The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-13
CLA,, D AnoIIsmED.
All Bicycle Riders Are Now Either
Amateurs or Profcssionnls.

Baltimore, fep. fZ.--Ntea PRESIDENT Per
klns was in the chair AT the League OF
American WKeelmen meeting today. A
great deal Of time was again devoted TO
discussion OF the lawsuit of l. b. Potter
against the league. growing out Of alleged
breach of contract for publication OF the
/. A. w. Bulletin by Potter. The sum
involved is only about $1,000. and the case
has already consumed much OF the time
OF the present convention. The matter
was referred to the committee on arbitra-
ton. A motion was adopted authorizing
the president 10 appoint a committee to
draft a resolution to be presented to the
various legislatures. declaring bicycles TO
be personal baggage
Amendments 10 the constitution were
then taken up. The first amendment con-
sidere9 was that proposed by Potter. of
New York. 10 strike out of article ], sec
tion 2. the words and 10 promote and
regulate cycle racing on tracks" Potter,
in discussing the question, created an up
roar by making the assertion that there
were not enough honest. clean. mature bi-
cycle racers in this country 10 make a re-
spectacle meet. Sterling Elliott, the new
president-elect. opposed the amendment.
j. B. Roosevelt OF New York. advocated
H. as did also j. Il. Townsend, of the same
state. The amendment was rejected by a
vote OF rs TO "a This means that the
league will retain control OF cycle racing.
An amendment providing that divisions.
subdivisions and consuiates shall be dis
continued whenever the membership falls
below twenty-five. and all moneys belong
ing TO them pass TO the league. was adopt
ed as was also another providing that all
memberships shall expire one year from
the publication OF application IN the o.
acial 0rwan. Anaa1saenfs Frovsfing that
memberships may be renewed, and taat
the penalty for iapses IN dues shall IN no
4
adopted
In future the league will recognize TO
grades Of amateurs. and any rider Who
does not live strictly up % the rules gov
erring non-prOfessioual sport VII b. piA I'd
in the ranks Of the professionals. The re-
suit was reached by the repeal Of All TIE
clausss "a tire league constitution creating
elasscs A and II. and defining the status
~ tha men who formerly belonged % them.
The convention took this radical step DUR
Ing IL afternoon session. while consi1er-
lnK a large number ~ amendments 10 the
constitution proposed hy the racing hoard
and des.gncd 20 further regulate and define
the positions Of class men. There were
"a dozen or more of these amendments.
and several % them nad been adopted when
Mr. Mott OF this city. offered an ameni-
ment ahollsh.ng class h entirely. IL vas
carried almost without a dissenting voice,
lf indeed. there vas any, and the chair
man announced that IL was unanimous. A
resolution was then adopted 10 the OF II
that an members OF the league who are at
this time in class h shall In the future he
treated as amateurs. similar in every re-
sract to class A men. and that ali others
shall be deemed professionals. The penal
~ for any act OF professionalism VII, there
fore, in the future, be practical expulsion
from the league Ine result gave the Ut
most satisfaction.
~ har
were the offer and acceptance Of PROPOSE
ton from Consul Potter. OF New York, TO
submit TO arbitration his lawsuit against
the l. a w, growing out OF the pGohea-
ton OF the Bulletin. and which has long
been pending In the New York courts, and
the refusal Of the league to abandon con-
troll of racing. More than half Of the pro-
posed amendments 10 the constitution were
dIsreosed Of when the convention adjourn
90 tonight to attend a theater party at
Fora's opera house, and there IS no douot
Il viii conclude its deliberations tomorrow.
MANY Of the delegates have already left
for home. and II is not likely that tomor-
rows attendance VIII BE- large
The most important of the amendments
offered were as follows; Providing THAI
an amateur shall not compete In any race
outside of his own state, at greater dis
tanca than 100 miles by the usual line or
route from his legal residence, except az
national or college championship meet
iucs. or except by special permission of
ne members OF the racing board IN charge
OF his district: making the chairman OF
the auditing committee a member OF the
national assembly: fixing the date FOR the
annual meetings of the league on the Sec
ona wednesday IN February. instead OF me
second Monday: providing that the place
os the annual meeting shall be determined
by the national assembly unless oeiegatea
n fhs executive committee; providing that
rhs division secretary treasurer shall hold
Office until removed by the board OF Off
GERS. adding TO the list of national com-
,ntttatss that on local OrganlzatioE-