The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-28
A BIG RACING TRUST
PROMOTERS ALONE BENEFITED BY
THE l.. A. w. CONTROL OF RACES.
Why the Former SettIed-Sixteen
ScOrchers Arrested Last Even
ing-WheeI Notes.

Under the head THE L. A. w. Racing
Trust" the L. A. w. bulletin of this week
publishes a timely article upon the position
of this organization regarding racing mat
tiers. Ever since the l.. A. W. assumed to
control racing there has been trouble. The
trouble has not, perhaps, been greater than
before, put it seems to be of a nature that
can be avoided by changing the policy. The
league has assumed a dictatorship that is
distasteful. 1t has caused part of the Sc
rious trouble on the southern circuit. 1t
has resulted in the secession of the Califor-
mia l.. a. w. members, and was also the
cause of secession in Minnesota 1t has
been predicted that this dictatorship will
ultimately result in taking racing matters
away from the league, and already a move
ment has been started in Chicago for the
formation of national association of cy-
cling clubs for this purpose. This movement
is by league members and is started in all
friendliness. 1t is in this spirit that the
l.. A w. Bulletin discusses the subject as
follows:
I'VE have often remarked that the League
OF American Wheelmen is the greatest or
ganization on earth This has been said
feel that we are justified in repeating it
now. But 1t behooVes us to occasionally
take account of stock and see If III our very
greatness we are not stopping over some
where along our extensive and somewhat
undulating gunwale.
SHOULD we officially recognize racing is
a question that has not by any means been
disposed of. The l.. A. w Bulletin fire.
quently receives letters and verbal express
SionS from members on TINS subject. to the
effect that our usefulness is much impaired
through the amending squabble over rae
ing and furthermore, we are much i'm
pressed with the fact that such expressions
almost invariably come from the class of
people whose membership does honor 10
'"The serious question land 1t is bound TO
be a still more serious question in time) is
not snah the league controI racing put
shall It's control be accomplished by the use
OF bludgeon, rather than by diplomatic
tactful. business-hke methods. 1t is not
true, as has been stated that racing in it.
self is responsible for all the troubles of the
l.. a. w. We do not believe that clean
honest racing has ever been productive of
harm to anybody. The real trouble comes
ana always has come from the fact that
the league has tried to control racing not
wisely, but too much
why require sanction to run race
meet Ihat an interesting question.
Think il over. Who does 1t benefit? Is it
an advantage to the average league mem
Der? Certainly not. Competition in bicycle
racing means lower prices for seats i'm the
grandstand. or more and better attractions
Down with trusts is popular sentiment
with all except those who directly ben
Gifted,
The l.. A. w. is running a racing trust
and il Is of interest for US TO study the sub
Ject q little and see who is benefited nv II
The most open competition is certainly 6est
for the citizen who pays his money al the
gate. and who. by the way, is, after ali
the fundamentally which alone makes the
race possible.
How about the racing men? They have
speed TO sell; what is the commercial FACE
in buying ana selling? Isn't it that the
more buyers. the better price the seller can
realize? Why. certainly. The racing man
who has shown himself to be 4 drawing
card wants the benefit of competition for
his services; while the unknown is ben
Gifted by having the largest possible num-
Der OF races IN which he may enter. and
the more the big ones are scattered the
better will be his chances of winning. We
cannot believe that any racing man was
ever benefited by our sanction system: bur
instead, many of them have been suspended
for competing In unsanctioned races and
without the means OF knowing at the time
that they We're doing wrong