The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-22
NOW It IS WAR
TO THE KNIFE
President Potter Scores the
Seeding California
Wheelmen.
The Associated Cyclists Will
Fight Back With a Ven.
geance.
A New Road Book to Be Issued in
the Near Future-Glining
Members Daily.

The latest action of Isaac B. Potter,
president of the League of American
Wheelmen, has made a war to the knife
a war of e1termin ation-inevitable be-
tween the California Associated Cyclists
and the fast dissolving North California
Division, L. a. w.
When the first threats of secession were
heard in this State it was not the object
of the prime movers in the new organiza-
ton 10 disrupt the division. but N erely 10
take hold OF the racing interests of the
coast and place them on a sound footing,
something that the league was unable to
do because it would not sanction Sunday
racing.
As long as this privilege was not dis
puted by the league those who have with
drawn to form a new utilization of cyclists
were willing to let matters remain as they
were, though they did not feel that they
were getting much benefit from the old
organization, inasmuch as large amounts
of money were sent East from which
there was absolutely no return.
When, however. the league decided not
TO sanction Sunday meets the last bond
between the strong men in cycling and
the league were severed, and secession and
the formation of the Associated Cyclists
followed as matter of course. Up to the
present the Associated Cyclists have not
been overaggressive, merely getting what
mem bers were willing to come in, but a
circular letter that has been sent out over
President Potter's signature has aroused
them 10 pitch that means trouble on all
hands. The letter reads as follows:
To All Loyal Members Of North California Diut-
sion: You nave new ehieI consul, tried,
loyal and able officer, in the person of George
II. Strong, whose address is go Market street,
San Francisco. You have loyal, Jealous and
efficient vice-c onsu III in the person OF Francis
7. Dwyer, whose address is Sacramento. The
gentlemen whom you elected few months
ago to hold division offices have resigned and
have combined together IN conspiracy to
destroy your division. You have received cir
culars from these conspirators suggesting that
you join in this effort to make secession"
popular word in loyal State: They have
seized the road books of tue division upon a
pretended claim of debt made by men who
were league members few weeks ago, and
have tried to wreSt this properly from the
hands of the organization. They have
called in the services of the Sheriff
in order that these road books might
be sold into their own possession and used as
weapons to further in 1ure the North California
division. You have been caioied and missed.
Facts have been misstated, falsehoods invented
and every effort made to encourage the false
impression that the wheelmen of the East
not your friends. You have been told that the
North California division is 'dssolved.' Let
me suggest TO you this fact: " hen man re-
signs from the L. A. W. he takes nobody out
but himself. No man "secede'' for an
other. Each secessionist is sole proprietor of
his own raScality. II these gentlemen who
have claimed to represent your interests have
confused you follow the old and safe rule:
"When you are in doubt fight" l am receiv-
ing letters and postal cards from California by
every mail, piedging the loyalty of our old
league members. SEND them hereafter to
Chief Consul Strong, whose address l have
given you. North California should be wide
awake from this time on. Your interests will
be protected and every l. A w. member of
North California in the 1897 viii have reason
10 rememb Der his loyalty Tor all time to come.
ISAAC B. POTTER. President.
The Associated Cyclists have taken off
their coats since this letter came to light,
and are prepared to do battle to the bitter
end. They point to The fact that Presi-
dent Potter has left the impression in his
letter that the road books OF the division
are still tied up and that the secessionists
wanted to keep the books from the officers
of the league.
why should we want those books,'
said prominent member of the cyclists
yesterday, when we have in course of
preparation the road book of the California
Associated Cyclists. that eclipses the old
book in every way2 We are working
night and day on this volume, and five of
us put in the time between O'Clock FRI
day night and clock Saturday morning
revising and improving the matter that is
to 60 into it.
ut will contain table of distances and
new maps that are far more accurate than
those containd in the old division book
and will also give the locations and terms
of the official hotels as well as the names
of local representatives throughout the
State.
I've have no fear that the league will
ever get the upper hand in this State
again. When the fight started the diyi-
sion had 100 mem bers, now it has but
HOO and this nUm Der is decreasing daily.
The difference represents the mem bershlp
of the Associated Cyclists, and the organ
ization is growing in popularity daily.
President Potter can roar and mis-
represent facts as much as he pleases, but
1t don't take representative of The cyclists
long to convince a wheelman of the vastly
greater advantages of the association
when compared with those of the league
This is war to the knife, and when the
fact is taken into consideration that we
already have in the association the large
majority of the best men in cycling in
California to-day and are gaining MANY
new recruits daily it will be seen that
there is no chance for the league to re-
vive."
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