Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-10-14
RICYCLISTS A POWER
DISABILITY OF THEIR CLUBS BEcoM-
 ING POLITICAL cENTERS.
o,,t,e,ans Believe That, as Has Been the rasa With Other Similar Organizations, c,ubs of Cyclists VIII Become Impor- ..nt Factors In Local Politics.

rfubs of Cycllsts VkA Deeoiue lAupoF- ..n+ Factors In Local Politics.
 IT ;s the opinion of sage and experi- Snced politicians that it will not be kerv long before the various wheelmen's s *,nbs so numerous nowadays, will take ], active part in politics. Such a propo- s;fion would probably be disputed as $ntrue by the great majority of wheel
 on who are indifferent to political $Fairs and who are generally agreed Fbat the keeping of politics out of so- 4; ;o1 oreauization is one of the surest aledges of it's permanence. But the con $;tions are not favorable to the position &bov take, and if these conditions do 8ot result in some form of political ac- &;vitv in cycling clubs all previous in- *|icatious will be belied.
 I All over there are now bicycle clubs cenpying usually rooms in what are <alled residential quarters, and these Looms are the meeting places of thou lands of young men of voting age and $ompanionable ways. The subjects dis &ussed are far removed from politics. hi as is invariably the case where Eoung men are associated in social or Sanitation for the purposes of mutual bod fellowship, one or more of the nenbers become leaders in the club, |nd stmoving spirits" in it's affairs. d The politicians of every party are al- ravs on the lookout for desirable candi- Hates for local nominations, and the put |sina in the field of a wheelman favora- |bly thought of by his associates ill Attachments club would naturally mean Ebe active and efficient support of bnmber of his associates. Unconscious
 therefore, though the club might
 Ike no part as club i'll the campaign,
 he result would be the same as if it Iad done so, and the members of that IZlub would become attached to the party fr faction to which the candidate be- 1pnoed. At the next contest the oppos- 3Ing party would be pretty certain to put zjn nomination. candidate who had at |5bast the support of rival wheelmen's &lub in the district, or of wheelmen {here, and so the cyclers would be
 brought into politics. ,
 N This has largely been the rule with |5pcial organizations of whatever char 5Scter or description.
 # In recent years the first of the 86uasi political clubs were the velun- leer fire companies. Then came the nilitary company clubs, the Grand Ar iny posts, the veterans associations and Finally the literary and debating clubs. It is safe to say that not one of the lat Her was established with the view of
 romoting 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- hol of the political activity of its mem hers. Then he was nominated for an pffice; then he secured the support of his friends in the club for the side with (which he was allied, and finally the
 Hub became known as having a certain
 political leaning.
 It is much hoped by many cyclists
 hat the clubs may keep out of politics,
 or pernicious political activity is not
 Conducive to the success of such organi-
 Nations, but the snug clubrooms and
 De increasing membership of the or
 ssnizations are tempting to the politi-
 fans, and the result may be foreshad-
 lwed Last year the cyclists cut quite
 figure in the fight for congress between.
 Feorge B, Mcclellan and R. A. Chese-
 prough. New York Sun.
 Turf Profts oS n t,rinca