The San Francisco call., 1897-02-13
SUNDAY RACING
NOT APPROVED
CALIFORNIA; L A. w. Dele.
gates Split on the
Question.
Professional Wheelmen Again
Excluded by an Overwhelm-
ing Vote.
Lively Debates in the League Assem-.
bly, on Various Cons titutional
Amendments.

vious day and last nights banquet has
been too much for the delegates, and it
was 1880 o'clock this morning before
| President Elliott called the L. A. w. as
sembly to order. About fifty delegates
were present.
Amendments to the constitution were
taken up. Secretary Bassett's amend
ment to article 2 was first called up. 1t
provides that States having less than
twenty-five resident members shall be
called consulates, California to be consid-
cred as two States. Adopted.
Mr.. Collins moved that local option be
given divisions to control their own rep
resentaton on the State board, not to
affect the National board. Adopted.
Mr.. WEIGH of California moved to amend
article 5 by striking out the words 'Ieague
clubs" and allowing any club to be repre-
sented on the National board.
Mr.. Hines of California moved as an
amendment that the membership in the
league TO entitle it 10 representation on
the State board be reduced from fifty to
! twenty.
Mr.. Sheridan of Illinois wanted to
amend this by proposing that the divi-
sjons be allowed to settle this matter for
them selves. This latter amendment vas
adopted as substitute for the others.
MIR. Roberts of New York moved that
the word otherwise be stricken from
article 3, section 8, so that an amateur be
permitted to change his prizes as long
as he does not turn them into cash.
Adopted.
| Secretary Bassett moved to make article
3, section l, read that all other white
| wheelmen shall be eligible to associate
me NJ bership, striking out the word lama
teur." This would include professionals
A great deal of discussion ensued over the
word associate" it being the general
I sentiment that they be admitted into full
me IN bersnip.
| A motion was introduced by Mr.. Sheri-
dan of Illinois that the word associate"
be stricken ont.
| W. r. Tucker of Pennsylvania arose
and bitterly denounced the amendment.
A number of others spoke favorably on it.
Mr.. Monaghan of Southern California
associated professional riders with horse
| jockeys, which evoked storm OF disap-
proval.
Mr.. Jenkins of Buffalo was opposed to
any distinction between amateurs and
professionals.
J. B. Reynolds said the admission of
professionals into the league would be in
! furious and would retard the work.
Mr.. Rudd OF Buffalo put a puzzling
| question to the assembly by asking if
those present had ever examined their
own amateur status.
A. B. ChoaIe of Minneapolis said the
best class of people of his city would not
| become members if the amendment
passed.
Mr.. Willis of Maryland said that the
league was at present associated with a
class of people that racing boards were
having the most trouble with-amateurs
that it was useless to keep professionals
out. Ths discussion became exciting. As
each speaker would take his seat half a
dozen would be on their feet. There were
| loud calls for the question.
Mr.. Bassetts amendment was put and
| lost by an overwhelming vote.
The motion removing all restrictions
and admitting all white persons to mem
could not be determined, and second
rollcall was ordered. The amendment
was lost, lacking the necessary two- thirds
vote.
W. r. Tucker moved that a committee
| of three be appointed to draft new con-
| tract VIII Lnf OF the bulletin.
This was adopted.
An amendment offered by Mr. Cooke of
Rhode Island, that any white wheelman,
1S years OF age or over. of good moral
character, be eligible TO mem bership. was
then considered. vote was taken on
the amendment and it was lost, 159 to 96.
| L. B. Kirby of Columbia CoIlege presi-
dent of the Intercollegiate Association,
was given the privilege of the floor. He
| asked that in justice and in courtesy 10
the association the league change the
article stating that no amateur rider re-
ceive any rem dneration for his service s.
nor that his expenses be paid. This was
an injustice to coliegians as they did not
| receive remuneration. but their expenses
were paid. He said If this change should
be made it would bring thousands of new
mem bers TO the league.
Mr.. Kirby was requested to submit an
amendment, which he did. 1t reads that
contestants OF ella sical colleges or schools
at intercollegiate or other meets shall be
governed by the rules of the Intercol-
! legiate Association. 1t was unanimously
| adopted. This is what the colleges have
been contending for the past year, and
| the threatened split between the two or
ganiZations has been averted. Recess was
taken until o clock.
A bare quorum was present when the
hour for calling for the afternoon session
| arrived. Vice-President Kossum occupied
the chair A number of Western dele
gates returned home during the recess.
An effort was made to get the Sunday
racing question before the assembly out
of its or der, but was defeated.
E. W. Roberts of Missouri submitted an
amendment providing that the racing
| board provide for amateur and profes.
sional National cham pionship events at
the league meet. the races to be the same
in number and distance. 1t was adopted.
Mr.. Cooke of Rhode Island submitted
| an amendment to article s. section 8. in
| the event of contested election in auy
division it must be referred first to the di-
vision rights and privileges com mmittee
and. in case of an appeal, be carried 20 the
National rights and privileges committee
Adopted.
Mr.. Welch of Northern California
moved the addition of Mr.. Roberts
amendment to article 4, section z, that the
racing board shall grant sanctions for rae
ing meetings to be neld on Sunday in such
divisions in which the board officers OF the
division shall adopt a resolution permit
| ting the same; that such resolution shall
be subject 10 revocation at any time by the
board OF officers filling the same
Mr.. Welch explained how it would
affect the wheeling interests of California
! II this was not passed, and he said the
| people OF his State wanted Sunday racing.
| The racing restrictions have driven the
riders in California to violate the league
rules. He claimed that Sunday was being
| turned into day of amusement in his