New-York tribune., 1896-11-15
IN THE CYCLING WORLD.
POLITICIANS OF THE L. A. w. KEPT
BUSY THESE DAYS.
THE CANDIDATES FOR THE PREsIDENCY-THE
POTTER MOVEMENT GAINING sTkEN"ih
OTHER NEWS AND COMMENTS.

THE CANDIDATES FOR THE PREsIDENCY-ThE
POTTER MOVEMENT GAINING STRENGTH
OTHER NEWS AND COMMENTS.
The politicians of the League OF American
Wheelmen are busy these days. and from pres
ent indications they will be anything pu'
idle from now until the National Assembly,
which is scheduled to be held in Albany In Feb
ruarv At the present writing Sterling Eillott'
of Massachusetts, seems to have the better or
the argument In the presidential race but tniS
apparent advantage may disappear before the
annual meeting takes place. Nothing has been
hoard from the bailiwick Of a. c. Wilson the
ex-presdent of late and the friends or the
MARYLAND man are not of the sort to Keep quiet
much longer. The Potter movement Is gaming
strength each day. Mr.. Potter himselr Keeps
as quiet as the proverbial church mouse anu
he will not talk about the matter, even 10 Ills
intimate friends Still. II the Potter enthusiasm
continues to spread. the Chief Consul OF New
York may be nominated by reclamation. ana
he may be elected before the friends OF 'hc
other candidates realize where they are at
a ticket with l. b. Potter for president ana
A. c. Morrison. Of Wisconsin. for vice-president
would undoubtedly carry the day at Albany.
The sentiment favoring Potter IS JUST DIS
strong in the South andWest as II IS aia, II, anas
State. Mr. Potter will become benedict
from Brooklyn TO this city. ,
There is a growing sentiment that the chair
man Of the Racing Board ought TO c receive g "a
regular salary The duties of the oiice are
enormous and now that the l.. a. w. is IN a
position to pay for such labor. 1t does not look
dignifed for an organization OF this sort 10 ASK
any man to devote much OF his time solely
for love Of the League. George ID. Gideon. OF
Philadelphia has made model official. and II
will be difficult matter to secure man equally
as competent. fearless and fair. 1t Is unfortu-
nate that the assembly conflicts with the cycle
Show to be held in this city. and 1t Is possible
that something may be done TO avoid the con-
fiict
Two wheelmen who Just caught . train tho
other day on one OF the railroads terminating
in Jersey City had no time to get their wheels
checked. The baggage master took them with
q little hesitation. When asked whether tho
owners could take possession Of them in Jersey
City no made answer that could not be
clearly understood although the word trans
rortation" was heard. Just before the train
reached its destination the two men entered
tho baggage-car and claimed their property.
Tho baggage master protested. IT'S against
the rules for you to take thern.' he said; III
carry them over to NewYork.'
"Oh. we don't want to give you that trouble"
responded one OF the wheelmen cheerfully
CNhat they particularly wanted to avoid was
the sending Of their bicycles across the river
on a baggage truck)
well" said the railroad man. doggedly. you
ought to have paid for those wheels. when you
didn't have any checks"
How much ought to have paid7"
They'd be 10 cents apiece"
The production OF the coin at tho right mo-
ment smoothed the way. ""Wen. take 'em
along this time" said the baggage master.
roughly. When the riders approached the ferry
they were accosted by cmploye OF the COM
pany and told that they would not be allowed on
the boat unless they had bicycle tickets which
he offered them for 3 cents apiece The ticket,
bore this inscriptions Good for the ferrlagc OF
one vehicle called bicycle" Truly the ways
OF railroad and ferry companies are past find
ing out
The Pennsylvania Railroad has abandoned
It's policy Of violating the Armstrong law on
the branch OF its road running through n part
Of this State. Until within few days II has
been charging regularly for the transportation
OF bicycles Just II such law had been
enacted. Chief Consul Potter recently stated
that tho Armstrong act would DO amended
at the coming session OF the Legislature so as
TO make II criminal offence FOR a railroad ser
want. they say in England. TO refuse TO nc
cept bicycle without charge. The company has
acted on the hint thus conveyed, and its latest
order on the subject cxempts the line in question
from the operation OF the general rule that BIZ
cycles must be paid for. II is understood
that an effort will be made the coming winter
TO secure the passage OF n law similar 10 the
Armstrong bill in the Legislature OF New-Jersey.
OF the railroads running through that State.
one or two. notably the NcwJerscy Central
treats bicycles baggage II gets a largo
amount Of business on this account that might
otherwise so TO other roads. and its beraity
is warmly appreciated. IL Is possible that a
similar movement may be made In Massachu
setts. but who knows says that there Is a
good deal OF tlm!dity the subject among
the wheelmen Of that State
II Is certain that somet hing should be done soon
TO insure the transportation Of wheels In baggage
cars In such way rs to cause little dam
age as possible. And It is the height Of abb
surdity to pile them promscuously on a truck
in carrying them across the river on a ferry |
boat. New-Yorker who recently took his new
wheel a hundred miles or so by train, found at
the end Of his journey that the enamel had |
been worn away in two or three places on the |
sidebar, where nothing could have come In con-
tact with It unless II was the pedal OF another |
wheel set up alongside OF It, OF course there is |
no remedy for such marrlng Of the machine. |
Every rider going out by train from Jersey |
City would be glad TO take his bicycle across the
river and deliver 1t at the door OF the baggage
car. But this the companies will not permit |
those that make a charge for whees-for they |
wish to discourage the practice OF having wheels |
carried free and also to annoy wheelmen be- |
cause Of their success In securing the enactment |
Of the Armstrong law. II New-Jersey had n |
similar law there would De no further dlfficulty |
on this point The next thing In order as re-
spects the railroads Is to provide suitable racks |
so that bicycles can be transported with the |
smallest likelihood Of their getting damaged
In the city bicycle lamp Is employed almost |
wholly as means OF self protection. The light |
which It sheds does little to illuminate the path
way over which one Is going. especially when he
Is travelling a we-lighted thoroughfare.
In the country. where street lamps are unknown
the case is wholly different. With the aid Of the
light furnished by good lamp one can ride
over a road only indiffcrenty good without |
serous trouble. although fast speed is out OF |
the question. while on a macadamlzed road ex-
cellent time can be made. The ordinary coun-
try road, though, Is to be avoided after night