The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-13
AN INDUSTRY UNSETTLED
Bicycle Dealers in This City Fear the
Results of the Recent Election.
Think the Market May Become Flooded with
the European Product. and Wages Will 90
Down-The Zig-Zsg Club-Lccal Notes.

The election, its result and telling how
it was done, took precedence even In the
world of bicyclers last week. When the
smoke of it had cleared away and the con-
ditIon. not the theory of things confronted
the dealers in this modern vehicle, there
was wide and varied speculation, and will
be for some time to come. Harry Hearsey.
who has been In the retail bicycle
business in this city for a number Of years,
and has also manufacturing interests, had
the following to say Of what the effect
might be on the trade: SHOULD the tariff
on our machines, which at present is IS per
cent, be taken off or materially reduced. it
will result most disastrously to the Amerl-
can product. l happen to know from per-
sonal we'll as public sources that the
manufacturers of wheels in England have
their home market glutted. and to such an
extent that many of them have been CON-
PEELED to either shut down or remove to
this country as tins is the field to which
they look when others fail. They
have an immense amount OF made-up
stock on hand. The instant that prohib-
itory tax is taken of that stock will be
sent in here until 1t floods the coun-
try, and will be offered for sale
cheaper than the American can make
them. At first thought it looks like ben
ett from the fact of this cheapness, but
the second shows where it leads to. Just
| one of two things. Either to
| shutting down of tho American plants
or . looping off of American wages.
| You may have your choice. l was In Chi
cago q few days ago. and there saw the
reliable estimate made that about three
hundred thousand machines would be man.
ufactured in the West alone the coming
| year and the greater part of that number
In Indiana. All of this enormous output
| is for home consum ption. No export bust
ness is sought after, or could be cared for.
What do you imagine would be the result
right here in Indiana should these cheap
foreign machines pour in heref can tell
you. 1t means that our factories would
have to close down. and there are some
thing like thousand men employed In
them right here in Indianapolis. Our bus
mess will be decidedly unsettled until We
find ont which Is to be what"
On top of this comes the news from Rich.
mond. Ind, that Coventry Machine Com
pany. of Coventry. England. makers of the
"Swift" and Club" bicycles which had
arrangements all made to erect a large
plant In that place. has declared all con-
tracts off since the result OF the election
has become known. and is kicking up his
heels along with the rect of the bloody"
Britishers. -
The formal opening and dedication of the
Zig-zag Clubs new house occurred on
Thursday night. The invitations read for q
smoker" The roomy building on North
Pennsylvania street was illuminated from
top to bottom, and each visitor. as be
entered the door, was told to pitch rishtin
and have good time. Cider to drink, ap-
pies to eat. pipes and cigars to smoke were
the order OF the evening, interspersed
here and there with some im-
promptu comedietta on the part of
billy" Fray and bob" Hicks, or a song
from those who had enough voice left TO
make music. Upstairs the bIlliard-tables
found plenty of patrons, and not few OF
the wheelmen went down into the cellar,
where it las dark. and told ghost stores.
Every body pronounced the affair success
complimented the club on securing so
pleasant quarters, and went home feeling
that IL had not been an evening misspshL
All but "Dick" Hearsey. He got il into his
smoker, where every body wears their
old clothes. rubs SCOT on their faces, and
looks as tough the man from way up the
creek. So no slipped into pair of grensy
overalia filled his hair full of leaves washed
his hands on the asphalt, and announced
himself at the door. When he walked In.
and got sight of the Beau Brummels seated
and standing around - took more than
words to express his feelings
The close of the election for the State L.
A. ". officers Is near at hand, Nov. Is be-
received. There is but one regular ticket
in the field. which 10 as follows: Chief con-
sui. Thomas Hay, Indianapolis; vice-con-
su I. +. Rough. South Bend; secretary
| and treasurer, 4. V. Minor. Indianapolis.
| Represent atives: w. c. Paine, Evansville;
| l.. j. Keck, Indianapolis; John l.. Hanna.
Fort Wayne, and w. Fl. Pontious. Craw-
| louisville. The voting IS done by mail,
| and ballots are sent to E. V. Minor of this
| city, the present secretary. In these day 3
| of doubtful preferment. Tom Hay 70
| marked: I'm the only candidate. and l
| ought to be elected, but Pm not very sure
| of IT," -
| The L. A. w. in Indiana finds itself at the
end of the season of 1892 in better condition
than'e before in its history. Ii now
has q membership of over i've hundred.
about two hundred of which were gained
| this season. The latest accession to it is
| the Fort Wayne Cycling Club, which has
| Just entered as club. bringing about
twenty-five wheelmen with It. 1t Is one of
| the prosperous cycling organizations of
| the State, having a commodious and we'll
| fitted home in the summit City and an az
| gresslve membership The l.. A. w. treas
ury has a nice little lump laid away in Q
far corner in it. and with prosperity to
| come like that of tho past will soon take
| rank with some of the older States.
| There is very little riding being done
these days 1t looked rather ridiculous to
see a man pedaling MP the street in the
snow-storm of Wednesday night, as q few
! did aud it looks stil worse to see them
| since then going over the asphalt tineing a
| stream of mud in their wake that causes
pedestrians TO think eonl- damagn
| thoughts. -
Now if the Republican party had only
ridden O pneumatic tired machine, with
perfected ball bearings and en- eiliptical
sprocKet. why it might have been differ
| emit" says the man who can't get Oh q
chair without the assistance of his ma
| chine. -
Harry Hearsey and Ed Eads. of the Zig
zag Club. start to-day for hunting trip
in Rush county. Pity the poor beasts and
| birds. -.
Ed Eads bet his mustache on the cleo
ton. But wait n moment. Ii was the
other fellow who had to cut his Of.
The Thanksgiving-dayt turkey race bids
fair to have to be run in the mud, but that
4 10. lot