The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-08-24
B|CYeL|SIS AS A POWER.
Possibility of Their Clubs Becom-
ing Political Centers.
Politicians Believe that, as Has Been
the Case with Similar Organiza-
lions, Clubs of Cyclists will
Become Important F &C
tors in Local Polit cs.
tors in Local Polit cs.

1t is tho opinion of sage and expert
enoed politicians that it will not DO
very long before the various wheclnen' Is
clubs, so numerous nowadays, will take
an active part i'll politics. Such propo-
sition would probably be disputed as
untruc by the great majority Of wheel
mon, who arc indifferent to political
affairs and who are generally agreed
that the keeping of politics ont Of So
cial organization is ono of the surcst
pledges of its permailence- But the con
ditions are not favorable TO the position
they take, and if these conditions do
not result in some form of political ;tc-
tivity in cycling clubs all previous in-
dicatious viii be beliod
All over there are now bicycle clubs
occupying usually rooms in what AFRO
called residential quarters, and these
rooms are the meeting places of thou
sands Of young men of voting ago aud
oompanionablo ways. Tho subjects dis
cussed are far removed from politics,
but rs is invariably tho case where
young men are associated III Il social or
ganization for tho purposes of mutual
good fellowship, ono or more of the
members become leaders in the club,
and moving spirits i'll its affairs.
The politicians OF every party arc al
ways on tho lookout for desirable cundi-
dates for local nominations, and the put
ting in the field of a whcelmm favora-
bly, thought of by his associates in Il
wheelmen 5 club would naturally mean
tho active and efficient support of II
number of his associates. Unconscious
1y, therefore, though the club might
take no pnrt ns club in the campaign,
the result would he the same as if it
had done s0 and the mcmbors of that
club would become attached to tho party
or faction TO which the candidate be-
lonped. At the next contest the oppos-
ing party would be pretty certain TO put
in nomination candidate who had at
least the support Of a rival wheclmcn's
club in the district, or of whcolmcn
there, and so the oyclors would be
brought into politics. -
This has largely been the rule with
social organizations of whatever char
actcr or description.
In recent years the first Of the
quasi political clubs We're tho 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 not one of the lat
ter was established with the view of
promoting the political advantage Of any
member But sooner or later one mem.
ber became so prominent as TO possess
influence i'll the club ranks, if not con
troll of tho political activity of its men,
'bers. Then he was nominated for an
Office; then he secured the support of
his friends i'll the club for the side with
which no was allied, and finally the
club became known rs having 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 tho result may be forcshad.
owed, Last year the cyclists cut quite
q figure in the fight for congress between
George b. Mcclellan and K. A. Cheese
Trough. New York Sun.