The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-12
some CHANGES PROPOSED
To BE Made in Rules Governing the
League Of American Wheelmen.
LEADERS AMONG THE RACERS
Number of Races Won and Lost by Them
and the Records Made and Now
Held-Amcrican Team Is to
Race in Mexico.


The officials of the League of Ameri-
can Wheelmen are preparing number
of amendments which will be offered at
the National association meeting on
Feb IA, which, if adopted, will necessi-
tate some radical changes in the or
ganzation, says the New York Sun.
Chief Consul Sterling Elliott, of the
Massachusetts division, proposes to
offer the following:
First-That section relating to the OBJ
jects of the organization be so changed
as to include the control and promo
ton of track racing.
Second-Article to be so altered as
to include, besides wheelmen, any other
person who Is interested in the causes
which the league represents.
This alteration will admit to the or
ganization men who are not riders. but
who are in sympathy with the League
of American Wheelmen in its road-im-
provement crusade The suggestion
will also be offered directing the Ma
tional Racing Board to adopt sched-
ule of fees to be charged, so that per-
sons who apply to the racing board for
sanctions shall pay an assessment,
which in the aggregate will be sufll-
cient to pay the expenses of running the
racing board.
1t Is estimated that the cost of run
ming the racing department of the
league next season will be about $1,000
and it is hoped that by charging a fee
for sanctions the racing board will be
self-supportng without drawing upon
the national treasury. 1t is hoped tC
levy a tax upon League of American
Wheelmen clubs who apply for sane
tions to run race meets. The League
of American Wheelmen legislators find
that with the growth of the league some
arrangements must be made from
which the organization can derive 9
bigger income. With the passage OF
these proposed amendments the League
of American Wheelmen hope to Obtair
a position where they can devote con
siderable time to road improvement
matters.
Mr.. GidcOn's Purpose.
Should George ID. Gideon, the Penn
sylvania member of the racing boar,
| of the League of American wheelmen
| become chairman of the national board
| the league will find in him man who i
| very radical in his ideas upon racing
| and, in fact, one who is destined +
| bring the organization to look will
| favor upon professional races, some
| thing which the league now dis
courages. Wheelmen have formed thi
| conclusion in regard to Gideon b,
| reason of the fact that it is announce,
that he will urge the national assembl
next month to change the title of tn
| Glass b racing men to promateurs.
| The appointment of Henry f. Duckel
| of Buffalo, as chairman of the Ney
| York State Racing board places at tn
head of the racing interests of tn
| league in this state a man who ha
had quite a career in bicycling. Ducke
in 1886 was manager of the Springfield
| tournament, and was at that time chic
consul of the Massachusetts division o
| the League of American Wheelmen. II
| 1856, when Abbott Bassett, the chair
| man of the racing board, suspended al
| the well known amateurs upon tn
| track at that time for professionalism
Ducker sided with the racing men, an,
| President Beckwith, of the League o
American Wheelmen, removed hin
| from the office of chief consul. He then
with the racing men suspended, Sc
ceded from the league and started .
rival organization, the American Cyc
| lists union. This organization, whicl
was opposed to the League of Ameri
| can Wheelmen, finally died, and Ducke
dropped into obscurity. He removed t,
Buffalo, and, while taking an interes
in cycling for the past four years, h.
has taken no active participation il
| league affairs up to the time of his re
cent appointment.
The first national exhibit of bicycles
cycle sundries and accessories will b.
| held at the Madison Square garder
from Jan. 10 to 26 inclusive. Manufac
| turers from all parts OF the countr,
have engaged spaces and will exhibi
all their models. A number of foreign
firms will also exhibit their wheels.
Leading Racing Men.
The eight leading racing men in thi
country, after examining the work o
| the wheelmen during the past season
include Johnson. Sanger, Tyler Bliss
| Bald, Titus, Cabanne and Murphy
These men competed in all the biz
tournaments, and in addition to win
ming some valuable prizes created
number of new records. A comparison
of the winnings of the eight men is a
follows:
| Name. Won. Lost. Per CT
| Sanger .............i2o 5S $50