The San Francisco call., 1896-02-12
But Then Toledo Is Shut Out
in the Interests of
Louisville.
INTERESTING REPORTS MADE.
Chairman Gideon of the Racing Board
Makes Some Important Rec
concentrations.

BALTIMORE, Nd, Feb. II. - The
League of American Wheelmen to-day
elected officers and decided to hold the
next National meet at Louisville. The
ticket CHOSEN is as follows: President,
Sterling Elliott, Massachusetts,; first vice.
president. NJ. F. Cossum, New York; Sec
ond vice president, A. c.. Morrison, Wis
consin; treasurer, S. S. Hartwell, Colo
Iado.
There was but one ticket for auditing
committee and J. Fred Adams of New
York, ]. ]. Van Mort of Pennsylvania and
c. A. McArty of Colorado were chosen.
The second days morning session of the
convention was called to order by Presi-
dent Willison at IL o'clock The report of
the credentials committee showed that ITO
members and 81 proxies were present.
President Willison's annual report re-
viewed the work of the league and
strongly recommended that the executive
committee be authorized to take steps for
the incorporation of the league. George
A. Perkins, secretary of the executive COM
mittee, Treasurer Mergenthaler and Secre-
tarv Bassett also delivered their annual
reports. The balance in the league treas
ury is $4235. In closing his annual report
Treasurer Mergenthaler stated that he
must decline to be candidate for re-
election.
Secretary Bassett's report showed an in
crease in membership during the year of
1888, OF which New York made the great
est gain, almost half of the total increase
being accredited to that State. The total
membership list embraces 1470 lady men,
bersr gain of 7S0 since the preceding
report.
Isaac B. Potter of New York reported
for the highway improvement COM
mittee.
W. NJ. Brewster chairman of the COM
mittee on transportation, reported the
q progress which had been made during the
year in the line of compelling railroad
companies to carry free the bicycles of
wheelmen, when accom- panied by their
riders.
Chairman Gideon's report says among
other things:
"0Ver 900 suspensions have been made
during the year, one-half of them being
permanent. 1t is suggested that further
rules be made for the government of pro-
fessionals by fines for minor offenses, to be
inflicted, perhaps, by the official referee,
rather than suspensions"
In speaking of class B men being called
amateurs Mr.. Gideon said: ''The need in
the first place for what must be admitted
TO be a misnomer lay in the fact that
when the class was first formed profession
allsm was not consldered strictly honor
able. Experience of the past year has
shaken this opinion and there is no longer
q good reason for miscalling these men.
Call them class B riders if you will, or
trade PROFESSIONALS or league profes-
sionals' or anything. not amateurs"
In discussing the question as to the ulti-
mate disposition of class B. the report
says the problem is difficult from the fact
that any change is an experiment. No
one really knows what is best. A conser-
vatiye step is recommended. LET us
have" M. Gideon said, ga class OF B riders
since there is a demand for them, but let
US also refuse to call them amateurs
"They should be eligible to league mem
bership and should be required to join the
league. 1t is recommended that our
system of records be changed SO that many
less records be allowed. 1t would seem
that the quarter, one-third, one-half and
one mile flying start, paced and the same
distances unpaced, in each class should be
euluCleits OulSlQe Ol Iuc regular COIupeLl-
ton records.
''It is proposed that in another year it
would be better to have a series of circuits,
starting one in the West, one in the South
and another in the East, all converging to
central point, which should be the ma
tional meet of the league; fiom there a
combined circuit should be continued to
say October 1, after which time the per-
centage of failures is too heavy to warrant
continuance.
''The proposed abandonment of the con-
troll OF racing just at this time when it is
most thoroughly within the control of the
league your board considers extremely
Ill advised and unnecessary. The argu-
ment that it keeps members out of
the league is best answered by the fact
that it has been necessary to keep on the
desk of the chairman batch of blank ap-
plications for membership which are con-
tinualiy called for, sometimes even from
Brooklyn. 1t is believed. therefore, that
cycle racing of the league, for the league,
should not PERISH" with apologies to
A. Lincoln.)
The report was we'll received and
adopted.
The convention at 1 80 o'clock took a
recess for an hour. After considerable
time had been consumed in wranglipg
over the admission of the report of the
special committee appointed TO confer with
the Board of Trade in relation to certain
printing to be inserted in the catalogues Of
various manufacturing concerns the elec-
ton of officers was proceeded with.
The different men were nominated in
brief speeches and the ticket was chosen in
short order. The ballot for president re-
suited 104 for Elliott and 70 for Willison.
The Louisville and Toledo forces then
put on their armor and prepared for ths
final struggle for the honor of entertaining
the wheelmen during the National meet in
the summer of 1896.
The representatives of each were giver
twenty-five minutes in which to sing tn,
praises of their cities. Messrs. Watt anc
Bowden dilated upon the attractions oi
Louisville, while w. d. Judson of Osweg O
n. Y, and J. NJ. Brown of Toledo spoke
for the Ohio city.
The appearance of New York man in