The San Francisco call., 1896-02-11
All ARE FoR GooD RoADx
Opening of the Meeting of tho American
Wheelme7a.


BALTIMORE, Nd, Feb. 10.-The fif-
teenth annual assembly of the League OF
American Wheelmen was opened with a
good-roads meeting in the Young Mems
Christian Hall at 10 o'clock this morning.
To-day's meeting was the first of its kind
ever held by the L. a. W. When Ch1ef
Consul Potter of New York, chairman OF
the highway improvement committee,
called the assembly to order the hall was
fairly we'll filled with delegates and others
interested in the assembly from every sec
ton of the United States.
Reports of committees, papers and sug-
gestions on the question of highway i'm
provements and Short addresses were then
listeded to- after which Chief Consul Pot-
ter of New York delivered an interesting
discourse on the subject OF good roads,
and illustrated his remarks With Stere-
opticon, showing good and bad roads IN
this and foreign countries. tie also ex-
planned the great financial saving TO the
agricultural communities as weH as gam
TO pleasure-drivers.
1t is an admitted fact that Mr.. Potters s
amendment that the l.. A. w. drop con-
troll of racing will be showed under, and
another proposed amendment that is
viewed with disdain by majority of
delegates is that presented by Mr.. Jac-
color-line and to make professional racers
members of the league. The morning ses-
sion was brief.
Sterling Elliott's boom for presidential
honors received quite an impetus this
morning, when the New York delegates
arrived A. G. Batchelder, the handi-
camper of the division, who is looked upon
announced his resignation as one OF the
New York delegation. AS a New York
delegate he was pledged to support Elliott,
whereas his Judgment indicated Wilson,
so that, as he could not vote the way he
thought. he resigned. This gives the
Gothamites one less vote. or twenty
Mr.. Elliott is sanguine of the election of
his whole ticket. which is as follows: For
president, Sterling Elliott, chief consul,
Massachusetts; first yice-president. c. f.
Cossum, of New York; second vice-presi-
dent, W. A. Connolly, of DanVille, H. :;
treasurer, e. S. Hartwell, of Denver, Colo.
The Wilson advocates claim every
thing and say they don't see how the
northern ticket can possibly be elected.
Wilson's ticket contains the names of the
old board of officers. He bases the claim
to reelection of all of them on the fact that
the league was pulled out of financial rut
last year in the midst of widespread Ma
tional depression. Secretary Bassett of
Boston is not elected. He holds his office
IOI ll1e anu Cdu Only DC OuSteQ Dy tnree-
fourths vote. He is the only saiaried Off
cial and gets $4,000 year.
Both Louisville and Toledo seem conf
dent of winning the annual meet, Louis
vile claiming clear majority already
pledged, and saying it has ninety-five
votes promised. Toledo gives no figures,
but is claiming victory inst as stoutly.
The first annual good roads" banquet
was held tonight at the handsome Mount
Royal Terrace Home of the MARYLAND
Cycle Club. 1t was an elaborate affair,
nearly 300 enthusiastic wheelmen and good
roads apostles sitting at the tables. At the
conclusion of the twenty-three course re-
past President Archie Willison greeted the
guests. He was followed by Mayor Hooper.
who responded to the toast, ''My Cycling
Constituents, f" and Hon. John K. Cowen,
president of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road Company. who delivered an eloquent
address on "Wheels." Impromptu ad-
dresses on good roads were delivered by
number OF welI-known advocates of i'm
proved highways.
The racing board assembled at a late
hour tonight for the further investigation
OF the Murphy-1itus-Caban suspension
case. Titus came over from New Y ork,
and will probably be given hearing by
the board. At midnight the board was Sc
cretly locked in a room at the Hotel Rem
merit, while Murphy and Titus were pa
tiently awaiting the result OF their de-
hberations in the lobby of the hotel.