Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1896-02-25

CLASSICS A dUu ID duu SuDsb1bublIk HI their stead purely amateur and profes- sional departments, while anything but satisfactory to the old class B racing men, can have but one result, and that will be an increase in the professional ranks. While the assembly had no hesi- tancy in reinstating all the. class B men to the amateur ranks the amateur riders feel that this move was unjust, and that the league legislators could more properly have transferred the men in this class to the professional ranks, where it has been admitted they justly belong.
 Racing men who have been racing for prizes valued at $t60, with the priv ilege of travelling to meets wherever they chose and having their expenses paid, will naturally demur at the changed condition of affairs and refuse to ride for prizes reduced to $85.
 Their riding district is now limited to 100 miles, and they are unable to either receive salaries or accept expenses, and, accordingly. the noted riders in class B last year will ride for cash prizes this year.
 The action of the L. A. w. in reduc- ing the prize value for amateurs from $50 to $35 has been criticised adversely. The league aims to promote and foster a purely amateur class. and racing folk maintain that this fact alone should in duoe some liberality in dealing with the amateur class.
 The racing men who were rated as second and third class men last year are rejoiced over their admission to the amateur ranks, as they now see a chance of prize winning.
 It seems likely that Charley M. Mur- phy and Eddie Bald will go abroad this year to do some racing early ill the sea son. These riders. with other class B men, have taken up bicycle racing as a means of livelihood, and must race for cash so that unless some professional events with liberal purses materialize this year, it is likely that big batch of class B riders will go abroad. The man ufactnrers who have supported teams in this country i'll the past are disposed to send racing men abroad to race as pro- fessionals, but seem reluctant to engage them for that purpose i'll this country.
 The race meet promoters throughout the country, who have catered to class B racing men and local class A men in the past, will now be compelled, for the purpose of holding their meets, to sub stitute professional events, and they can, instead of offering diamond prizes, as was the custom last year, award cash to the same value
 The change in the racing conditions demands greater recognition of the professional rider by the League of American Wheelmen. These riders have received scant attention from the league, but under the existing condition of af- fairs professional events will likely at tain the prominence of class B, and all the league clubs will, as result, pro- mote such events.
 President Elliott announces that be- fore he selects any of his committees he intends to consult the various chief con- suls throughout the country in relation to choosing the most desirable men for the position. MT. Elliott's plan is to secure committeeman who will make their respective departments as promi- nent as the racing department.
 The selection of chairman of the racing board this year is exciting con siderable interest George D. Gideon of Philadelphia, who had charge of the racing interests last year, and who managed the racing affairs in so satis- factory a manner, is considered the best fitted man for the office, but it is we'll known fact that Gideon voted and worked to elect A. C. Willison presi- dent, and accordingly there is feeling that President Elliott may overlook him on this account
 Henry Robinson of Massachusetts, a member of the national racing board and chairman of his state racing board, supported Elliott, and is talked of as a likely man to succeed Gideon
 For the best interest of racing it is conceded on all sides that the wisess SC. lection for the ehairmanship of the lac