The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-15
BICYCLE RACING.
DIVISION OF THE INTERESTS
CERTAIN TO OCCUR.
1t All Hinges on the Adverse Decis-
ion of the National Assembly to
Racing on Sunday-California
Mans Opinion.

Chicago. Feb. ia special to the
Tribune from New York says: There
will be a division of the racing interests
of America into two separate bodies
within the next three months. This d.
vision will be the result of the adverse
decision of the national assembly OF
the League of American Wheelmen on
the Sunday racing divisional option
question.
California sent on three able dele
gates from her northern portion 10
bring about favorable action on her
request, which was made without a
threat of what might happen. Two Of
these delegates, Robert WEIGH, Cali
fornia member of the racing board,
and Frank Kerrigan, one of San fran
cisco's iudges. chief consul of the
northern California division and presi-
dent of the Bay City Wheelmen of that
city, were seen in New York last night
and gave out the following interview;
I'VE do not see how a division of the
League of American Wheelmen racing
interests can well be avoided. now that
the question of Sunday racing has been
so disastrously settled for the coming
season by the assembly. We cannot
see that there is any possible way in
which that action can be annulled, and
the fact of the matter is that we do
not advise the tracks of northern Cali
fornia or the west to stay in the league.
Our fight was made to the best of our
ability, and lost because the members
of the assembly thought more of what
people might say than of the rights in
the matter.
we lost the fight through the fail
ure of Mr.. Potter to keep his promise
to turn over to us IS of the votes of
New York state in return for the seven
votes of our division. the Louisiana
vote and that of Oregon and Washing
ton. We carried out our compact and
New York did not keep its promise by
a long way. We voted for keenan,, who
was on the Elliott ticket, for first vice
president, in exchange for that states
vote on the question that interested
Us. and there we got thrown down.
Now. it IS a case that lies with the
track owners of the great west, and we
think that they will at once make prep
arations to go out of the league. Moth
ing will be done in hurry in the mat
ter. Our country.s need is Sunday
sport, and other portions of the west
are likely situated in this matter. The
national circuit will start in California
just the same. and there will be over
a dozen davs of racing between the
20th of April and May 10. when the
circuit chasers leave for the east
The eastern racing men VIII De
given a grand time when they do come
to California for the spring races, for
it will be two years before they can
come again. The national assembly
will, we are sure at the next meeting
adopt the measure for the success of
which we were sent east, and then we
will regain our old places in the con-
trolling body. Meanwhile, it Will mean
a separate body, and that body will be
we'll and ably managed, the rules being
quite as strict in all respects and sim
liar to the rules of the L. A. w. except
that the prize limits may be raised
and the principal part OF the racing
will be on Sunday"
, Kerrigan and Welsh left for the coast
today, and say they will do all they
can do consistently TO prevent the
eruption, but they must go with the ma
jority in this matter, and the majority
can take but the one step.