The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-11
THE LEAGUE OF WHEELMEN.
Good Roads Day Taken Up by Reports
of pfouaa~S

Baltimore, Feb. I0.-League politics alb
sorbed the attention OF the delegates 10
the national convention of the League of
American Wheelmen today. to the utter
exclusion OF everything else. AS a eonse-
quence the experimental good roads day
was only moderate success in point of at
tendance, although the mental pabulum
served to those who attended was OF a
high order. Mayor Hooper was in conse-
quence the victim OF an unintentional af
front on the part of the delegates, as his
honor had been invited TO make speseh,
and was there at the appointed time With
a nice little address Of welcome, which was
never spoken because there was no one
present to hear him save few newspaper
men. The mayor waited awhile, ana then
went away to attend 10 municipal affairs.
An ample apology was made 10 him later
In the day. however, and fun official for
giveness accorded. After the mayors de-
parture another effort was made TO get
the delegates together. which. after two
hours OF hard work was successful Presi-
dent Wilson called the meeting to order.
He said 1t was the first good roads" day
ever given by the league. and he Asserted
that the decision 10 set aside one day an
nually for the discussion OF good roads was
one OF the best moves ever made by the
league. He regretted. however. that the
attendance was not better. He thought
the delegates 70 the assembly should fee
bound TO attend this good roads conven-
ton and 20 give IL their entire attention.
AS the highways Improvement committee.
and not the league proper, was In charge
OF the affair, he resigned the chair TO the
chairman OF the committee. Isaac b Pot
ter. OF New York, the author OF the good
roads day amendment.
Mr.. Potter was greeted with applause
and after Il had subsidized he addressed the
meeting briefly. New York. he said. had
twenty-seven votes and numerous proxies.
and intended 10 east them for the city
which makes the best showing az this ses-
sion. Continuing he said: The attend
ance is not as great as Il should BE- but
from my own experience know IL is twice
as great as was that at the good roads
congress called by the United States gov
erument. and which was more widely ad-
vertised than was this convention. The
delegates here, however. represent 5000
wheelmsn. and what transpires here wiz
be more far-rea aching in its effects than was
the action OF the good roads congress re-
ferrea to" He then read letters OF regret
frsm GOV Levi L. Morton. OF New York.
Mayer Jewett, OF Buffalo: Mayor Swift. az
Chicago. Gov. Matthews. OF Indiana, ana
others.
Mr.. Potter then introduced Mayor VIII
lam NJ. Kennedy. % Allegheny. Pa, one OF
the most prominent advocates OF good
roads IN the country. and during whose ad-
,ninfstratfou Allegheny city has been
changed from an iI-paSe3. iu-kept city 10
ore OF the finest IN the country.
Following Mayor Kennedy. Henry ".
Williams, chairman OF the executive COM
rnitfee OF the M&Ty land Good Roads
League. was introduced air. Williams
gave a history OF the birth OF the Good
Roads League OF Maryland and the ap-
instrument OF = legislative committee OF
vxhich he Vas made chairman. We sis
considerable work he said. Throughout
The state. and the result | consider both
good and bad Through our work Ne
reused the opposition Of The politicians.
ard they have been against IS Wherever
ys,~ssale, 6ut the agitation has az length
..aranelled these same politicians and the
sseunty commissioners 70 make slight con-
..NSs5onS 10 pah.Sc opinion, ara We AayA
sna Measure or seeing a slight improve