The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-01-21
BASE BALL SIDE SHOW.
Magnates to Take a Hand in Run
ming Bicycle Races.
RINK POLO AND OTHER SPORTS.
An Association Organized 10 Establish
Circuit OF Race Meets In the Twelve
League Cities-Riders 90 he Licensed.
Good Prizes 10 he Given.

The poor financial showing made last
season by most of the bate ball clubs OF
the big League led the magnates TO cast
about for some side show by which to
guard against possible losses In 1893
The result is the formation OF the Ma
tional Cycling Association which is prac-
tically identical with the National Base
Ball League SO far as it's membership is
concerned. The twelve league cities will
be represented In the Cycling Associa-
tion circuit, except that Buffalo may take
the place OF one OF them. The cost OF
preparation will be comparatively light
in each city, as well-equipped Enclosures
exist in each place.
The temporary officers are: President,
Charles III. Byrne, OF Brooklyn; Treas
urer, George w. Wagner, of Washington,
ID. C.; Secretary, +. A. Eagan, Philadel-
phia; Committee on Constitution and
Bylaws, +. A. Abel, Chairman; Chris
Won der Abe, A. G. Buckenberger, l.. b.
Talcott and James Franklin.
The plan is that the twelve members OF
the association shall control absolutely
all matters concerning professional bicy-
Gle racing within their cities or districts,
subject TO the rules and regulations Of
the association.
Each member OF the association Is
bound TO equip a racing track in accord
ance with the standard qualifications Of
the association; to keep the same in
order, to accept and carry out the sched-
ule adopted by the association and to Of
fer and pay such cash prizes as may be
decreed by the association for all its
members. This association is to assume
absolute control OF all professional cy-
cling racing and racing men.
"All racers and their trainer are to be
licensed by the association or it's Govern
ing Board. This license to be granted,
withheld or withdrawn at the discretion
OF the Governing Board, and a refusal or
Withdrawal OF license will bar any racer
or trainer from competing on associa-
ton tracks or with association racers on
any tracks whatever, and will also bar
association riders from competing with
any disqualified men In any races either
within or without the jurisdiction Of the
association.
"Racing men can compete only under
the rules and officials OF the association,
and on no tracks but those OF the asso-
citation, without the express consent OF
the association. The races of he ~associa-
ton are to be regularly scheduled, Ind
the schedule must be carried out as
originally agreed upon and subscribed TO
by all members of the association. The
racing season can be made twenty-s IL
weeks, thus providing for two race
meetings per week, the cities alternating
around the circuit, each city to have at
least two race meets of two or three DAYS.
The race programmes are to be made up
of three events per day In such race
meetings, viz: Novice race, handicap
race and free-for-all race. Only cash
prizes are to be contested for, and the
total amount Of these cash prizes must
not be less than 1850 per meeting.
"The prizes are to be paid by the local
members OF the association, the latter,
however, guaranteeing the prizes. fail
ure OF individual members to pay prizes
in race meets held under their jurisdic-
ton is to be cause for expulsion from the
association.
President Byrne, speaking OF the new
scheme, at a banquet the other night:
al and my associates have looked into
the possibilities of the sport OF bicycling
for some while back, and l confess that
for a long time we had but an inadequate
idea of the extent OF the sport. We think
now that the possibilities of putting il
on the same footing as base ball was in
its palmy days look very promising, N
We ~ hOb otOp IN u thOTlS 10 promote
the sport, even il it costs $50 900 or $780,
600. / became interested fifteen years
ago in base ball, and have seen many
gatherings OF base ball men and sport
ing men in general, but none more
characteristic OF the gentleman sports
man than the one before me to-
night. Such a class of men must
necessary elevate and promote one OF the
%grandest of sports. After my long ex-
perience in the base ball world 1 feel that
] want to get into pastures new and
green, and fully recognize that bicycle
racing is still in its infancy. IL we can
not lead, we mean to be in IL , every
hour, although / say right here we don't
want to antagonize the League Of Ameri-
can Wheelmen or any other body inter-
ested in wheeling. We think there is
sufficient room for newcomers in the
field and we hope we won't tread on any
body's corns in Offering cash prizes at
our race meets"