New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-12
FIX DAYS ON WHEELS

The Legislature should take early action 70
prevent the repetition of the Objectionable feat
ures of bicycle contests extending through six
successive days and nights. If the affair which
was ended last evening had not been marked Dy
graver evils and abuses than those which were
noted In the race Of year ago no legislation
would be necessary. When Hale was the WIN
ner in 1898 the managers Of the show appeared
to be not only In the possession OF their senses
but also in the Ownership Of some approach to
discretion prudence and caution. A year ago
the tremendous test Of endurance in which Hale
proved himself ADLER than bis rivals was car
red out In such q manner that Intelligent ana
humane persons were not stirred to intense In
dIenation and disgust This time tho manage
ment has been 90 outrageously Lax and bad IN
many ways a. to deserve severe public censure.
and to require the passage Of q suitable bill at
Albany. Prizefghts and Knockout" matches
pushed to the extreme Of brutality arc pro-
hibited IN this State. and in almost every State
of the Union. Six days contests conducted a.
this one was conducted are more debasing and
revoltng than smuggling" contests. Moreover,
Il should not be forgotten that the disreputabls
gang Of lawbreakers which has been conspicu-
Gus In handling Corbett and other brutes OF the
days races
Even Chicago has found six days struggles
on wheels. as they have been mismanaged, in
tolerable and not to be endured. The chief city
Of America ought never to be disgraced again
By such a nauseating exhibition as that OF last
week. The Board Of Health was plainly derelct
In tn duty. Every part Of Madison Square
Garden should have been keenly watched and
closely inspected from the beginning to the
close Of this affair by Health Department in
spectors Many Of the attendants and hangers
on Of the bicycle riders wera Fnclean In their
habits, and thousands of the Visitors to the Gar
den were dirty chewers and smokers Of the
cheapest and rankest tobacco. and knew nothing
Of decency. while throughout the week the air
IN many parts Of the building was 30 foul and
noisome AZ to be detrimental to health. After
TIE six days race the Garden needs thorough
cleansing and disinfection from top to bottom.
Thiru-six men and boys were on their wheels
WIEN the starting signal was heard In the nrst
hour Of last Monday. More than half OF the
number were out Of the conflict at the close
Wonderful records were made by Miller Rice
and others, and the winner II supposed to have
gurpassed an previous exploits on the wheel by
hundreds Of miles. II Is not certain, however
that the track 10 Of fun length, no matter how
many afidavits may be sworn to BY the man
arers or by their agents and employees. Yet
even II the track il q few feet short, 1t cannot
be denied that Miller and Rice and some Of thu
others have scored amazing totals in the si1
daya Il cannot be doubted that every one who
took mart In the contest has subjected himself
10 such a strain That his life will Be shorter be
cause OF his exertions last week. That Is q
matter that concerns the riders themselves, how
ever much moro than 1t concerns the genera
public The lives Of six days bicycle riders ar
not especially precious to the world and If TIT
annual death rate among them should mount t.
nine hundred and ninety nine In the thousand
the nations Of the earth would not be dissolved
IN tears or wrapped In gloom. 1t Is not tn
breaking down of the riders that IL Of moment
But the degrading and mischievous infuenc
on the spectators and on tho community Is t
be deplored In its management this affair wa
reprchensible for rapactty, avarice and extor
ton. The prizes were contemptibly small TO
the miserable wretches who writhed In the tot
ments caused By excessive effort and by lac
Of deep. The profits Of the INSCRIPTIONS man
ayers must have been enormous. They pile
ND immense gains at the expense Of their tori
ured victims, the ELDERS. Most Of the train
ers were stupid, ignorant fellows. who did nc
know how to manage their men 80 as to spar
Them as much suffering a. possible. Every on
who u familiar with the American turf know
that most Of the trainers Of racehorses In TIL
country ars below the average Of human INTEL
.ecnoa ana issQusntiy fan into the most FOOLS