The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-18
HERE IS IN INDIGNATION.
WHEEJWOMEN AROUSED BT THE
BRIDGMAN CASE.
They Assatl the 4. A. w. Consulate for Deny
ing Mr.. BridEnnn's Application for MEM
bership aud Predict Dire Results-The
Enntnr mrnnnmnkinn unntnena In the nnn,n.-

S H"Ah N"u - ~ ~ hEuHIS
ing Mr.. BridEnan's Application for MEM
bership aud Predict Dire Resuits-The
Easter business in the Dumps-
Instead Of one Easter parade to-day this
city will have two parades. One will DO the
regulation dress parade on Fifth avenue boz
tween the hours OF IL and 1. Tho other will DO
n continuous performance on the Boulevard.
The success OF each. however, will depend on
Aprtis whims. II she chooses to smile on the
city there will be great times in these parts.
Times aren't what they used to be-" the
and tailors are crying. "why, in
years gone by we were go rushed with orders for
Easter gowns that we got wheels In our heads.
Now. when a woman comes In and gives an
order for a dainty. fluffy Easter frock we think
she has wheels in her hoad. Why Oh, it's all
due to the influence OF the wheel. Women don't
care anything for Easter Hnery any more. II
they have comfortable bicycle suits they arc
perfectly satisfied, for they fatty announce that
they wouldn't miss their usual spin for all the
Easter parades in the world"
AM they don't care any more for Easter
bonnets than they do for gowns. echo the mill
liners. Tho only question that interests the
average woman about a hat nowadays is: win
IL stay on when I ride Z Really the wheel has
spoiled the Easter trade"
D~ressmakers and millincrs can 60 on abusing
the merry wheelwomen to their hearts content
The wheelwomen remain the happiest persons
to be found anywhere to-day. They did q good
deal of wondering during the first part of the
week. April stole a march on them and cut up
such queer antics that they were almost afraid
to plan their Easter runs. On Monday she treated
them to n regular February rain, with a March
wind accompaniment. On Tuesday she deigned
to smile on them again. but q stiff. cool breeze
took great liberties with their short skirts. And
on " n1,n.J,y ,x.aa n a. ~.zl a.. -.
their favorite sport. After that they all got so
angry that they forgot all about their Easter
runs, the weather. and everything else. The
whcelwomen have u grievance. II the ears Of
the l. A. w. Consulate do not burn 1t
Is because the Consulate Is very callous,
for the cycling sisterhood all over the
city Is giving this ponderous body particular
Ats. 1t all comes from the Consulate's Offering
what the whcelwomen term a direct insult to q
man who has for years done as much as any one
in the city to make wheeling easy, safe and
pleasant for women. That man is Malcolm L.
Bridsman, President OF the New York Cycle
Board OF Trade.
More than a dozen women. all members OF the
l. A. W., were discussing the matter ON the day
1t cropped out. Before they got through talking
there were three or four dozen.
We'll" exclaimed q woman who has worked
like a slave to secure members for the League of
American Wheelmen. have you all heard what
the Consulate. the local branch OF the L. A. w,
has done to Mr.. BridgmanT
"ies!" shrieked u dozen voices. Did you
ever ew hear 8 St snyihinSk 50 80 small ana,hs in S o,an it ssrsr,v
They rejected, his application for member
ship. answered the iirst speaker.
That can't be possible!" snorted one.
There is some mistake" said another.
Now. IL the Consuls had been women and
but she was interrupted.
Even women wouldn't have let their jeal-
ousy crop out as these men have done" re-
Somebody tell US about it urged one who
ssens sI rsn ,GadeSo on se' OF pG avn ols sSs + %rnSt Sfl ihe
meeting where all the good sisters and brothers
are trying to talk at once about a different ex-
perience. Finally the last girl got the floor.
You see it is this way" she began. and i'm
media,ely every ear was strained to catch every
a year ago league members living In New York
city were invited to Join the L. A. w. Consulate.
supposed to be eligible, and Mir. Bridgman is
the hrst applicant to be turned down. Thereby
OF Joining the Consulate 1t might be just as well
to get a little light on tais Consulate business as
I'm 1895 the cyclists Of this city were almost
driven to desperation on account OF the promises
that the l. 4. ". made and did not keep. That's
ton. and all cyclists should be able 10 aid il in
every way. But here's where the trouble came
something to further the interests OF cyclists.
SO the Cyclists Federation was organized. MIR.
and nIs Was mac made enI i,s p'' Pfss MSTs9 N Ia, shG p sSG1o.s
wus to secure better paved streets, TO regulate
street sprinklins, 70 call attention TO the rights
work that could not possibly be done by u
national body. suppose that the L. A. W. med.
died with the local affairs in every city, II
wouldn't have time to cope with the things that
affect cyclists throughout the country.
Inside OF three months after organizing, the
Cyclists Federation had over 900 members,
and immediately It's influence was felt. The
iy 10 the COmulalntS of Wlgelmen and thinr9
began to como their way. About TINT time the
L. a. , WI fdhGd ,S MSk ,ha up Pcd They o1 rubbed their
ing a greater power in a day than they could put
forth In a year, Instead OF going on and attend;
their heads together and said: 1t will never 10
to let this federation go on growing and increas-
way. they acted on that principle, for nearly a
year ago they organized this New York city Con-
saiste properly ortanizod. disbanded the fed.
Grafton when some OF the members who felt
never forget his Straightforward argument.
He said that there was no use in having two
the same. and that he felt that the Consulate
could attend to the wants OF the cyclists. and
that 1t would 10 well for the federation to dis
band. Everybody was satisfied with that. and
though the Consulate has proved itself to be
hSye gone aosn n on Smoothly osth u had they fh.a~ not IbIh asckSalled
Now We are getting down to the interesting
bNAN ~ NSS $500 go
with a sigh OF relief.
Last November" continued the cxponnder,
"a member OF the Consulate went to Mr.. BridR-
man and asked him TO Join them. He told him
that he had been instructed by the officers OF tho
organization to ask for his application for mem
bership. Mr.. Bridgnan gave II, and with 1t sent
so cents, the initiation fee. Hadn't he given up
the federation because he feared that II might
oppose the l.. A. WI Any way. for years he
has been interested In cvsTythlng pertaining, TO
the greatest number IL his motto.
no action at all was taken on his application
until a few days ago. when some OF his friends
heard of the mysterious delay and forced the
Consulate to- act. Mhat 40 yq2h mink they az
application. with his 80 cents, and told him that
this was done according to the vote OF the Con-
suls. And the letter was signed 'Fraternnlly.'
Sill men talk about the deceit OF women.
Who are tho officers OF the Consulate T.
asked one In the crowd.
81. b. Townsend Is tho Senior Consul. Jeffer-
bisher Secretary answered the authority.
They have a Membership COMMITTEES, Of three.
What actuated them TO turn Mr.. Brldgman
down. He Dositiyely refuses to say. but the