The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-08-28
SO sCRAPPY.
Interminable Rows Spoil Everything
the Wheelmen Take Up.

The bicycle section contemplated in
the floral parade will probably be omit
ted this year. Wheelmen, though de-
sirous of participating, are not in the
same mood as when the subject was
first presented.
The reasons assigned are, first, the
difficulty of maneuvering decorated
wheels on the streets, crowded as they
will be on that occasion, and which
state of affairs cannot be avoided with
the police force now or which may be
on duty that day: Then there. is no
organization Of the wheeImen in the
city to properly handle the affair or
give it the drill necessary, as the T. A.
A W., at a meeting held August ID.
after a heated discussion, rejected the
invitation to participate.
They say, could the streets be kept
clear from curb to curb and on the
avenue from curb to car track, the
wheelmen would have an opportunity
of keeping in motion, no matter how
slowly the procession advanced; but in
a crowded street this is an impossible
ity and means continuous dismounts,
which detract from the effect
The main trouble among the wheel
men comes from the fact that they are
at war among themselves. At the meet
ing of the T. A. A. w. Mr.. Canniff was
censured because he had been chosen
marshal of the bicycle division of the
floral parade and had invited the club
to join, but had not consulted them nor
asked their permission. Mr.. Canniff was
not anxious to take the responsibility
of the matter upon himself, but was
urged to do SO. Instead of the support
from the wheelmen that he expected
he was censured for trying to help the
matter along. The ones who cenSured
were the very ones who would do moth
ing towards the success of the enter
prise and the T. A. A. w. refused to
aid in any way or take part. This
matter is of general interest to the
wheelmen of Topeka, as it brings up
the discussion among the l.. A w.
rel1r
foster racing. The original object of
the L. A. w was for good roads and
the matter of the control of racing was
added. The strife among the wheel
men here arises wholly from the race
meet that was held. Claudy was sus-
pended, and some side with the decis-
ion, and others think that he was inn
posed upon. The club cannot be car
there is harmony in their ranks, and
that seems a long way off at present.
To show the proper spirit the club or
the wheelmen independently should
take hold of the parade and
make it a success. The wheelmen of
Kansas know the T. A. A. w. to be the
strongest bicycle club in Kansas, and
those who attend the festival will ex-
pect to see them turn out and make a
good showing. The state at large has
helped several Topekans to offices in
the league, and the proper thing for
the club to do is to show their appre-
citation and entertain the visiting W heel
men with a first class parade. The po-
lice protection for this years festival
will be far superior to last years and
the wheelmen need have no fears that
they will not have room enough to
naneuver.
And above all the wheelmen should
stop their everlasting quarreling which
smells to heaven and creates a general
tired feeling. If wheelmen can't go in
to the parade as a club, let them form
a floral parade brigade" on a new
basis and invite everybody that rides a
wheel to join.