The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-27
FOR A PROFESSIONAL CIRCUIT.
Movement on Foot I'm Tndiana-Whee1-
men Tired of l.. A. w. DictatiOn.

Movement on Foot In Kndiana-Whee1-
men Tired of l.. A. w. DictatfOn.
Regardless of the action of the L. A. w.
on the amateur question this winter there
will probably be no amateur races in this
city and possibly none in the State next
year. except for noviees. The puzzling
question of the amateur, and the farce that
the l.. A. w. made of it, has Disguised
many people who have considered the mat
ter with the entire L. A. W., and its die
tatorial manner of doing business 1t is a
self-constituted affair that assumes to con-
troll all kinds of sports in the line of BIZ
cycling and it's edicts have been forced to
such an extent that the whole aggregation
is becoming top heavy and is liable to fall
of it's own weight.
In the first place the L. A. w. has de-
creed that a man shall be either an anna
teur professional. Of course any one
understands that when a rider becomes a
professional he will be pitted against the
best riders of the country, but if he is a
professional he shall not race with an anna
teur, although he may not be as good a
rider the amateur. Then this same die
tatoriai body has decreed that an amateur
must be so purely and simply; he must not
accept favors from any one; he must not
receive money from any one to pay his ex-
in condition to ride; he must not sell prize
that he has won by hard work and at con-
siderable expense; he must not allow some
one interested in his welfare or in the wheel
he rides to furnish him a railroad ticket
when he leaves his home to ride in some
other place, and he must not go more than
one hundred miles from home, except with
in his own State without permit from this
same high body. The penalty for violating
any of these provisions is that the rider
will be declared professional, which viz
tuaily puts him off the track unless he is
one of the crackerjacks and can enter races
on the National Circuit Tor nowhere else
can ne find professional events scheduled
Last week Tom David and Alex. Craig
received notice from Ed Croninger, of Gin
cinnati, one of the minions of this great
dictatorial body, requiring them TO answer
certain questions under cath regarding
their actions. They were given until Oct
l to answer the questions, and, II they are
not satisfactorily answered by that time
After thinking over the matter, it is under
stood, they have concluded TO pay no at
tention to the matter and allow themselves
to be declared professionals. The present
season is almost over and by next season
it is hoped things will be in such shape
that this action will not injure them. The
movement to establish a professional cir
cult in this State is meeting with much
favor both among riders and track owns
erS, and the chances are that next year In
diana will care no more for the l. A: w
and it's dictatorS than it Will for the Shah
of Persia This movement is to establish
d circuit in this State on which races will
be given to have at least two meet
ingS on the circuit every week, and prob
ably three. Then during the fair season
there will be three or four day meetings
at such of the fairs as have provided tracks.
All this will end with a large meeting in
this city lasting several days. besides
there being a single day meeting here every
week. 1t is believed that this arrangement
will offer sufficient inducement to get the
best riders of the State to cut away from
the farce of amateursm and join the pros
feSsional ranks.
In the case of David and Craig it is not
denied, although not openly admitted, that
they received money to pay their expenses
while away from home, and to pay their
trainer while at home, but it is emphatical-
ly denied that they received any compen>
they won.