The morning times., 1896-06-21

The Times, and which the District division
OF the League Of American Wheelmen has
taken in charge has called attention to IL,
organization itself In this the initial page
devoted to local bicycle interests which The
Times will publish hereafter each Sunday y
morning 1t is only proper that the objects
and aims OF the league should be explained.
The District division CT the league was al
one time one of TIE largest divisions in the
league. Washington is the Paradise Cf
wheelmen, and this is only what could be
expected in this great city. In the height
OF its pt pularity the membe rship Of the Dis
trict division was about 500. kembersli:,
in this body i'll no wa interfered with mem
bership in the various cluts in the District.
and IL is ret intended To. Then it was Il
proud beast OF tie wheemen of Washing.
ton that they were ''leaguers." The da y Is
not far distant wien tie same beast will
he still more popular. =
BUILDING UP.
During the past two or three years.
though. the que has net been as success
ful In the District as it might have been.
From enc cause or aIoiher interest sia OK
cneti and membership dwindled. Wheelmen
watched this retrogression with painful
interest, but no ,ne seemed ready to step
In and try to save the organization. Las.
year at the meeting OF the National 4 $50
citation the District division had dwindled
in membership 20 such Il smali figure that
the secretary at Rcstcn had 70 conduct the
election fer District officers.
The choice or the secretary for the office
OF chief consul and secretary was Mfr. Is F.
Larcouibe. but this gentleman was unable
to accept the Offices. The matter later had
to be taken iD hand by President Wilson
of the League, n native OF Maryland. At
the solicitation OF Secretary Bassett Presi-
dent Wilson requested Mr. W F. Robertson
to accept the chief cOnsuiship for the pur-
pose OF building up the membership in the
District. A fter due con sidera ton Mr..
Robertson agreed TO take charge At tfat
time there were only seventy-twO members
in the city. Now the membership has dou-
bied and is increasing weekly. Ten ,appli-
cations were acted on this week and many
more are in prospect. Mr.. Robertson, in
his work, has been aided by as enthusiastic
a set OF assistants as any one Gould desire.
A road book is now under way. and while
1t may be some time before Ii is completed.
it will be one that will be worth the member
ship fee niany times over. II Will repre-
sent the work OF tie best local talent. and
will be something that any one can be proud
OF.
I<o1Al IL oT ttLNA, Wv NfCAAAA.
The Officers and committeeman WHO have
so successfully seconded Mr.. Robertson In
his ensieayors TO build up the League In
the District are:
Vice consul, W. X. Larrimore: secretary
and treasurer, Charles f. Wood; handi-
capper. William Jose: official referee,
Z. Z. Simpson. Local consuls-Anacosiia,
T. J Putnam: Georgetown, F. j. Wisner;
north west, \. W. Leeke: northeast, j. A.
eggs: southwest, C. d. Church: southeast,
c. A Mansfield, and east. A. Girouard.
Committee on Rgdts and Privileges
f. G. Fisher, chairman, c. L. Petze and
C. n. Moore.
Committee on Road Eook-J. A. Dogs,
chairman: L. e. Fisher and F. ] wisner.
Committee on Racir g-Charles II. Fisher,
chairman: E. E. simpson, w. j. Prince,
II. NJ. Prut.en and William Jose.
Committee on Rscruitir g-F. u. Wheaton,
chairman: Miss 4. Z. Smith, j. F. Murrell,
A. N Leeke and G. w. spier.
The chief work in which the District
division at present is interested is the new
police regulation splssed By the Commits
sio,ic,s At q meeting oFsthe division held
last Monday night this matter was taken
up and discussed atsikngsh. Msny of
these provisions are obnosioIs to the wheel
men ana they viii try to have them
changed. The wheeimen are not opposed
to regulations bat they think they should
have a fair show with all vehicles which
use the streets. This is all they ask
fair play.
The committee on rights and privileges
was instructed to correspond with the
wheeImeu Of New York in regard to the
regulations in force there. Upon the re-
ceipt of a copy of these regulations action
will be taken and the wheelmen will go
Cnr,miS1iODprq IN aak
that certain rules be changed. They hope
that they will be able to accomplish q
GREAT deal. This, with the great parade. Is
the chief work of the District division :
Just at present.
OBJECTS OF THE LEAGUE.
The League of American wheeImen itself
san organization to promotethe generaiin-
terests of cycling: to ascertain. defend
and protect the rights of wheelmen; to
facilitate touring, to regulate the govern
mcnt of all amateur sports connected with
the use of the wheel, and to secure inn
provement in the condition Of the public
roads and highways, by promoting in the
public mind a sense of the utility, general
and desirabilty OF high-class roads,
and an active sentiment in their favor.
The L. A. Was a national organization,
includes all State divisions. which bear
relations to the national government. very
similar to those between State and nation
in the political world. The States not yet
of fsufficieDtmembership ttwenty-
five) to organize separate division. are
governed directly from headquarters. It
is a matter of experience that ideal ef-
nciency is only reached when a rider be.
longs to a club, the club to weIl-or-
ganized State division, and the State
division to a national body tiiat is well
equipped for the transaction of business
and the spreading of information.
Every member receives a membership
ticket. which is a sufficient introduction
to any local officer (consuii of the L. A.
W.. and voucher for the right to reduced |
rates in the many hotels with which the |
League has a contract.
AID ABROAD.
A member of the League. now resident |
In Mexico. writes as follows: 'Tle member. |
ship ticket of the L. A. W. proved Of great |
value TO me last year. Banks and business
nen all through the North and West honored |
II as guarantee to my signature; and as an |
to all wheelmen, from whom |
received many favors."
Every member acquires the right to iegri.
protection by his State division; or. es. /
,ecially If involving a national issue. by
he main organization. This right is by |
no means an empty one, for the history OF
he League attests the activity OF interests
verse to our recreation. and the danger OF
curing without this offered backing.
Every 1smber IL given evcu fscilttx !