The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1897-02-04
OBJECTS OF L. A. W.
WHAT 1T is DOING FOR KENOSHA
WHEELMEN
THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP
An Article by S. @. Newman Explaining
the Uses of the Organization
A Plea for Wheelmen
to Join It.

In view of the ignorance that seems
| to be in the minds of local wheelmen
as to what the L. A. w. is, its accom-
plishments and aims, it may not be
time lost in explaining, or space wasted
| in placing an article of the following
nature before the Kenosha cycling
public.
The l.. A. w. is about entering upon
the eighteenth year of it's existence.
At first it was largely social in its aims,
the riders of the good old ordinary "
being so few that only in the largest
cities could clubs be formed. At once
the right of the wheelman to pedal his
horse frightening contraption " along
the streets and roads was questioned.
Prohibitive legislation in some sections
making it unlawful for the bicycle to
be used at all, and bulldOZing tactics
on the part of many horsemen in all
neighborhoods, banded the league
members more closely together, and
suits of various kinds were prosecuted
and defended at the expense of the
organization, rapidly resulting in court
decisions in all parts of the country
declaring the bicycle to be a vehicle
and entitled to all the rights Of such.
Up to the advent of the safety =
bicycle, the league was small numeti-
cally, and confined itself as notes TO
having a good time at the "metts ("
and securing the bare right to use the
road. The present style Of bicycle at
once increased the number OF riders,
and the league mem bership. I ic scope
of the organization was enlarged.
The league has at presen .tmember-
ship of some $4,000, having doubled its
numbers in 1896, and starting into the
year 1897 with the probabilities of
doubling its number again. 1t is di
vided into divisions, the territories
covered by each being the various
states and territories of the United
States. The Wisconsin division num-
bers some 1900, (when it should be
100000 The divisions are governed
by a chief consul, vice consul, Secretary
treasurer, and representatives, one
representative being chosen for each
200 members, and all the officers afore-
said being elected by a direct mail vote
If the members. Any cycling club
having twenty five members in its
organization may declare itself a league
club, and elect an additional represen-
tative to serve on the state board Of
Ulcers. Local ,consuls are appointed
in each city of any Importance, whose
,luty it is to supervise league matters
in his vicinity, racing, recruiting, tour
ing, etc. The wheelmen OF KehO>ha
have probably noticed that new guido
boards have been put up all through
Kenosha county. This action on the
part of the various towns resulted from
local consul r HI. Weles calling the
attention of the district attorney to all
Did law compelling the erection OF such
boards. The attention OF the various
towns was called to this law, and the
boards went up.
The national body consists of the
chief officers of the divisions, and one
representative for each 400 members in
the division. The chief officers Of TIL
national body are elected and appoint
ed by that body.
The chief aim of the L. A. w. al
present is to create good roads " sell
liment, and secure legislation looking
60 improvement of the roads. Gen
Roy Stone, head of the good roads
commission created by the Unite
States government, being part OF tn.
department. OF the interior, attributes
he remarkable increase in gOoo
roads " sentiment to the persistent Ell
deavors Of the league. The road i'm
provement committee of the Wisconsin,
division, with but limited means at its
command, has caused the insertion o
thousands of articles in the papers o.
the state bearing on good roads, and
the leaven is working we'll. Can any
one who can afford to own wheel
plead the lack of the small dues and
remain outside of an organization that
is thus moulding public sentiments
The l.. a. W. has steadily main
tanned control of the sport of bicycle
racing, in spite of the attacks of hippo
drome promoters, and athletic organ
izations of various kinds, who prefer to
run things in their own way, and who
from time to time have endeavored tn
start rival organizations, only to fail
A wise set of racing rules has been
formulated, being amended from year
TO year as necessities have required,
with these results. No Sunday races
are allowed. At no bicycle races are
pools sold, no gambling being allowed
Professional and amateur classes are
distinctly marked, and the rules are SO
stringent tha5 dirty racing" is re-
duced to minimum. Can any other
athletic or sporting organization point
to such recordg
tVhoca who haI0ny tO any organization