Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-07-20

The meeting at the Grand Opera House
called to order shortly after 10 o'clock by
Chief Consul kirkpatrick, who delivered the
following address:
MEMBERS sF THE OHIo DIvIsIoS-As | arise
to briefly address you, according 10 custom,
50 many topics present themselves that am
AT a loss to know which to mention first. The
field is large and ! will pluck but single
flower here and there TO present 10 your view.
First OF all allow me in the name Of the
citizens OF Springfield to welcome you TO our
city. To all that you may here find that
giaddens the heart OF a wheelman assure
you you are heartily welcome. That you are
thus welcome you will surely have reason to
know before the meet OF 1885 is ended In the
name of the Champion City Club bid you
welcome-a wheelman's welcome, hoping tina,
we can in a small way repay the many kind.
neases bestowed on US in other cities on simi-
lar occasions May you all have jolly good
time and carry away naught but pleasant
recollections of the people OF Springfield.
In the next place allow me to thank you at
this my first public opportunity, for the ex-
preston Of confidence shown by you 10 re-
electng me to the Office of CHIEF cousul !
rspresen almost six hundred wheelmen. Cir
cumstances beyond my control have prevent
ed me giving that continued attention to your
interests that | should like TO have given {;
and yet some things were done during this
year hat promise to be the beginning OF great
ones in the history of the league. | can only
add that for the remainder Of my official term
/ shall strive TO be more faithful to my duties
and do more than ever tor the Division.
am proud to he the Chief Consul of the
Ohio Division. She has in the past set many
a pattern tor other divisions and tor the Ma
tiCnal League, and believe she will continue
to thus mark out the way to success for them
Ohio had the hrst State organization. The
league Of Ohio Wheelmen, laughed at by
re Eastern men, in one brief year became 30
-Ong and vigorous that changes were made
% the League Constitution providing fyr the
establishment OF State divisions. This, there
tore, was an Ohio idea.
Lsst winter your Executive Board intro.
duced several radical measures. These will
be fully tested, and, believe found to work
most excellently Chief among these is the
arrangement that in conducting the State
meets all gains shall be given to
or all losses sustained by the
Division and not by the entertaining
club. We hope in this way to create per-
maneat fund for the prosecution OF the League
work. Anorher radical step was the eIclu-
sion, from the meet at least, OF all profession
alism, upon the theory that if We indeed be
an amateur orga' nt,ion, we should be 80
strictly. and draw the line at the meu who
follow wi eeling for money in any form.
Ohio issued the first hand book in America
Small and cheap and meagre as it is, Il has
proven itself practically beneficial to large
number, and was the suggestion tor other d.
visions to follow. In other words the idea
originated 10. Obio-suggested by the English
O. +. G. hand-book-and has been improved
upon by others. Should we make some
mouey on our present meet, as We hope to,
your officers will surely give you handbook