New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-07
WHERE MR.. POTTER STANDS.
,,,s PLANS FOR THE LEAGUE OF AMERI.
CAN WHEELMEN.
.-v,,eM on WHICH HE ASKS THE PRESIDENCY
HOW STRONG DIVISIONS COULD
AID THE WEAK.

vork State is indeed the centre Of the cycling
~ % mis- week. With the Cycle Show at the Grand
80, Palace one would think that the followers
,ns recreation would have their hands full. with
"a having TO give any particular attention to the
oa .,.r,nc of wheelmen at Albany which promises to
.re Of the liveiest ever held by that robust or
.,,,,ion the League of American wheelmen. The
s.'.sn,ion al Albany will begin Wednesday and last
Eli Friday and possibly Saturday night.
wa,v important issues will come up for adjustment
"a the battle between Sterling Elliott and Isaac B.
na,er for the presidency promises to be the live
~, On record. Mr.. Potter is the Chief Consul OF
49,. state and his good work in the interest OF cy-
s,s has endeared him TO the riders Of the wheel all
ysr the country. Mr.. Elliott also has friends. and
~. victor will recognize that there has been cleo
,,on after II IS all over.
Mr. Potter has at last come out and tells just what
=. proposes TO do in he Is elected. What he
avs IS substantially follows
APPOINTMENTS
Only the best men-and by this mean careful,
conservative and jealous mep-should be placed in
charge OF important League work. There
MANY new as well old members in our Assembly
.uhose business experience and personal equipment
4, them admirably for work, which they would
c,,dy undertake should the opportunity be afforded.
The Rights and Privileges Committee should be en-
ms5s some Of the smaller divisions should be recog-
nlted The transportation Committee should also
be Ssenave in each STATE to represent the or
SANITATION in the arguments now pending with the
Road improvement Committee should be likewise
iarged and should have man In each state where
good work for road Improvement is contemplated.
INCREASE OF MEMBERSHIP.
This is perhaps the most important question in the
League councils. A State Division of 10000 members
can accomplish much for the good of whee.men
while a membership Of few hundred in the same
State would try in vain. We have been feeding
road Improvement literature 70 the farmers and
weafi:ome until the League took to itself the strength
Of numbers Larger divisions have enormous L ad.
for hand-to-hand effort by which big divisions
should nP 81 smaller e to sn df
100 little OF National unity in League work Many
S CT ts s saitabe
afford the expense Of printing road books ana thus
which could easily be overcome by little help from
the larger States Some OF the states have oeen seri
lions ETC and a State Division suffering such mis-
should be sd be back sst to d pTos9e anS S
viii presently describe good road eooH s n4srG
division and consulate.
HOW TO AID THE SMALLER DIVISIONS.
This leads us to a scheme for mutual aid which I
have lust suggested. l refer to financial aid 1t
frequently happens that one OF the larger DIVISIONS
has several thousand dollars In its treasury. while
half dozen smaller divisions are struggling along
in an effort TO survive. The hardest work in the
history Of any division is the securing of the first
! 100 members To do this requires the expenditure
Of money in the printing of road books. maps and
the charging of membership lists in the large divi-
mittee to consist Of the Executive Committee, act
ing in conjunction with the secretary and treasurer
Of the League (making five in alb. TO be called a
Loan Committee Into the hands Of this commit
tee any State Division may place certain sum
Tanging, say, from $50 upward) TO be credited 70
that division In the loan fund accoH d s w any
may execute application In due form, setting
forth the amount required and for what purpose
sired The Loan Committee then considers and
passes upon the applicaf'> ana upon lts oet,.s
approved. pays to the J0rrowing DIVISION lhe
amount required out of the loan fund and charges
account When the amount becomes due. the sec,
rotary Of the League back into the loan Iuno
from application and renewal fees received iroIn
borrowing division a certain percentage OF tne
receipts these payments to continue III the enre
amount of the loan has been repaid together WIN
interest at the rate Of. say. 8 per cent
BICYCLES AS BAGGAGE.
This movement is under way In several States and
will In the end establish the rights of wheemen In
heir relation to carriers. so that further j
question shall not be seriously interposed against
them Witness the splendid work now being done
nv New-Jersey. Michigan, Missouri Colorado and
South Carolina. | heartily favor an act OF Con- |
eress which shall establish the rights of travelling
W heelmen passing from State to another and |
rrohibit certain hurtful and arbitrary practices |
y NV imposed upon travelling wheelmen by many |
railroads which cross State lines This idea was |
Gideon Of the Racing Board who has conferred re- !
parding IL with learned authority in his State on
he subject of interstate commerce, and the League
should take II up promptly and vigorously. That !
doubt.