The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-19

The Pennsylvania division, League
of American Wheelmen. during the
past week made the greatest increase
in membership in its history. In the
Bulletin of May IA there was published
the names of 719 applicants which were
received the week ending the preceding
Saturday. This brought the total mem
bership up to 1923, which Is but 5,9lS
less than New York. Only year ago
Pennsylvania was a bad third in point
of numbers, but with the progressive
methods put in force by the state OFF,
cials Massachusetts was passed, and
ever since the Keystone state has been
steadily forging towards first place.
At present Pennsylvania exceeds the
membership of Massachusetts by 1886,
although the latter has a considerably
larger membership than It had year
back, and at the present rate New York
is bound to be overtaken and the COW
eted first position gained.
Among the recent applicants for
membership in the League Of American
Wheelmen were Governor Hastings
and his private secretary, Lewis f.
Beitler, whose names were sent in by
]. w. Wright, local consul, and Hon.
John Wanamaker, whose application
was secured by j. A. S. Heath, local
consul. Mr.. Wright has since the
first of the years secured $50 applica-
tions for membership, and Mr.. Heath
62S applications. Many other members
of the Pennsylvania division are also
credited with large numbers of appli-
cations and it is owing to the great
work which is being done by the Off
cials in the state that the remarkable
increase in membership has been Sc
cured. The Pennsylvania division gives
it's members more in return for the 81
per year paid in than does any other
division, and as the membership in
creases the proportionate cost Is small
Ter and the benefits continue to grow.
c. Herbert Obreiter, esq, local con-
sui and representative of the League
of American Wheelmen at Lancaster, Is
organizing local branch of the league
at that place to strengthen the local
municipal government in it's efforts to
secure improved street paving.
The fact that the League of Ameri-
can Wheelmen will hold it's annual
meet at Philadelphia this year should
help to increase the membership in
this state. The first week in August
promises to be a gala occasion for
wheelmen in every sense of the word,
and this event will unquestionably be
the greatest gathering of the kind on
record. As the entertainment will be
solely for members of the organization
an early application for membership is
desirable. To become enrolled it is
necessary to have the Endorsement of
two members of the organization and
to pay an initiation fee and one years
dues, amounting to $500. Full infor-
nation regarding the league and its
advantages may be secured upon appli-
cation tC the secretary treasurer, Penn
sylvania division, 66S Bourse, Philadel-
phia-.
At the meeting of the National as
sembly of the Lea que of American
Wheelmen held last February the ques-
tiOn which caused the greatest amount
of discussion was that of allowing each
state to use its own preference in the
matter of giving race meets on Sunday
under the league sanction. The propo-
sitiOn was vigorously opposed by many
of the more thinking members of the
assembly, prominent among whom
were the Pennsylvania delegation, who
| took the ground that even though the
| Pennsylvania officials would undoubt-
erly avail themselves Of the privilege,
| the mere fact of the league officially
sanctioning Sunday sports would have
| almost as bad a moral effect as though
| they did, and that the rejection of the
! pre- posed amendment would win for the
organization the support of the best
! element in the country. The amend
mcnt was defeated and the disgruntled
| element on the Western coast at once
started a rival organization to the
league based on Sunday sports, which
while it will probably amount to little,
! is causing some trouble.
The wisdom of the course pursued by
! the PennsylVanians was at once appar-
| ent, aside from any moral question in
! volved for numerous applications for
| membership were at once received from
those who desired to show their en-
| dorsement of the leagues action. In
cluded is one lot of applications re-
| ceived @ few days ago from A. D.
| Knapp, the local consul at Williams
port, where nine ministers in that city
the general secretary of the Young
Mems Christian association, and the
chief of police and several of the most
prominent citizens, all of whom are
riders, and all of whom Joined the
| League to indicate their approval of ar
| organization with the backbone tC
| carry out what they thought was right