The San Francisco call., 1896-08-29
THEIR SLOGAN
STILL SOUNDS,
WheeImen Rejoice Over
the Backdown of the
Southern Pacific.
THE BATTLE STILL ON.
Will Not Rest Till Bicycles as
Baggage Becomes a
State Law.
COLONEL CROKER DID IT.
Candidates for the Assembly Already
Begin to Court the Many
Wheelmen.
COLONEL CROKER DID IT.

Freedom for wheelmen of this section of
the State was officially proclaimed yester-
day by the Southern Pacific in accordance
with the announcement made by THE
CALL yesterday.
To many of the cyclists the news as pub
llshed IN The CALL appeared to be too good
to be true, coming as it did so soon after
the opening of the campaign in opposition
to the proposed course of the railroad, but
when its full import was fairly realized
there was joy and iubilation at the head
quarters OF every club and wherever
wheelmen are in the habit of gathering.
From the Office of General Passenger
Agent T. II. Goodman instructions were
sent out yesterday TO every railroad agent
in the territory between San Francisco,
San Jose, Vallejo, Martinez and Benicia
informing them that the order imposing
a charge on the carriage of bicycles was
Cancelled and that bicycles were to be
transported between the points named
fre OF charge as heretofore.
Wheelmen owe their thanks to Colonel
Oh ar les +. Crocker for the withdrawal of
the obnoxious order. There was long and
interesting discussion in his Office on
Wednesday. In the course of this Traffic
Manager ]. c. Stubhs argued in favor of
the order being made effective, on the
ground that the Southern Pacific Com
pany, as a member of various railroad as
sociations, owed it to the other members
of these associations, and to consistency,
TO impose a charge on the transportation
of wheels everywhere within the State.
He referred to the fact that all other roads
are making such charges, and argued that
there was nothing unfair nor unjust in
such course.
Colonel Croeker listened patiently, and
then SPOKE of the feeling that had already
been aroused and showed his inelinations
generally TO be in favor OF the abrogation
of the order under consideration.
The conference ended without any de-
cision having been reached. Late Thurs
day afternoon Colonel Crocker had an
other short consultation with Mr.. Stubbs,
and the outcome was the determination to
recall the Objectionable order from motives
of policy as well as of profit. But this de-
cisive victory has but whetted the appetite
of the wheelmen for war, and it will be
waged increasingly and unrelentingly un-
til the day the ballots are cast IN the No
vem Der election. 1t is the confident hope
OF the wheelmen that on that day will be
elected only such members OF the Legis-
lature as have pledged themselves to the
wheelmen's cause. Bicycles as baggage,
and good roads, will be their slogan dur
ing the campaign.
Where the day before Traffic Manager
Stubbs of the Southern Pacific Railroad
was the Banquo's ghost which would not
down, yesterday the wheelmen, subse-
quent to the announcement in THE CALL
that the order liking a charge for the
transportation of bicycles would be re-
scinded, would have extended the traffic
manager the glad and apologetic hand if
they had collided with him on the street.
q "a a rvh iah Croa faH
so much commotion, is off, the agitation
Tor an Armstrong bill will not die. Wheel
men said yesterday that 1t will be con-
tinued and carried with whoop into Sac
ramento next fall. The agitation has
gone too far to be stopped. The wheel
men OF the State will see that it gathers
strength steadily till election day.
Would-b be candidates for the Legisla-
ture do not underrate the strength of the
wheelmen In San Francisco. Many of
them have sought out leading local wheel
men, stated that they are in favor of an
Armstrong bill, and expressed willing
ness and desire to meet. the executive
com mittee of the Wheelmen's Municipal
League. The executive committee will
meet candidates. The battle is not yet
over. The wheelmen T=ill not DE caught
mapping.
II am so glad Mr.. Stubs has rescinded
the order, and now we won't have any
more tEOuGlS ABOUT T., SalQ MISS
E. Mccarthy, president of the Alpha
Cycling Club, who is clerk in the office
of r. G. Dun & Co. II was surprised when
/ read it in THE CALL this morning, and
now we won't have to hold an Indignation
meeting. They charged me fifty pounds
baggage for my wheel several weeks ago
in Southern California. | do not think
that was fair. l have taken my wheel out
of the car with the tire punctured and
collapsed. They stuck pins In it. How
do | know it was a pin? Well, don't
know a pin-hole when / see it, The holes
were too small to be made by anything
else. do not know who did it, but it
couldn't have been done except through
meanness. From what other motive would
any one stick pins in tire? l think the
boys had better keep up the agitation
though till we get an Armstrong law
through the Legislature, and then we will
be on the safe side"
Allen Jones, local racer of prominence
in the employ of T. ii. B. Varney, said !:
THE CALL did it and l am glad OF it. 1
did not think the charge would create
such a breeze. All the wheelmen whom
have herd speak about it are delighted
The resembling of the order may be a
scheme to throw us off the track until
after election and it may be permanent;
but we can't tell. Therefore the wisest
thing to do is to have an Armstrong bill
passed by the Legislature anyhow, and
then we shall be on the safe side. If we
don't get the bill passed this winter we
can't do thing for two or three years.
The l.. A. w. and the Wheelmen's NUM-
cipal League should keep right on work.
ing up the Armstrong bill"
Il was surprised to read in THE CALL
that the order would be rescinded," said
]. s. Conwell. presldentof the Cycle Board
of Trade. I'VE owe it to the newspapers,
and The CALL in particular. 1t is great
victory. l think the Southern Pacific will
lose nothing py it. They will gain in
good will if in nothing else. But an Arm
strong bill should be passed notwithst stand
ing the resembling order. We had GER
tain free zone OF twenty-five or thirty
miles before, but as far away as San Jose
and Santa Cruz we had to pay for wheels.
The free zone should include the entire
State. Ii you put bicycle in a trunk and
lock it up the company carries it and
handles 1t as baggage. but for the naked
wheel they charge. If a man has two
pieces OF baggage, both inside the limit
weight for baggage. why should one piece
be jncloseo in another?
I'm New York the railroads have hooks
in the top of the baggage-cars, on which
wheels are hung by the frames with safety
to the wheels and without Inconvenience