The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-10-22

seat OF the business is in the Vicinity OF
Akron, although large quantities are
made at GAINESVILLE and other parts of
Muskingum county, and N various
points throughout the State
In these days, when much Is heard OF
the opposition of corporations to the
rights of the common people, and the
indifference of law-making powers to
the comfort of those having the strong.
est claims upon their assistance. there
is no one who has more just cause for
complaint than the wheelman. The
bicycle is the poor mans carriage 1t
takes him to and from business at a
saving Of both time and money. and
serves him as private conveyance, by
means OF which he can at his leisure
find unlimited enjoyment OF health
full, invigorating nature. 1t has beer
said, by writer upon the subject, "
places the poor man on an equality
with the rich. His steed, which does
not have 10 be either fed or groomed,
carries him at as great speed and
with as much pleasurable sensation as
the owner Of the dne equippage expert.
ences Thus an enjoyment of life which
was formerly denied to all but few ls
now within reach of everyone. Yet,
with a knowledge Of the benefits which
the wheel has brought TO the masses of
the people, those who should encourage
It's use make IL an object OF persecution.
From the beginning the wheelman
has been forced to fight his way against
senseless prejudice Along about
1880, when the bicycle first began TO
come into use, bill was introduced
into the Ohio legislature requiring
wheelman, upon seeing a horse and
vehicle approaching TO dismount when
within a distance OF 40 feet and wait
until they had passed by This measure
came very near becoming law, and
only failed through the efforts brought
TO bear against 1t by the League Of
American Wheelmen, This is an illus
tration of the disfavor which one Of
the most useful appliances has been
held by the law. While the influence
which the wheelmen have been able to
bring TO bear has prevented open hos.
tile legislation, they are denied the
protection which rightfully belongs TO
them. The public streets and high
ways. which should be made safe for
the men and women who glide swiftly
over them on their 1.-THE machines, are
the scete of frequent accident In the
attempt Of the drivers of buggies and
wagons to enforce the superior rights
which they relegate to themselves. BY
many II Is regarded as q joke to run
over a wheelman, bruising him up and
smashing his machine. The perpetra.
tor Of such an act is seldom, II ever.
called to account for it by the law
The latter holds that the wheelman
was TO blame in not keeping out of the
way.
An ex.State official, who took his
wheel with him on recent trip. was
compla! ming the other day of the treat
mept he received at the hands Of the
railroad company. After much agita-
the State succeeded in getting a law
passed by the last Ohio legislature re-
auiring companies TO carry bicycles as
baggage. This enactment Is accepted
with very bad grace by most of the
railroad companies The gentleman In
question stated that he was subjected
to every inconvenience In the matter.
He was given no check for his wheel,
as Is the case with other kind of bag
gage, but was obliged TO be present at
the door of the baggage car to claim 1t
In person when he wanted It, Although
travelling on a 6rst.class ticket on a
through sleeper, he was compelled
either to get up IN the middle of the
night, when his car was switched onto
another division, and transfer his
wheel from one depot TO another, or
hire the porter to perform this service
for him.
He was informed that upon arriving
at his destination he must claim the
~ "a ha
train, or It would be turned over TO the
express company. After complying
with this arbitrary rule, ne wished TO
leave his machine at the station until
he got ready TO ride it up street He
found, however, TO his disgust that they
we,e not allowed TO care for wheels at
the check room, and he was forced 20
leave IL In charge OF porter, to whom he
had TO pay severa! times the ordinary
fee for checking baggage, The official
declares that he will use his influence
TO have ssme better legislation when the
next General Assembly meets, By that
time 1t is believed that the use of the
wheel will have come into such com
mon use that their influence for better
protection will be irresistible
A leading metropolitan journal In Civ.
Ing a list of prominent colored men
throughout the country who are doing
work on the stump in the present cam.
paign, mentions II. C. Smith. member
Of the Ohio Legislature from Cuyahoga
county. 1t states that his power Of
humor and eloquence make his services
In great demand Mr.. Smith, 1t says.
although but thirty three years of age,
has been engaged in newspaper work
for fifteen years, and has twice been
elected to the legislature, In 1894 he
accomplished the passage of the civil
rights law, with has already been
copied by other States. He also secured
the passage of the Ohio anti-lynohing
law The article credits him with being
the ablest leader of his race In the
Buckeye State,