The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-10-30
%BICYCIISTS A POWER
POSSIBILITY OF THEIR CLUBS BEcOM-
ING POLITICAL CENTERS.
Politicians Believe That, As Has Been the
Case with other Similar Organizations,
Clubs of Cyclists VIII Become Impor-
tant Factors In Local Politics.

Case with Other Similar Organizations,
Clubs of Cyclists VIII become Impor-
tant Factors In Local Politics.
1t is the opinion of sage and expert
enced politicians that it will not be
very long before the various w~heelmen's
clubs, SO numerous nowadays, will take
an active part in politics. Such a propo-
sition would probably DO disputed as
untrue by the great majority Of wheel
men, who are Indifferent to political
affairs and who are generally agreed
that the keeping of politics out of a So
cial organization is one of the surest
pledges of its permanence. But the con
ditions are not favorable to the position
they take, and if these conditions do
not result in some form Of political ac-
tivity in cycling clubs all previous in
dications will be belied.
All over there are now bicycle clubs
occupying usually rooms in what are
called Presidential quarters and these
rooms are the meeting places Of thou
sands of young men of voting age and
co~mpanionable ways. The subjects dis
cussed are far removed from politics,
but, as is invariably the case where
young men are associated in a social Or
g%anization for the purposes of mutual
good fellowship, II or more of the
members become leaders in the club,
and moving spirits in it's affairs.
The politicians Of every party are al
ways Oh the lookout for desirable candi-
dates for local nominations, and the put
ting in the field of a wheelman favora
bly, thought Of by his associates in a
wheelmen's club would naturally mean
the active and efficient support Of a
number of his associates. Unconscious
ly, therefore, though the club might
take no part as a club in the campaign,
the result would be the same as if it
had done so, and the members of that
club would become attached to the party
or faction to which the candidate be-
lonoed. At the next contest the oppos-
ing parry would be pretty certain to put
in nomination a candidate who had at
least the support Of a rival wheelmen's
club i'll the district, or of wheelmen
there, and SO the cyclers would be
brought into politics."
This has largely been the rule with
social organizations Of whatever char
acter or description.
In recent years the first of the
quasi political clubs were the volun-
teer fire companies. Then came the
military company clubs, the Grand Ar
my posts, the veterans associations and
finally the literary and debating clubs.
1t is safe to say that no n of the lat
ter was established with the view Of
promoting the political advantage of any
member. But sooner or later one mem
Der became SO prominent as to possess
influence in the club ranks, if not con-
troll of the political activity of its mem
bers. Then he was nominated for an
Office; then he secured the support of
his friends in the club for the side with
which he was allied, and finally the
club became known as having a certain
political leaning.
1t is much hoped by many cyclists
that the clubs may keep out of politics,
for pernicious political activity is not
conducive to the success of such organi-
cations, but the snug clubrooms and
the increasing membership of the or
CARNATIONS are tempting to the politi-
clans, and the result may be foreshad-
owed. Last year the cyclists cut quite
a figure in the fight for congress between
George B. Mcclellan and r. A. Cheese
brough.-New York Sun.