The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-23
WHEELMEN WILL ACT.
TO FIGURE MORE PROMIyENTLf
IN POLITICS.
They VIII Name Their Own Ticket Unless
They Are Given Suitable streets--To
Hold Mass VI Getting.

| League OF Wheelmen was largely attend
cd IN the Chamber OF Commerce Hall last
| hlBht al CLOCK The election OF officers
IOr the coming year resulted az fOiows'
! president.
Dr. Frank Steel. first vice-president.
dent.
Mr Reynolds Florence. secretary and
| treasurer.
The Board Of Governors will be ap-
pointed by the above officers.
| me presidents and secretary reports
| were read and were very encouraging,
both showing that much work for the
good of wheelmen had been done during
| the last year.
TO ENTER POLITICS.
There was much enthusiasm ana II was
the sense OF the meeting that In future
| the League engage more actively IN poll
| tics, and II necessary put up thelr own
| candidates. Ii Is claimed that the wheel
| men hold the balancing power and can
| elect their men. but only ask Tor ther
| just recognition i'm the matter OF giving
wheelmen suitable streets
A committee was appointed 10 arrange
for a mass meeting of all wheelmen at
! near future date. rms tolioWs tne
| recommendation I'm the president report;
A committee on grievances was appoiieeu
to see that the city ordinances were Ell
| forced.
The League decided to adopt button
| to be worn by its members
| Many names OF new members Were
| handed in. and all bicyclists are askeu 10
| join, as the cost is "A mere SONG
| THE PRESIDENTS REPORT.
Following is the full text OF the presl-
dents report: ~, ,so-
| To the Members OF the Richmond League
| Of Wheelmen:
| During the last twelve months, noun
| ing OF very great importance to the inter
| est OF the wheelmen has transpred IN the
/ a ~
! Legislature since our last annual meet
| ing. and consequently there mas pecn
nothing before that body either looking
| TO the advancement of those VINO rae
| the wheel or OF an adverse character 10
their interest. Neither has there been
| anything OF importance before our 'ity
| Council for its consideration. The League,
| however. and its officers nave not nseh
| entirely idle during the last Twelve
months. They have so far as u mas been
In their power looked out for the interest
| Of all who ride the wheel.
! / regret that / am not able 10 state that
/ something more has been done IN the line
| OF securing n better road or track over
some Of the principal streets in the CITY.
| Several efforts have been made IN this
| direction. but it has been impossible 10
| get the cooperation Of the CITY Counch
| i'm furtherng this object.
| conference was had with Mr.. Cot
| trell. who sprinkles some Of the principal
| streets Of the city. and he very cheerfully
| manner and at such times as to suit the
convenience of those who ride over these
| streets on wheels. and ] am glad to state
] that il is much more satisfactory 10 roe
| over these streets at present IN the al
ternoon than II was formerly when they
were full Of mud.
THE WIRE OUTRAGE.
Some miscreant some months ago, on
several occasions tied r'ire across the
Missing Link track. evidently for the pur-
| pose Of injuring those who rode on the
track. Several riders ran against these
wires and were considerably hurt. IL Is
very remarkable that they were not very
seriously hurt. Such an act cannot be
too severely condemned. The officers OF
the League engaged an experienced de-
tective 10 capture the offender. ana PAID
him for his services. The detective re-
ported that while he was unable 20 cap
ture the party. he succeeded in tracing
the offence 20 one who was suspected. and
the suspected party prudently left Tor
parts unknown, and thereby escaped the
punishment which would have no doubt
been Justly meted out 10 him. And ! am
glad To state that there has since been
no repetition Of the heinous offence.
Nothing OF much consequence Will over
be accomplished by the wheelmen Of the
city i'm their interest unless the great body
Of riders will take more interest In the
League. which is the only organization I'm
the city that has for its object the general
Advancement of the WhcclmcnS interest.
Something should he done to encourage
more interest i'm the League. and this
should be followed by better and more
effective organization and cooperation.
II all Of the wheelmen In the city would
ioin the League and enter into hearty co.
operation and would effectively organize,
they could secure almost anything IN red-
son which they desired
il is not the object Of whcelmen nor Of ,
the League TO antagonize the rights OF
those who do not ride, or to ecure Tor
themselves special privileges which are
not accorded TO others. But the common
use Of bicycles for pleasure end for bus
mess has grown 10 such an 'Ntent in re-
cent years that the rights Of those VINO
ride have not always been easily denned.
Many new questions have arisen ana IN
some cases II Is difficult 10 state the exact
duty imposed upon the rider and some
other party. As a rule in case NJ an accl-
dent the hicyclist suffers the Greater loss.
CONDITION OF OUR STREETS.
II is equally difficult To establish the
exact extent 20 which street or road inn
provements should be made for the spe-
cial interest Of whcelmen. II should be
our object TO discard these differences as
far as possible, and for wheelmen 10
unite with those who do not ride in
common effort TO remedy one OF the
greatest evils 10 which we are subjected
and that is the insufferably bad condl-
tiOn Of our streets and roads. Let us
take hold Of this question first and work
for better streets and roads, which Will
rebound 10 the interest OF all. and VIII
also greatly lessen the possibility Of ac- /
cidents. 7 would suggest that inasmuch !
as it seems impossible at present 10 Sc
cure the improvements OF our principal
streets which are used for riding and
driving. that we bend our efforts towards
securing a track for bicyclsts on one OF
our principal streets leading to the west !
ern part OF the city.
This can be done by united effort The |
building Of the Missing Link track shows !
what can be done in this direction by the |
wheelmen II proper effort is put forth. J
We should also unite with the people IN |
the country in their efforts 10 secure bet
ter roads for the State. Encourage the |
sentiment which is growing I'm favor OF |!
having better roads. and II We are not
successful az once. Il will not be long
before this sentiment will be followed |
by action ON this important subject. Much |
has already been done through the innu-
ence Of tine League in the interest OF |
wheelmen
Unjust and harsh measures have been |
prevented from being enacted iuto laws. !
both by the state Legislature ana the /
city Council Many questions ~ minor |
importance have from time to time. as !
OF the officers OF the League.
The Board has offered a reward Of So |
for the arrest and conviction OF any one |
who steals the wheel of member or the |
League who has registered his wheel with |
the secretary and a reward OF 30 Tor the !
conviction Of one who places glass or !
Ike substances on the streets
There Is no reason why ever one VINO |
rides the wheel should not JON the Lea I
que. The dues. - cents per year, are !
merely nominal. II Is possible that there