New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-19
IN THE CYCLING WORLD.
WHEN CROKER MoRALIzEs THE TOWN
LAUGHS.

vuv Tim rAMMANY LEADERS COMPARISONS
ARE RIDICULOUS AND oDIous-No MORE
ux-pAY oRrNps-rHE GOVERNMENT
BUREAU AND THE L. A W. no
Poru1ARIzp GOOD ROADS.
wb.r . man OF the reputation and record OF
p,obard Croker begins to moralize on the proper
obz.rvance OF Sunday the law-abiding citizens
q. this town may be excused II they turn ASIDE
to smile. While It is admitted that Croker Is
the present boss Of the city and the reported
gunner Of stock In the New-York Baseball Ciuo.
he IA not likely to be a great success as moral
i,er The couparisoEs which came rom MI
Croker Iast week have caused much amusement
Hts estimates Of how many votes his able lieu
tenants oan secure in certain districts at eIec-
ton time receive all due respect and cons'oera-
ton but when he compares Sunday oaseoaii
playing with riding a bicycle on Sunday inc
humor!sts Of the country can well anord 10
sharpen their pencils and get TO work MT croker
intimates that baseball teams may play cha'n-
p,onship games in this city on Sundays here
after and he says such sport Is no more harmful
10 the community than the riding OF a bicycle
on that day. Such suggestions are cnildish ana
ridiculous The idea Of playing Sunday baseball
in New-York City Is simply to NIL the foio
Grounds with a mixed assortment OF humanity
at so much u head. in order to make money ,e
when the club was controlled by General NC
Amin f B. Talcott. Cornelius van Cott, Jonn
B. Day and G. 7. Dillingham;. no thousht OF
sunday baseball was considered Tor an instant.
Those men knew that such q course woulu IN
time ruin the game In this city. as the practice
has injured baseball In the West. ana they also
knew that such games would offend the better
closs of their patrons and keep them away
rror, the grounds The only excuse ever onered
nv the western clubs for playing Sunday con-
tests was that their teams could not pay eN
penses without such games The New orK
club can offer no such excuse. for there is
handsome profit in the treasury, and II IL is con-
Quoted on business principles there is no reason
oniy one wear. hut every year. The profits have
been large ever since 1913
Mr. Croker possibly does not ride bicycle
and consequently does not know or the al
vantares of the wheel. He should learn 10 riue
at once The boss is said to be an expert hiiI-
climber and walker. and II this is so he should
not have much trouble In learning to ride oi-
cycle Were Mr.. Croker to change his style OF
argument and compare sunday baseball playing
with Sunday bicycle racing. Sunday horserac-
ing or Sunday priz Citing then he might gam
Tho attention Of the public. But when lie COM
pares the riding Of a wheel into the country 10
q Sunday crowd of bowling enthusiasts who
have PAID so InuCll u sec t'c So'iN o''N '~'-'
provokes the dstrust Of every thinking man IN
the community. Soc's people who know MT
Croker say that such comparisons did not ema-
nate from the brain Of the boss. but that he
simply allowed his name to go with the ideas
N helm some Of his needy neutenants and.
friends Sunday bicycleracng has been ques-
ton which has been studied in the League OF
American Wheemen for more than a year
Some Of the Western officials thought that there
should be local option in such matters but the
League would have none OF 1t. ana the secession
movement in California was the result ou Odr
sy,irators are bending the knee OF repentance
ard are ready to ask forgiveness TO get pack
into the fold. The Intelligent men OF the H. a;
~ have watched the demorallzing effects OF
Sunday baseball-payng In the National League
anI there is small likelihood OF their ever max
ing the mistake Of sanctioning sunday oicycie
races.
AdoIph Oatman Of the Manhattan Bicycle
Club Is the proud owner OF the 20 Oncers
Trophy. which he by riding fifty miles at
the Manhattan Beach track. In two hours thirty
one minutes and thirty seconds, thereby beat
ing the time Of the previous holder. X. H.
Bartsch The bowlers are getting around In
good shape and some interesting games are
played between the clubs first and second teams
every Wednesday night at the alleys. No. $40
club has entered a team IN the tournament Of
the A. c. c. c. y. Y. which Will begin on jan
uary Is at the Germania alleys on the Bowery:
The pool tournament is In full swing and several
!, sharks have been discovered. Games are played
every night except Wednesday. The schedule
has been arranged but the committee can make
room for any one who desires 10 enter. a.. AZ
games are handicap. SO that al! will have fair
show
The chances are that no club or association
will ever again attempt to shorten the track
In Madison Square Garden. Until this year
ten laps to the mile has been considered the
proper size FOR the arena. The unfortunate and
almost dlsgraceful ending OF the recent six
days'irace at the Garden ought to be lesson
10 race-meet promoters. and the L. A W.
well. A rigid investigation will be made. and
Il guilty parties exist they will be punished
and no further privileges awarded TO them. An
amendment prohibiting such contests will be
offered at the next meeting of the L. a. w,
and IL will receive the Endorsement of some
of the strongest men in the assembly. That the
track snort was apparent 10 many early
IN the week, yet the management insisted with
yehemence and much show Of feeling that the
track all right and OF the required length.
There were many nasty features connected with
the race. and the League will not do is duty
X X allows the matter 10 rest where II Ia. The
statement that the Quill Club Wheelmen was
Interested In the race can be denied officially.
The O. c. ". had nothing whatever to do with
the exhibition in any shape or form.
The League OF American Wheelmen Is to take
up the crusade for good roads on a new and
extensive scale. The National Committee for
Highway Improvement has submitted to the
Executive Committee a proposition which has
Just been approved. TO print and distribute an
edition OF a million pamphlets devoted TO the
good roads movement, and particularly 10 the
subject of State aid to highways. Otto Dorner,
% 49, ,,,,ft tC ,ari,,
this book for the press. with the assistance OF
General Roy Stone. the head of the United
States Bureau o. Road Inquiry. at Washington
The National Committee for Highway Improve
ment and the officers and members OF the
League will collect the addresses OF farmers
and State and local officiais to whom the PAM
phlets are to be sent.