The evening times., 1896-04-11

Philadelphia, April 11.-Gcorgc ID. Gid
con, chairman of the l.. A. W. racing board.
wien asked his reasons for granting a
sanction to a buffalo athletic club which
had been blacklistcd by the A. \. T., and
thereby bringing on himself the condcmna-
tion OF the latter organization, said: We'll,
here is the whole matter in a nutshell
I'm placed here TO carry out the laws as
find them-Dot to interpret them or IIiakc
new ones for myself. Just cast your eye
over this copy OF the articles Of agree
mcnt between the A. a. L. and the l.. 4.
w, and tell me whether there Is anything
contained therein that Would warrant me
in refusing to grant a sanction to the club
in question. 1t may be that the articles OF
agreement are poorly drawn up, and that
the l.. a. W. has all the better of IL. as
some say; but surely I'm not to be called TO
account for that
An Inspection of the articles referred 10
by Mr.. Gideon certainly seemed to war
rant his action. While several conditions
are Imposed upon the a. y. L. in running
Off bicycle events at meetings held by IL
or any OF the clubs OF which it is COM
posed, there is nothing contained in them
which similarly binds the l.. a. W.
When Mr.. Gideon was asked what er
feet II would have upon the l.. a. W. If the
a. 4. L. should sever relations with 1t, he
Sfllilths ana. " Dlt EtluSlUS 10 sdN any
thing explicit, iDtmated that the A. a. L.
would have its hands full i'll the event OF an
open rupture between the league.
The a y. L. people. however, claim that
so many requests have been sent the y "A. u.
to take hold OF cycling that Secretary Sulli-
van has sent letters asking an expression CT
opinion from athletic clubs. These will be
acted on at meeting of 4 A. L. delegates
next Monday in New York.
The refusal Of the managers OF the Olympic
games To allow the American wbeelman To
compete is doubtless q great disappointment
to tie men themselves and to Thomas Eek.
as well as to Americans generally. Ray
Macdonald went abroad as Il neinbcrof the
Eek party. largely with the view To- conpet-
ing in these races. and there is little doubt
that he would have won every event in
which he rode. as his records show him
to he faster than any or the other contest
ants named III the reports received. III
spite of natural regret that the An.cri-
cans should have been ruled out. how
ever. il must be conceded that the COM
mittcc's ruling in his case is just one.
Last year lie rode in class D but the re-
cent action Of the national assembly placed
all HIcn riding in that class III the amateur
ranks until some action on their part should
show them to be professionals. As Mac
Donald has not ridden since that time, be is
nUminally an amateur in this country, but
as member of a team advertising the ma
chimes ridden by them in foreign country.
under the management of u professional
trainer and manager. his transfer o the pro-
fessional class VIII doubtless be announced
By the racing board folio wing the first raCc
Ill which he rides.
When Champion Zimmerman reached
the zenith OF his success he was looked
upoa as towering high ana above every
other rider Oil earth. This was during
hIS last season as an amateur rider. In
predicting The champion for the season
Of "a, Zimmerman was selected as
certainty. But he entered the profess
slouai ranks ana 4 new amateur king had
to br crowned. II took Eddie Bald last
season to demonstrate his superiority Oycr
the elan. and the Buffalo boy lCft no dis
pute. But this season the candidates for
championship honOrS viii fight more
bitterly, If for no other reason than the
incentive which gold gives. AT Spring.
field it WAS surmi>cd that the speed III
all or the racing men, and the positions
they would secure, would result IN pick
Irg the best OF the men. Ratd won the
championships, AMI l.. u. Cahanne ami
Earl II. Kiscr, the flying midget
divided second houor>. CIbannc il SuS-
pended for life, and this leaves kIser to
fight for the position he 80 stoutly MAIN
tdined throughout The national circuit
last season. kisers competitors VIII lie
Murphy, Gardiner AMI Cooper, but those
who have seen the admirable finish this
yOun g-ter can make, Offer no doubts as to
his ability to contest with the best of them.
John =. Johnson. WHO has been matched
against Michael. the diminutivc long dis
tanCc French rider, as a Sprintcr and
following pace. has practically remained
unc cXCelled until this year. but 1t is a quc>-
ton whether he Will be able to compete
a against his Formidable opponent at long dis
tanCeS. The French people are enthusiastic
over endurance III cycle rider. and con-
have many excellent men at
long distances. johnson has never been
tried at this game. hut may not be found
hacking The longest race he ever won in
this country. OF any great moment, WAS the
defeat atofZimmcrmanin of thcfive-mile Worlds
Fair championship at Chicago. during the
World 5 Fair.
CYCLING NOTES.