The San Francisco call., 1896-04-18
PRESIDENT KERRIGAN's REPLY
He Asks for Thorough Investigation
AMI That H S Club be Given
Fair Play.

racing and record committee OF the Cali
fornia Cycling Clubs.
l. Percy Mills, the referee, who is q mem
Der of the Garden City Cyc,ers disqualified
the Bay Citys for an alleged violation of
certain of the rules of the contest, and on
this disqualification the trophy was de-
manded. President Kerrigan's reply to
the demand goes thoroughly into the mat
ter, and closes with the declaration that
the cup will be retained by the club until
the question is given thorough investi-
CATION by the association.
The members of the committee were
mailed the following letter last evening:
SAN Francisco, April 13. 1896.
To Messrs. g. H. StrdttoR, II. F. WgnRe ana
Il. p. SlUdin, the Road Racing and Record Com
GENTLEMEN: l beg to acknowledge receipt of
your letter OF April l3 stating that the Bay
the recent relay race by the referee. l. Percy
Mills, for violation OF rule 4, which reads:
"Red flags shall be placed 100 yards each side
OF each relay, and transfer of packet must take
place between such flags" and requesting that
the cup be delivered by the Bay City Wheel
men into the custody OF the chairman of your
committee.
cannot refrain at this time from expressing
the deep regret which l feel that your COM
mittee, in considering the report of Mr.. Mills,
was unable TO give the club most interested
hearing in the matter. That this regret is
shared universally by all lovers of fair play
connected with cycling can assure you, and
II seems TO US unqueStionable that the matter
OF this protest should be considered by your
body fairly and thoroughly as the nature
OF the subject permits. 1t is serious thing.
The allowance or disallowance of this protest
will determine the standard OF sportsmanship
which the organization who control one of the
important branches of the sport in this State
have set up, and we shall all be judged by it.
l have no doubt, therefore, that your com
mlttee and the board OF governors will readily
receive any assistance which the Bay City
Nheelmen may he able TO offer them in finally
determining so important question.
And that we are in q position TO place your
body in possession OF facts not yet before it
facts that had invoIved careful investigation
upon our part and which must, without
doubt, have determining effect upon the
conclusions OF the board in this matter-it is
the purpose OF this letter to show.
The Rambler cup is in the possession of the
Bay City Wheelmen. We feel that 1t was won
by that club fairly. 1t is a matter of easy proof
that should the rules of the association be
strictly construed and insisted upon. no club
qualified for the cup this year. No club with
the exception OF the California Cyclers rode
over the relay course. A protest from them on
this ground would be equally as reasonable as
the one now under consideration; Further, no
cluo except the one last named and the Bay
City Wheelmen complied with the provisions
OF rule Z. Would any true lover of the sport
consent even 10 remain mem ber OF an organi-
cation that would make use of such ground
OF protest? The CALIFORNIA; themselves fur
nisned ground of disqualification for nom
II
follows therefore that no one of the contesting
teams could be awarded the cup this year
under strict Interpretation of the rules.
Neither the constitution and bylaws of the
California Associated Cycling Clubs nor the
rules OF the relay race contain any provision
as 10 how an infringement of them shall be
brought to the atten ton of your body.
The method usually adopted is by protest,
and there is some mention of that method in
the road-racing rules: but 1T is q serious uues-
tion whether the committee should not take
Official cogniZance of any violation of its rules
which IL considers important enough TO dis
qualify club, when that violation is appar-
ent TO its officials even without their attention
being called thereto by other persons Circum--
Stances might easily arise where such course
would be imperatiyely necessary IN justice to
the giver OF the cup. For example, the relay is
an unpaced race. ii an official of your COM
mittee should observe pacing il would un-
questionably be his duty TO disqualify club
accepting it OF his own motion. Even though
taeit agreement had been entered into be-
tween ali the clubs TO allow pacing, and not to
enter protests on that ground, il still would
manifestly be the duty of your committee to
disqualify them all of its own motion.
As have said, it can be shown that every
club except the California Cyclers violated the
regulations of the committee in such man.
ner as must have been observed by its officials.
A carving out of the rules then, on the part
of its officers would result in your committee
awarding the cup TO the club that was last to
cross the tape. think it will be admitted that
such a result is not to be desired.
The foregoing demonstrates that an ironclad
adherence TO your rules might easily result IN
decision not only unjust and inequitable,
bat ludlcrous as well.
However, at hearing before the governing
body of the association we will show that the
grounds OF the ill-advised protest made by the
Garden City Cyelers and allowed by Mr.. Mills,
one OF their own number, were not well taken.
We viii show you that, matter of fact, the
packet was exchanged by the Bay City Wheel
mems riders within the flags; and, more than
that, that at the time the question raised
when, by the way, the Bay Citys were some
three minutes behind his own club-with the
y lTf1l nf fl,ar dnA
the protest in favor of the Bay Citys, already
seemingly defeated. We will show you that
the flags were improperly placed, that the dis
tance between them some twenty-five
yards less Than it should have been under the
rules
Our motive in voicing the public demand for
an investigation OF this matter is not merely
desire to retain the honor of having won the
race. We appear before you on broader plane
than that. We have the interests of cVcling
in this State at heart and feel that our club has
done at least much for the general good of
the sport as any other similar organization
The matter before you is one of principle. On
the one hand you have cycling club striving
10 detract from the glory of the best run and
most closely contested race in the history of
your organization by interposing as an obiec-
tion to the awarding of the cup to the winning
team technical violation of a rule which
every one admits-even though it had been
violated as is claimed-could have had no
effect on the final result; while on the other
hand we come before you championing that
broader spirit of sportsmanship which con-
effectfng their object and of promoting justice.
1t is not on account of the mere fact that we
finished the race first that leads us to take this
position, for no matter what club had been
protested on such grounds they would have
had the Bay City Wheelmen with them in the
interest of the sport and for the sake OF the
principle involved.
We wanted to win the race. But we wanted
10 win it fairly and without taking an ad.
vantage of the mistake or the misfortune OF
any club. In proof of this, need only call
the attention OF your committee TO the action
of our trailer, Freeman, in giving up his wheel
10 Hardy Deming when the rider was helpless
with punctured tire, and had the defeat OF
his club staring him in the face through no
fault OF his own. The spirit that prompted
such an action that stands out in harsh
con trast with the position the Garden City
Cyclers have taken
In conclusion, gentlemen, wish to assure
you that no discourtesy to your body is in
tended by our action in retaining the cup till a
inel investigation, and we have every conf
denee that upon that occasion the body which
you represent will determine the question OF
It's continued possession justly. Very respect
fully, FRANK H. KERRIGAN,
President Bay City Wheelmen.
A MIRACULOUS FALL.