Evening star., 1897-02-11
LATE NEWS BY WIRE
Great Growth Reported to the L. A.
W. Gathering at Albany.
4 MOST PROSPEROUS RACING SEASON
Chairman Gideon Expresses Him.
self on Sunday Meetings.
FIGHT FOR THE PRESIDENCY

ALBANY. y. Y. February II Prior to
the session of the l.. A W. this morning
a ratification meeting OF ;he Potter faction
was held at the Stanwix tIoseL The fol-
lowing slate agreed upon: President
Isaac T. Potter of New York; first vice
president. f. Cressey Morrison af Wiscon-
sin. second vice president. c. Frank Kirk
eker of New Jersey: treasurer, e. Cosmo-
iotSky of Iowa
The second days session of the l.. A. w
assembly was devoted entirely to business
pertaining TO the organization The attend
ance was much larger than Oh any preced-
ing day.
The president and treasurer submitted
their reports. That of President Elicit
shows d present nsnl er>hip of 1876. d
gain of about ~ per cen: over that Of 1896
TIE balance in he treasury is sS.~p-
My experience lays ne president. has
fully satisfied me that the most effective
LAY to spread the gospel of good roads is
through the regular stan1i ard publications
which are read by those whom wish to
CoI-trt
valuable help. was not a success as a
missionary. for the reason that it was
taken ami read only by those people who
already agreed with the sentiments.
Lust April / closed an arrangement with
the Canadian customs authorities by which
members of the League Of American
WheeIrnen are permitted to enter wheels
into Canada without the payment of duty.
which is ordinarily required
Il believe that one OF the most available
remedies for the disease of bicycle kiepto-
mania is to pass laws which will insure
very severe penalties for this kind Cf theft.
The value of the newspapers 10 the cause
of the l. y. W. cannot be overestrnated.
The organization is mentioned millions of
times during the year, and the impression
given the reader is usually favorable. The
various bureaus established in some CT the
states are potent Influence toward the
acquiring of new members"
The report of Secre tary Abbott BaSSett of
Boston deals more In detail with the sub
jects of membership. road making in TIE
various states. etc.
Chairman GideOn's Report.
Chairman George D. Gideon of the racing
committee was introduced by the president
as the most abused member of the League
of American Wheelmen. and yet the most
upright and deserving one IN the organiza-
ton.
Three hearty cheers were given for Mr..
Gideon he mounted the platform.
His report in part stated that .he year
1Ss; had witnessed the greatest racing
season in the history of the l.. A. w The
racing throughout was of the snarpest.
cleaneSt kind The number of suspensions
during the year for terms exceeding thirty
days was 1.396. of which seventy were
permaT ent- At the close of 1898 there
were Dul ninety professionals AT the be-
ginning of this year We had about 200;
now there are 1.9T3
far greater need is for official Judges
and timers The judges at some of last
years meets were unsa satisfactory in the
extreme 1t has also been demonstrated
that an entirely separate and distinct series
or amateur and professional championships
should be provided Read racing should in
q measure be controlled by the l.. A W.
aHt the sanct;oning of s:x-day races should
be discouraged. Such races are in no sense
an advantage to the sport 1t is believed
py your board that division option Should be
permitted in regard to Sunday racing We
have in this state ffty-two men suspended
for Sunday racing. whose term will expire
July l next and who should be granted an
amnesty II the restrictions on Sunday
racing are removed.
In regard TO Titus application for rein
statement the board considered the case
and feeling that he well deserved the pun-
ishTnent inflicted. refused to entertain it.
AS regards state control of racing we
should go slowly
on motion OF Albert B. Mott of Mary
land. the money in the hands of the rae
ing board. amounting to 81 800 was ordered
PAD to chairman Gideon as his salary
Conflicting Claims.
During the recess of the L. A. w. there
was heated fighting for votes for president
and both sides claim the victory at this
hour.
Inc principal discussion of the after
roon will be on Sunday racing 1t Is be-
ItNec that the w@s'~- VIII carry the
proposition for local option.
Both the Potter .liott men are
plainly worried at tht acton of the west
erners, who have decided 10 stand out for
the election of w A. Connolly of Danyiile
H. 10 the office of president