The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-10

begun. The ola tine pre5uasce axzsnus
~2eeimen has been greatly decreased. sst
tbs cTcfisf stsu has many enemies Whea
the Position % the league : more fully an
terst0asd. this ern1ity win - asAfed- The
sfaEns condemns reckless ristsrx as severe
~ - Il does reckless drivers and p1aixrsss
them when possible with expulsion.
The advantages which are offered league
members are many. Touring wheeir1ers ar,-
precsase them more than Tire Say at homes
In thousands IT cites and toBns there ara
league hotels. which give uleraDers REDUCED
rates. Valuable rad and tour books are
furnished members az cost, and the tour
ist finds that his badge L. always a sun
Client introduction 10 open 10 him the doors
OF any league club IN the country The
league has also done much toward xectr-
Ing The somewhat neaEer concessions
which railroad lines have been induced 10
give.
II Is 20 the J.. A. W. also that the gen.
eraI pubile owes much for the high stand
ard that bicycle racing has been held IN
10. There has been great deal OF crssi-
cixm as TO the leagues methods In deal
ing with racing men. but is 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 il has
gained.
at the coming assembly the question Of
whether the league shall abandon the con
troll or races altogether is 70 be brought
up and settled This will make the ses-
son one OF the most IL portant 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 IL is
great drawback TO the growth OF the
leagae-
Here Is the idea,'' he said 10 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 ia rae
ing also find that many wheeimen TANK
that the league is mainly II not wholly a
racing organization This hurts US more
than can ne estimated. / have n6 doubt
thas the prevalence Of this very idea has
kept hundreds OF thousands or riders out
OF our ranks. While the control OF racing
Is const.tutgonaily a minor factor II actu-
ally holds far more important position
than Il should. Il causes Us 10 sxpend
much Of our energies ia a direction IN which
the average eycisst is not concerned
There e great need" continued Mr..
Potter, of national organization that
shah represent the interests OF the vast
army of wheeimen tn tbs country. The
need Of better roads, chea per hotel accom-
ton OF the rights and privileges OF wheel
men and kindred objects ought 10 De suf-
nciept 20 excite common sentiment in ia
yor Of a strong organization Such an
organization could exist without the rae
ing interest. Whether the racing interest
would suffer II such support were with
drawn or not Is a matter that does not
concern the majority OF riders While l
think that some provision should be made
for racing men the interests OF the greater
number should control our efforts. Tn
derstand i am not opposed to racing per-
sOnaily."
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
ganlzation. There should be a suo-consul
IN every village ard town in the United
States aud one In every ward IN each city.
BY this method the system OF organization
could be carried on In an effective man.
ncr. and our ranks could be swelled until
the L. a W. would be the power in the
land that IL should be today. This system