The St. Johns herald., 1896-05-23

PRESIDENT ELLIOTT.
 classes A and B and substituting in 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 $150, 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 $S5.
 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- duce 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 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 in the sea- son. These riders, with other class B men, have taken up bicycle racing as 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.
 
 this country in the past are disposed to send racing men abroad to race as pro- fessionals, but seem reluctant to engage them for that purpose ill this country.
 The race meet promoters throughout the country, who have catered to class B racing naen 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 a 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 fol the position. Mir. Elliott's plan is to secure committeeman who will make their respective departments as promi nent as the racing department.
 The selection of a chairman of the racing board this year is exciting con- siderable interest. George D. Gideon ot Philadelphia, who had charge of the racing interests last year, and who managed the racing affairs in so satis. factory manner, is considered the best fitted man for the office, but it is Q vel known fact that Gideon voted and worked to elect A. o. 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 [ likely man to succeed Gideon.
 For the best interest of racing it if conceded on all sides that the wisest se lection for the chairmanship of the rae ing board will be the reappointment ot Gideon.
 President Elliott is convinced tha the numerical strength of the league ii not what it should be. considering th' great number of wheelmen in thi country at the present time, and he in tends to use every effort to place th' membership at 60,O00 before the nex annual meeting of the national assem ply.
 The chief consuls throughout the diff ferent divisions will be advised of Pres ident Elliott's plan on the subject il order to work accordingly.
 The conference held between Pres1