The herald., 1896-02-11
And Incidentally for Other
Things On Wheels
CONSIDERED BYL. A. w. MEN
The Attendance Was Small But Results
Will Be Great
nen Of Mark In Various Walks of Life TAX.
Addresses and Respond to Appro.
pirate Toasts
Associated Press Speciai Wira.

Associated Press Special Wire
BALTIMORE, Nd, Feb. 1O.-League poll
tics absorbed the attention of the delegates
to the national convention of the League of
American Wheelmen today, to the utter
exclusion of everything else. As a conse-
quence, the experimental "good roads"
was only moderate success in point of
attendance. Mayor Hooper was the VIC
tim Of an unintentional affrcnt on the part
of delegates. as his honor had been invited
to make speech and was there at the ap-
pointed time with nice little address of
welcome, which was never spoken because
there was no one present to hear him save
few newspaper men. The mayor waited
while and then went away TO attend to
municipal affairs. Al ample apology was
made to him later IN the day, however,
and full official forgiveness accorded.
After the mayors departure another
effort was made to get the delegates to-.
gether, which. after two hours hard work,
was successful. President Wilson called
the meeting to order. he said it was the
first good roads, day ever given by the
league, and he asserted that the decision to
set aside one day annually for the dis
cussion of good roads was one of the best
moves ever made by the league. He re-
gretted, however, that the attendance was
not better. He thought the delegates to
the assembly should feel bound to attend
this good roads convention and to give it
their entire attention.
As the highways improvement committee
and not the league proper was in charge of
the affair he resigned the chair to the chair
man of the committee. Isaac B. Potter of
New York, the author of the 'good roads"
day amendment.
Mr.. Potter was greeted with applause,
and after it had subsidized he addressed the
meeting briefly. New York, he said, had
twenty-seven votes and numerous proxies,
and intended to cast them for the city that
makes the best showing at this session.
Continuing, he said: "The attendance is
not as great as it should be. but from my
own experience know it is twice as great
as was that at the good roads congress
called by the United States government
and which was more widely advertised
than was this convention. The delegates
here, however, represent 10000 wheel-
men, and what transpires here will bo
more far.reaching in its effects than was
the action of the good roads congress re-
ferred to-
He then read letters of regret from Gov.
Levi P. Morton of New York. Mayor jew
mayor of Newark, Mayor Taggart of In.
dianapolis. Mayor Swift of Chicago, Mayor
Pratt of Minneapolis, Governor Matthews
of Indiana and Mr.. James r. Dunno, ex-
president of the L. A. W.
Mr.. Potter then introduced Mayor w. M.
Kennedy of Allegheny, Pa, one of the
most prominent advocates of good roads in
the country, and during whose administra-
ton Allegheny City has changed from an
| ill-paved, ill-kempt city to one of the finest
in the country. Mayor Kennedy spoke of
what had been done in the way of improved
streets and roads in and around Allegheny
! City, and of the many direct and indirect
| benefits.
Following Mayor Kennedy, Henry W.
Williams, chairman of the executive com
mittee of the Maryland Good Roads league
was introduced.
Mr.. Williams gave a history of the birth
of the Good Roads league of Maryland
and the appointment OF legislative COM
mittee. of which he was made chairman.
We did considerable work, he said,
throughout the state and the result is con-
sidered both good and bad. Through our
work we reused up the opposition OF the