The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-16
APPEHL FOR THE L. A. w.
THE INDIANA CONSUL ISSUES A CIR
GUAR TO WHEELMEN.
Reduced Hotel Rates and Repair Bills
Throughout the State-A Sugges-
tiOn for Buddhists.

Wallace Sherwood. chief consul of the
League Of American Wheelmen for the dis
trict of Indiana, has issued a circular adj
dressed to the wheelmen of the State. In
1t he appeals to all wheel riders to become
members of the league, and sets forth the
inducements which the league holds forth
for wheelmen to join.
The objects of the organization are to
promote the general interests of cycling;
to ascertain, defend and protect the rights
of wheelmen; to facilitate touring; to reg
ulate the government of all amateur sports
connected with the use of the wheel, and
to secure the Improvement of highways by
the education Of the people on the economy
and desirability of high-class roads and TO
create an active sentiment in their favor.
1t is believed that at least one of these
objects ought to appeal to every wheel
man. All alike get whatever benefit and
whatever rights may be established by the
league. The honor Of wheelmen is ap-
pealed to, 1t being the opinion that no fair
minded person will consent to allow the
few who are already members of the league
to bear the burden Of the expense of things
which are equally valuable to all riders of
the wheel. During the last sixteen years
the league has completely changed the
status of the wheel. When the wheel first
appeared it was chased off the highways as
a nondescript affair which. could only be
classed as a nuisance. All this is now
changed through the efforts of the league.
Over two hundred court decisions obtained
by the league give the whee a legal stand
ing equal to that of any other vehicle.
This has cost the league thousands of dol
lars and much self-sacrihcing labor on the
part of it's members
o10nn fhn IT. -
league members is the free route books
and road maps issued. Thousands of dol
lars are expended annually by the various
state divisions in this work. Those pub
iished outside of this State can be pur-
chased by local members at the actual cost.
While the route books and road maps com
piled and published by the Indiana division
are furnished free TO league members in
Indiana. This year there has been a spe-
cial route committee appointed, and the
Is now at work compiling a book
which viii give a rider all the Information
needed to tour from one end of the State
to the other.
Another great benefit to members of the
league set forth is in the rates made by
hotels and repair men. In almost every
city and town in the United States there
are league hotels and league repair shops.
An arrangement has been made by the
League of American Wheelmen by which
these hotel men and repair shops give from
10 to 30 per cent. reduction to members. A
single excursion will very often pay the
expenses for a year in the league.
The fact that there are over rs, goo league
members in the United States scattered
throughout the East and West makes it a
very desirable thing, it is claimed, to be a
member of such an organization. A wheel
man going into a strange town can always
find a friend in the local consul or in any
member of the l.. a. w. All racing matters
are at present controlled by the league.
The members of the league are admitted
free to all official division meets.
The local members Of the league have in
contemplation the perfection of a more COM
pact and aggressive organization which
can night and work for the preservation
and, definition of the rights of wheelmen
I'm this city. 1t is the intention Of the chief
consul to appoint a number of local con-
suls, to become a committee to take up ac-
lively this plan.