The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-08

eral good OF wheelmen. The road hog has
been punished in many instances and the
league has pushed many a suit for dam
ages against these offensive individuals.
Laws discriminating against wheelmen
have been removed from the statutes
through it's efforts, and many rights which
bicyclists now enjoy have been obtained
through the untiring vigilance Of league
officials.
There still exist in many states laws
that wheelmen consider offensive and I'M
just but the L. A. W. men consider that
their work in this direction has but Just
been begun. The old time prejudice
against wheelmen has been greatly de-
creased, but the cyclist still has many ac-
tive enemies. When the position of the
league is more fully understood, this en-
nifty will be abated. The league con-
dennis reckless riders as severely as it does
reckless drivers and Furnishes them when
possible with expulsion.
The advantages which are offered
league members are many. Touring
wheelmen appreciate them more than the
stay at homes. In thousands of cities and
towns there are league hotels, which give
members reduced rates. Valuable road
and tour books are furnished members at
COST and the tourist finds that his badge
is always a sufficient introduction to open
to him the doors of any league club in
the country. The league has also done
much toward securing the somewhat
meager concessions which railroad lines
have been induced to give.
1t is to the l.. A. W. also that the gen
eral public owes much for the high stand
ard that bicycle racing has been held up
to. There has been good deal of criti-
cism as to the leagues methods in deal
ing with racing men, but its efforts have
undoubtedly been directed toward making
these races exhibitions of honest effort.
Without some such supervision the sport
must have lost the popularity which it has
gained.
At the coming assembly the question Of
whether the league shall abandon the
control OF races altogether is to be brought
I'D and settled This will make the ses-
sion one of the most important held since
the league was organized. Two of the
most prominent men in the league differ
ON this question.
Chief Consul Potter of the New York
division is the most earnest opponent of
racing control He believes that it is q
great drawback to the growth of the
league.
Here is the idea" he said to me in an
interview the other day. "Our interest in
racing, while the least important, is the
most advertised Now the great majority
of bicycle riders are not interested in rae
ing I also find that many wheelmen
think that the league is mainly if not
wholly racing organization. This hurts
us more than can be estimated. 1 have no
doubt that the prevalence of this very
idea has kept hundreds of thousands of
riders out of our ranks. While the control
Of racing is constitutionally minor factor
it actually holds far more important po-
sit-on than it should. 1t causes US to ex-
pend much of our energies in q direction
in which the average cyclist is not con-
cerned.
There is great need" continued Mr.
Potter, "of a national organization that
shall represent the interests of the vast
army of wheelmen in this country. The
need of better roads, cheaper hotel accom-
modations lower railroad tariffs, protec-
ton of the rights and privileges of wheel
men and kindred objects ought to be suf-
ficient to excite a common sentiment in
favor of a strong organization. Such an
organization could exist without the rae
ing interest. Whether the racing interest
would suffer if such support were with
drawn or not is a matter that does not
concern the majority of riders. While
think that some provision should be made
for racing men the interests of the greater
number should control our efforts. I'm
derstand, 1 am not opposed to racing per-
sonally."
I asked Mr.. Potter what course he
would suggest to bring the unattached
riders into the L. A. W.
abandon racing and take up local or
ganization. There should be subconsul
in every village and town in the United
States and one in every ward in each city.
By this method the system of organization
could be carried on in an effective man
ner, and our ranks could be swelled until
the L. A. W. would be the power in the
land that it should be today. This system
has been put into operation to some ex-
tent in New York state, and look at the
result Our division has brought more
new members into the league during the
last year than all other state divisions put
together. We have 10, 600 members now,
and expect that by this time next year
we shall have Is, O0o.'
"Do you expect that the next assembly
will vote to abandon racing?"
"No. The men who are now in control
of the league do not agree with me-
There has been much talk about Chief
Consul Potter's chances for the league
presidency. asked Mr.. Potter If he was
candidate.
"No, am not he said, land for sew
eral reasons. In the first place, could not
afford to take the position, for my law