The Portland daily press., 1893-11-22
INTERESTING TO wHEELMEN.
The Dissension Between the League and
the Bicycling World.

There is dissension between the League
of American Wheelmen and the manag e.
ment of the official organ, the Bicycling
World, published in Boston. For some
time the trouble has been brewing be-
cause of alleged violations of the terms
of The contract between the two. Just
what were the provisions of that famous
agreement was not divulged until the
latter part of September at the meeting
of the general assembly of the league in
Buffalo when it was voted that the con-
tract be printed in the official department
Of the Bicycling World or the LA. W.
Bulletin as that portion of the paper has
been styled.
Sheared of legal phrase, by the terms
of this contract it seems to be agreed
that weekly paper shall be mailed free
to very member of the league, a certain
portion of which is to be given to official
announcements OF the league League
and division officials may use lists of
members for the purpose of mailing
circulars, but for no .other purpose is
anyone, except the publishers of the
World, entitled to a list At the expira-
to pay the league $500, at the end of the
second and third years $500 each year and
SO on, the agreement being for six years,
and dated in April, 1891.
On the part of the league it is agreed
not to engage in the publication OF any
periodical Good Roads" being excepted, }
to appoint no official organs,n and to
give all official news to the Bicycling
World first. This agreement is made
binding upon the state divisions as well
as the National league.
The current issue of the Bicycling World
contains an announcement from the presi-
dent of the league that because of the
esta bllshment in some cases, of
division organs, in fact or in name, it
may become necessary to change the con-
tract, and one result may be that until
the meeting of the National Assembly in
February, the Bicycling World will only
pc sent once a month to memb erS.
In an editorial which follows endeavor
Is made to throw all the responsibility
Tor possible discontinuance upon certain
divisions not named, though rumor has
it that the publishers of the World are
very glad that the opportunity has arisen
Tor them to be relieved of that contract.
There are now over $4,000 members of
the league, and it is said that the capa-
bilities of the plant owned by the pub
fishers have been severely taxed to put
forth such large issue every week Not
long ago there was great complaint be-
cause OF delay in receiving the paper. but
that has been bettered lately.
For some time there has been dissatis-
faction with the official paper, and this
is what hasabrought about the trouble.
In Pennsylvania the bitterness has been
particularly strong, where an official or
gan has been openly proclaimed; and
there are other divisions where the fesl-
ing is scarcely less pronounced.
The Bicycling World has an independ-
emit circulation of over 1000, larger than
any other wheeling paper it is claimed,
and thus it is pretended they would not
care particle if the contract with the
IA. w. was made null and void; and
the members are beginning to think that
some other journal can be found which
will better meet their requirements.
The outlook is now rosy for cancella-
ton of the contract at the February
meeting of..thes National Assembly. 1t is
claimed that this will please the
Bicycling World; it certainly will large
number of the mem bers. The agreement
is far too" ironclad." More satisfactory
arrangements can, without much doubt,
be made, though probably not with the
same paper.