tic and intelligent interest in base ball beginning as loyal .rooter for the Cincinnati Reds way back In the early eighties. While still a reporter on The Gazette he became a stockholder in the. Little Rock Club in 1887, at that time in the southwestern League. From that time on base ball in Arkan- sas underwent numerous vicissitudes. but Judge Kavanaugh was always g. leading spirit in advanclngSthe best in- teTests of the sport. He was interest senting Little Rock. and in, 1894 was chief booster for the Arkansas State League. -+
 The following year Little Rock broke into the Southern League. with MT. Kavanaugh-still newspaper man. not yet a Judge-as President of the club. The League was composed of the same towns as at present except place. Under the Kavanaugh leader ship Little Rock developed such men as Briggs and Fifield, afterward star pitchers in the major circuit. But Ar pany, and, when Memphis dropped out of the League, a balance was struck by throwing out Little Rock bodily. The next year the Arkansas capital was again admitted at the winter meeting, but, dropped before a game was played although the guarantee fee was re- turned. That ended Southern League base ball in Little Rock for five years.
 Meanwhile Kavanaugh had been ad- vancing in the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. He left the Ar kansas Gazette In '96,, intending to go into a bank, but politics opened a way for him, and he was elected Sheriff and Tax Collector, positions of authority and prestige in that country, which he filled for four years. Then came four years as, County Judge, position which he filled so ably that he is now the leading candidate for Governor on the Democratic ticket next year, in a. State where nomination is equivalent to election.
 Politics, however, does not interfere with the Judges Innate love of base ball. When Little Rock entered the he was a stockholder and director of the club. Tn August of the following year came the great imbroglio over the case of Pitcher Jimmy St. Vraln. the details of which are familiar to base ball fans throughout the country. Tn this crisis Judge Kavanaugh was offered the Presidency of the league. and he accepted 1t. He has held the position ever since, and will doubtless continue to do so unless his possible gubernatorial duties cause his resigna- tion next year. His valne to organ ized baseball was recognized in 1902 by his election to a place on the Ma tional Board of Arbitration, a position which he fills with honor to himself and benefit to the South and base ball in general
 Judge Kavanaugh's opposition to race suicide Is as keen as his love for base ball. He is the devoted father of five children, and owns a delightful home in the Arkansas metropolis.