The record-union., 1897-02-28
ANOTHER PHASE OF THE SUNDAY
QUESTION.

There is a threatened split in the
League of American Wheelmen becauss
the National Assembly the other day
refused to recede from its rule prohibit
ing Sunday racing. The league is an
important social body. 1t controls
wheel events throughout the United
States. 1t has some $4,000 members
and its membership commands the
respect of the people because of the high
position it has maintained concerning
cycling sports.
The league governs all matters of dis
tinction between amateurs and pro-
fessionals in wheeling; issues sanctions
for wheel events that in it's judgment
are reputable and genteel: prescrbes
the amount of purses for which wheel
men may contest, and keeps them so
low ass to prevent gaming. 1t prohibits
all manner of gambling on wheel
events; prohibits prizes in champion
ship contests except medals, and de-
fires the character of other prizes for
which wheelmen may compete.
The league prohibits selling, bar
tering or pawning prizes, and its mem
bers from accepting salary or any COM
pensation for engagement in cycling
competition. It Furnishes for ungentle-
manly conduct for rude language at
cycle meets, and for any conduct unbe-
coming the membership in such an or
ganiZation- In short, it has made and
maintained this form of athletics upon
a high level of gentility and correct de-
pertinent, and has thereby done great
good. 1t is so strong now that cycle
events not sanctioned by it, are prac-
ticany condemned, and offenders
against dts rules are severely disci-
phned.
1t promotes good road agitation, pub
fishes and disseminates good road liter
ature issues road map books, secures
for its members special rates at inns;
publishes a monthly bulletin Of informa-
tion. and generally conserves the inter
ests of wheelmen and Of good roads.
One oftits rules prohibits racing events
on Sundays, and any engagement in
race events at any time by women.
1t deprecates but does not actually
prohibit road races, but holds them to
be fnimical to wheel interests and that
streets and roads are not proper places
clause there is a decided protest and it
1t feared that many local leagues and
divisions viii secede notably in the
West and on the Pacific Coast. 1t is
Division will withdraw, while the
Southern California Division will stand
with the National League.
At the recent National Assembly the
Western and a part of the Pacific Coast
delegates desired the privilege of giving
entertainments for an admission fee
on Sunday, on the ground that ii is a
day in which outdoor exercise may well
be taken without offense to moral and
religious sentiment.
1t was contended that the public gar
den, the park and museums are open on
Sunday, and as a large portion OF all
communities make Sunday afternoon a
day of recreation, and as baseball.
football and other athletics are indulged
in on the first day of the week. it would
be rather betterment than otherwise
to invite the public to witness wheel
contests of gentility, decency and free
from gaming. trickery or offense. on
that day. Moreover. it was argued
that except these events are given on
that day they cannot be given at ALL
because so large a portion of the pub
lie has, no other time ii can, or will
give TO patronzing such entertainment
and that this is specially true in the
West, in the great cities and on the
Pacific Coast.
On the other hand, friends of the
rule held that the league had grown to
its present Importance under its pres