The sun., 1896-03-11
QUARRELLING WHEELMEN.
CYoJIsT's FEDERATION AND VIEW
FORK DTVISION At ODDS.



the outcome Of tho Armstrong baggage BILL IN
trodueod at Albany for tho purpose Of COMPEL
ing the railroad companies to accept bicycles n,
personal baggage when checked for transportn
tion and accompanied by their owners. Until
tho latter part of last year the leading roads al
carried bicycles free when accompanied by
their owners, but the big increase In the mum.
Der OF riders increased the bicycle traffic to such
an extent that steps were take TO impose a tax
for their transportation.
!lWheelmen resented this action, claiming tina,
apaasenger's ticket accorded to him the priv
ilcge OF transporting baggage to the weight OF
ono hundred and fifty pounds without extra
charge. and they conceived the idea that al
unjust discrimination was being waged against
them.
When the officers Of tho New York State
division got Assemblyman Armstrong to intro
duos his bill at Albany. every wheelman in the
State was invoked to aid In its passage. The
success Of tho bill looked encouraging until
some weeks ago. whom the Cyclists Federation.
an organization about four months old, with a
membership OF 600. sent its President, Malcolm
l.. BredgmAn, and K. J. Tinsdale to Albany to
attend q hearing on the bill and use their In
huencs to aid its passage.
The officers of tho New York division of the
L. A. w. were also present at the hearing in
support of the bill. To their great surprise tho
donsd tho cause Of the Armstrong bill in it's
original form, and sought to have substitute
or compromise bill. This has caused an open
rupture between the New York division and
the Federation, and aroused bitter feelings
among the wheelmen and clubs in this section.
Leading officers and o majority of members
Of the Federation have refused to sanction the
course taken by tho representatives. and so
much Ill feeling has sprung up in tho ranks Of
Al ~, aL-.A xlntt
Federation may disband. The officers OF the
L. A. w. recognize that the Federation dele
gates have conveyed tho idea abroad that the
bicycle riders In the State are divided In their
support Of the Armstrong bill. which is untrue.
Several stormy meetings Of the Federation
have been held recently. and the blame for the
entire trouble is attributed TO Z. j. Tinsdale,
TO modify tho Armstrong Bill. Vice President
]. W. Townsend and Well x. Pitman, Chair
foa hs se
and Tinsdale was unaut horiaed and has placed
ths IN IN wrSnT Sew Fhi division and
Federation claim that no lll-feeling exists be-
tween tho two organizations. the officers OF the
cycling associations. which wheemen say viii
Grafton. Ghief Consul Potter of the New York
division has called mass meeting of Wheel
= resolution " viii be presented endorsing the
Armstrong bill and COMMITTEES selected to
sanizations on, thronshout M the city. The action OF
the local cycle Board Of Trade in circulatnga
petition, supporting, Bridsman aud Tinsde!e is
accepted by the wheelmeu as an ailront and
steps will De taken l." the division officers to
find out Il the Board is antagonistic to wheel
Chief Consul Isaac Z. Potter Of the New York
State division was INTER intspvsWsd ny @ snS re- r.
belief that the posi- ition taken by the Federation
has injured tho chances Of IN The bill he said:
Yes: II it fails to pass 1t will be due to the
fal60 idea conveyed OF division OF sentiment
among the wheelmcn about the bill
sehs at t ODDS he said Tiers
light between the Federation and the L.. A. w.
M psn. viii se
1n discussing the estion Of Mes.rs; Brdemsn
loyal In ths 81 New
VIII not resent this high: handed and medde-
sems situation before the end Of the year.
There was sbsolutely no excuse for their action
In bHhaif Of wheelmen in ali parts OF, the State.
and many thousands Of copies have been circu.
preval Of ali wheeimsn h and ali e Cations
the mest,nK Of tho Federation; n when when
the meeting at Albany, they were requested to
3ust as proper for sixty clubs and local orCan!-
cations to havo sent representatives TO Albany.
strong bill and without notice 70 the League or
who went to Albany for the Federation, to
have kicked up tho chaos and trouble which
has resulted from the violation OF their instruc-
tions. The Federation is not responsible for
what occurred at Albany; and cannot be held
Foolish and
orratic demonstration
In regard to tho circular from the manufac-
turers and dealers representing the local cycle
Board OF Trade in unfolding the Federation
delegates, Consul Potter says: Every man
who signed the petition and every concern Will
bays reasonable opportunity 20 repudiate It.
Il they wish to give publicity to the fact that
sneR fact W we s@f SnoWn
II have reason to believe that most of the
signed to that paper, viii promptly dlsavow
every statement contained therein. AS to the
rest, II they are in need Of advertising. we will
see that they are sufficiently advertised for the
ssS Of the cysidists Fedora
"A committee from the Cyclists Federation,
pfvhich was ono WAS sent TO Albany in refer
ep to the Armstrong bill. and. as we UNDER
stOo,, It, without Instructions. Our authority
was given to US by tho Secretary Of the
? careful Investigation OF the situation. and
In our Judgment there was no possibility Of
the Armstrong bill passing in Its original
form. Therefore we suggested an amendmcnt
or compromise measure. which we considered
for the wheelmcn To our surprise it
cepted by the railroad representatives present.
frss as 70
MED by their owners We found an overwhem-
suaea Rspsh.1fR sha foowns hs 0 a"a our compromise
mo agreement. oral or in writing shall be asked
requirei In releasing such corporation from any In
buItes for tbs transportation or tho bicycle A
charge for the OF tile bicycle Sail
be less than cents IN and the carg" shall
not be than fifteen cents for thirty five miles:
sixteen to twcntyeight cents FOR forty to seventy
miles forty cents for seventy to one hundred miles.
and In case to exceed one dollar In this State.
These charges we considered nominal and
Just, in view OF tho situation as we found II.
Now. when q wheelmRn travels on q railroad
the company assumes no responsi bilty for his
wheel. and he invariably tips the baggage master
Tor lis safe care which Is practically what the
rates we suggest would amount to, ana IA rider
would be guaranteed safe transit for his bicycle.
Mr.. Tinsdale and myself did not jump NJ the
conclusion that a compro bill was needed.
we looked the situation over carefully:
aud found strong opposition Developed in eYery
quarter to the Armstrong bill. The wheelmen
ask and have received n classification Of the hi
cycle as vehicle from the courts. Now how
can they consistently seek to have railroads
recognize 1t as personal baggage2
""e are still convinced that we acted wisely
In regard to the matter. | regret that it has
caused the excitement that II has aWung the
whoelmen, but there IN no reason for any ferling
10 exist between tho Federation and the l.. A