The morning call., 1893-03-11
WAR ON WHEELS.
BiCyCIers Have Trouble on
Hand.
CONTROL OF THE LEAGUE.
The Bay Citys Want the Annual
Meet and They VIII Fight for
1t Tonight.
CONTROL OF THE LEAGUE.

2 There is war in the ranks Of the organized
bicyclers with which everything does not
run smoothly when they are off their
wheels.
There is fractional, or rather a club,
tight going on in the California division Of
the League of American Wheeimen to which
majority of the members of clubs here
about belong. This fight will be finally
fought at the annual meeting of the division
tonight at Odd Fellows Hall.
One interesting feature of the situation
is that the Bay City Wheemen are charged
With stuffing the rolls, SO as to win by
votes. The Bay Citys will need votes, as
they are one against several clubs, and votes
are what will count.
At this meeting officers and committees
are to be elected for the ensuing year, and
each rider wants 10 control the situation
The annual meet, at which event only
certain records are to be made, Is the i'm
portant point in the situation, according to
report.
Heretofore the club providing the grounds
ana track Tor the meet was allowed financial
control and the profits. The present
management want the meetings to be given
10 the club that give TO the league treasury
me largest percentage or bonus. The
Garden City Cyclers OF San jose want the
meeting, several clubs about the bay want
them TO have IT, and all these favor the plan
mentioned.
The Bay CITY Wheelmen Of San Fran
cisco want the meeting under the old plan,
and to get II they must control the election
tonight.
Opposed to the Bay City Wheelmen are
the San Francisco Club, the California
Cycling Club, the Garden City Wheelmen,
and the Alameda Bicycle and Athletic Club.
How some other clubs stands is not known.
Several fellows who are speedy on pneu-
matte wheels charged yesterday that the
Bay Citys had recently added 2S3 names TO
the roll in one day. and that among them
were old women, blacksmiths, walters and
children, who were not eligible. Old ladies
and walters are rs eligible as anybody else
II they can ride bicycle two blocks with
out somebody holding them on, but il is
Charged that some Of these people do not
know safety, from bucking bronchO.
The trouble" said prominent bieycler
yesterday, began with the birth OF the
Alameda Bicycle and Athletic Club about a
year ago. Up TO that time the California
division OF the league had practically been
in control Of the Bay City Wheeimen. The
Alameda boys didn't join the league
at once, but did so later They
just sawed wood. After leasing seven acres
of the finest property in Encinal City, they
built racing track, unexcelled this side of
the Rockies. Then they gave few racing
meets, which not only attracted thousands
OF spectators, but developed a new genera
ton OF scoTcheIs,' who quickly reduced all
previous PACING Coast records.
The membership Of the Alameda Club
ran up into the hundreds and the older
clubs were quick 10 appreciate the reason
Of its success. It's members received an
equivalent for their expenditures
The Oak Leaf Club of Stockton was the
first 10 awaken. II built a fiBs new track
on which last years league meet was held.
Then the Garden City CycIers Of San Jose
constructed another good track, and found
II drawing card.
In the meantime several of the Bay City
Wheelmen went out TO the Bay District
trottiug track, surveyed course and drove
few pegs in The sand. Some of the pegs
are still there.
Next came the annual election Of officers
OF the California division of the league.
The Bay Citys. as usual nominated ticket.
Another list Of candidates was pat in the
held by delegates from other clubs. Then
the league began to boum. Both factions
wanted votes and the only way TO secure
them was to bring in new members. A
lew lines IN the League Bulletin of Boston
were no longer sufficient to contain the
applications for membership sent in from
California. a column OF names a week fire.
quenily appeared. soon the strength of the
organization had almost doubled. One fac
ton said, This remarkakable growth OF our
order IS an Endorsement Of the administra-
ton we desire to maintain The other
fellows replied, Wait and see.'
'Ou the day before the election the Bulletin
arrived with the names OF about sixty new
members of the Alameda CLUB. There
were cries Of fraud, but NO protest was
made, and when the vote was counted it
was discovered that the Bay Citys' ticket
had been showed under by the Alameda
and thsir allies.
But the Bay City Wheelmen are made of
good stuff and have bided their time. Now
they think il has come. They want to
build track in This city, and in order to
obtain funds would like to have the man.
aEement OF the league meet to be held on
July 4.
San Jose has good track and the Garden
City Cyclers are anxious to have the races
held there. The Alamedas are not in the
fight this time, for their races will be held
on May go, and they don't want the earth.
Still they lean toward the Garden City.
"PrOfting by the work of their rivals the
Bay City Nheelmen have sprung a surprise,
and that is what will preeipitate a conflict
tonight They have just induced no less
than SS6 persons TO JOIN the league in one
day. II these people are admitted to vote
the Boy Cltys can Do about as they
please. But it is understood that
a vigorous protest will be entered on The
ground that the list contains the names of
many persons not eligible to membership.
Untl this question is settled il will be i'm
possible to say where the annual meet will
be held, or what faction of the league is in
control of the California division"