The record-union., 1896-02-13
WHEELMEN'S CONVENTION.
Now But Two Glasses of Bicycle Rae
ing Men.
Glass B, Heretofore Generally Known
as Pro-Amateurs, Wiped Out
of Existence.

BALTIMORE, FEB. IZ.-ln consequence
of the days action by the l.. A. w. Con-
vention there are now but two classes
of bicycle racing men. Glass b, gener-
ally known as pro-amateurs, is wiped
out of existence There are 537 of this
class of riders, all of whom will be
given the option of either becoming
amateurs or of accepting professional
ism.
This definitely settled an agitation
that has been in progress among wheel
men for years, and has taken a most
prominent part in their affairs ever
since the sport was known.
Glass B, which is now abolished, was
O. middle ground between amateurism
and professionalism, and was adopted
by the bicyclers' body at the suggestion
Of Howard B. Raymond of Brooklyn,
then Chairman of the National Racing
Board, at the convention in Louisville
in 1893, it having previously been with
drawn at the convention in New York
the year previous.
When cycling began to assume it's
present large proportions. and the max
ing of bicycles opened a wide field for
profitable investment, competition de-
manded advertisement. 1t was found
by the makers that if they could get
fast racing men to ride their wheels
it aided greatly in the sales, as some
of the guileless assumed that it was the
wheel and not the man that won the
races. The reputation of the great
manufacturers of this country and Eng
land were builded on that basis. The
competition became keen among the
makers for the services of the flyers,
and thus started the scandal of bicycle
racing which has been wiped out to-
day.
There has been growing for years a
sentiment to class these men as pro-
fessionals, and to-day's action is fru-
ition of that agitation. The immediate
result of the action is to remove the
cloak of amateurism from professionals.
The agitation which led up to the de-
cision was most unexpected. Amend
ments to the constitution and bylaws
were under consideration and several
having a bearing upon class B had been
adopted without an effort from the di-
rection of abolishing the class. In the
discussion of a proposed amendment
offered by Chairman Gideon of the Rae
ing Board several amendments to the
amendment were made, until finally
Albert Mott of Baltimore made mo-
ton to strike out all reference to class
B. and to make a new heading in the
constitution of professional"
The suggestion was debated with
growing excitement, until the conven-
ton was in an uproar. The unanimity
Of the sentiment in favor of abolishing
the B class was unexpectedly pro-
nounced. Cries of ''Vote!" came from
all parts of the hail. and Mr.. Motifs mo-
ton was carried almost unanimously.
Three cheers were given when the re-
suit was announced.
President Willison occupied the chair
when the assembly was called to order.
Under the head Of new business, Mr..
Potter of New York moved that COM
mittee of three be appointed to draft
and report a resolution with reference
to bills now pending before the New
York. Massachusetts and other State
Legislatures in reference to carrying
bicycles free on trains when accom-
panied by their riders. Agreed to-
The next business was constitutional
amendments.
Chief Consul Potter of New York
spoke at considerable length on his
amendment to strike out of section /
all reference to racing as one Of the OBJ
jects of the league.
Sterling Elliott of Massachusetts op-
posed the amendment, but said that
some of the silly racing rules should be
changed"
Several Northern delegates favored
the amendment, basing their arguments
upon the statement that with racing
under league control thousands are de-
barred from becoming members of the
league; that society riders would not
Join under the present conditions, and
that for every member lost through
the adoption of the non-racing amend
ment there would be an influx of ten
new -eomers.
After a long -drawn-out presentation
of the matter, the amendment was de-
feated, 125 to 40.
The convention disposed of thirty-six
of the seventy-four pending amend
ments to the Constitution before it ad-
icurned at 6 o'clock until 10 o'clock to-
morrow morning OF that number
eight were withdrawn, four lost and
twenty-four adopted.
Action taken in several cases was an
nrlled by the abolishment later on of
the class B. None of the other amend
ments were especially important.