The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-23
NEWS OF THE WHEELMEN.
PRESIDENT POTTER OF THE L. a. W.
My 4 RENOMINATION.

Tho State RACINE board NnCrOnhCu u EINo
Raernbers-Naore Money Needed By the New
York OmciaIs-CIever Riders to Race at
the Kinru County wheeimen's RIeet-Notes.
While actual racing monopolizes the attention
Of the chronic bicycle crank there are many rou-
tine incidents Of no less interest to the average
person who rides for pleasure. One Of these
side issues caused q temporary blockade on tho
Western Boulevard yesterday, but the signif-
canoe OF the affair as an object lesson found lit
tie IL any appreciation. A family group riding
toward the north was "held up " for a timo by an
unwieldly two-h horse wagon laden with old iron.
The blcyclists represented three generations, and
all were mounted on up-to-dato wheels. clearly
of the highest grade and nickel-plated, regardless
Of expense. There were also three generations
of bicycles In evidence. but the interrupted
riders apparently found no food for reflection in
tho coincidence. On top Of the wagon, among
what seemed to be considered the least valuable
Of the junk, was the rusty skeleton of an old
ordinary, side by side with one Of the first
models of the safety which supplanted 1t.
Twenty-years ago. when tho grny.headed leader
Of the wheeling party must have been In the
hoydey Of manhood, the ordinary was also
In tho primo of It's popularity. Years
later another generation had gambollod
on the hard trimmed safety, but now that both
types Of the machine have lapsed into desuctude,
there remains pass unnoticed, while the modern.
pneumatic-tired safety is the cynosure Of all
eyes. Could tho bicycles talk as did the horses
in tho times Of Dean Swift, they would probably
have had something sarcastic to say before their
final immersion in the smelling pot.
Now that most Of the training academies arc
either closed or running on short time one often
wonders how II 10 that tho influx of recruits to
the ranks Of local riders continues apace. Tho
secret is not far to sock, for on almost every
semi-private asphalted street there are crowds
of aspiring novices to DO found mastering the
mysteries of the wheel after dark. Some are
fortunate enough to have an expert amateur
coach to hold them on and steer them to
comparative safety. but the majority are either
nervy or friendless enough to go it alone"
The results are frequently picturesque to in
q~uisitive onlookers, but more often disastrous
to the novices. Still the game goes merrily on,
and each secret session develops at least ono
freshman, who Immediately proceeds to take out
his other degrees OF proficiency on the avenues,
boulevards, and suburban roads. The ~janitor Of
a big building on Nassau street, which boasts
of an asphalt frontage. has two bicycles in active
operation every fine night, and every friend or
member of his STAFF takes a turn after the labors
Of the day at the exciting problem of riding a
full block without falling Off. A confirmed
devotee OF the wheel who witnessed this scene
last night says that similar experimental schools
are quite common all over this city and Brook
Ign. and that the amount of proficiency attained
in a short time under friendly membership 10
something extraordinary.
SARATOGA, June ON. J. Dewitt Of Roches-
ter won the one-mile State championship at the
second days racing OF the Saratoga Good Roads
Association meeting to-day. Powell, Dawson,
and Bird did not qualify. and w. H. Fearing
Lee of Cohoes held the advantage in the race
Just back OF paceiaaker. and Bradstreet led out
with the rush down the stretch. jumping as no
came. NJ. j. Dewitt came out smoothly and won
the contest by an open, length. Bradstreet was
story in the half.mile state championship, the
finish between l. A. Powell. George lteith, and
IL. X. Bird being u matter OF only a foot, and all
named. and was the %prettiest of the day.
In the professional races Tom Cooper and Or
honors in the one. nile open and two.mile handi-
open lengths back OF the leaders. In the one
was at the pole and Bald on the outside OF the
six men. Eaton wao second in line, and then
came Brock. Stevens. and Newhouse. The lat:
ter won out in the rush for the pacemaker, and
Bald followed Cooper. who was second in line.
mo nj 5h 1se a s,rrtsh t cooper w sns up M the the l lins. Es GSml n:
ing second, and Bald third. The latter went past
Eaton, and gained the rear of Cooper. but that
was all. stevens shot up from the back and on
the outside of Bald gained his pedal. Newhouse
at the pole could get no further than the rear
while Coopcr's win was hollow. Brock OF New
York. who had beaten Bald in his heat, was last
at the finish.
Twenty ono men started in the two-mile pro-
fessional handicap. with Mcfarland on scratch.
The field punched at the mile, and sailed around
the track a solid mass without a fall. Field
forged ahead at the quarter. and with Titus and
Brock made q great rash for the stretch. Stew.
out u full open, length ahead Of Mcfarland,
Tno was second nd p$ a loot from Carroll Jack.
the scratched man made 4:iO As.
Through the calling 81 of the second heat in
the one-mile open, amateur, the tinal heat was
left TO three men. Dawson winning handily.
Summaries:
One Mile. Open. ProfessIonAi-won by Cooper. Bald
Hall, a Mile. State Champlonship-won by I. A.
. rSSsli; i. K <. ii Air {, ;SG e. z. G G.. third aaFl T,m %G i'o o!m en-.
Last quarter in o:ao is. y
second; carroll Jack. 1870 yards. third. Ti%e. l :s6AiG &.
asSrs; Rsis6; New Yc5s; third: FINE; s:sS Is.
R;chM, 4. , 6;; NJ r :; De W. WI, Rochester. second F,w.
hsith. 10 yards: T. NJ Blake. scratch, second; Z. &.
The announcement that Chief Consul 1. B.
Potter OF tho New York State division Of the
IL. a. W. nus Qeclue0 10 retire from Office ut the
expiration Of his term In December has ex-
cited great surprise. During his term OF three
ycarsMr. Potter has built the division membership
up from about 5000 to over 10000. IL is felt
that the committee appointed to nominate a
ticket for the fall election will try TO induce Mr..
seems doubtful, however. When he was elected
President OF the l.. A. w. last February, THE
SUN announced that he would retire from the
Chief Consnlship. and that Walter Jenkins Of
coed him. A prominent member OF the division,
day, said:
III Mr., Potter %retircs from Office, as has been
stated, the division will lose n valuable head.
The selection of a fitting successor will be a
difficult matter. The idea OF Walter jenkins
OF Buffalo coming out as n candidate for the
office is not unlikely, and his election to the
position OF Chief Consul might result in the
l%9cStion Of the secretary! Troasurer's office at
Buffalo. Of course, there are many good mon
In this section to direct the affairs Of the di.
vision, but few Of them tako an active interest
1t Is rumored that Mr.. Potter will refuse To
standlagain for the Presidency of the l.. A. w, II
the position Is rendered to him, as is very likely.
Chairman A. d. Waite OF the Racing Board
OF the New York state division finds that tho