The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-12
THE FIELD NOW CLEAR
INDIANAPOLIS HAS No COMPETITORS
FOR 1898 l.. A. w. MEET.
Omaha Practically BIacIzlisted by Re-
fusing to Pay Prizes Won During
It's Last Race Meet.


It begins to look as if Indianapolis were
certain to get the L. A. w. national meet
next year, and the deplorable condition of
the city's cycling clubs comes into promi-
nence in contemplation of the probability
of entertaining thousands of visiting wheel
men. Organized effort is absolutely neces-
sary to success in the entertainment line,
and it cannot all be left to the business
mems committees, which will be appointed
in due time. These committees forming
the meet club, will really be appointed to
assist the wheelmen's clubs. The latter are
expected to take the lead. The committees
which the business men and the commercial
bodies will appoint may aid materially in
furnishing money, but they cannot be ex-
pected to do the actual work of entertain
ing. ANN.
If the question were asked to-day, How
many cycling clubs has Indianapolis" it
would be necessary to answer that it has
practically none. The Ridiculous Club is as
solid as it ever was, but it is not exclusively
a cycling club, and it's members are not
enthusiastic in this line of sport. The Zig
gag Club has recently gone out of business
by closing up it's clubhouse and storing its
furniture. 1t will probably appear on the
surface again next spring, but 1t cannot be
very strong if it does not maintain an or
ganization and a place of meeting during
the winter months The Indianapolis Club,
of which so much was expected, has prac-
tically ceased to exist. 1t never became
sufficiently alive to have a clubhouse. The
White Cycling Club still maintains it's club
rooms. Such clubs as the Outing, the Wa
verley, the Crescent and the Rambler hard
lea H. 20 nF
clubs. Some Of them had excellent oppor-
tunities, too. The Outing Club waSs given
a fine clubhouse, with a years lease. pro-
vided the members would take an interest
in the club and visit the clubhouse. But,
with seventy-five or hundred members,
there was not enough interest to appoint
house committee and If one was appoint
ed it failed to act.
There is a sad lack of club spirit among
wheelmen. 1t is a condition which will
have to be remedied if the national meet
is to be made successful and worthy OF the
city. There is proposition now to or
ganize a strong club by the consolidation
of several of the existing So-called clubs.
1t is proposed to make it stock organiza-
ton similar to the German House. Stock
of $25 a share be subscribed and paid
in at 81 month. 1t is proposed that the
club be Incorporated with capitalization
of $4,000, so that there may be LOCO mem
bers if only one share shall be sold to each
member. If the stock is taken freely and
the money raised without any unreasonable
delay it is suggested that a clubhouse can
be owned At first IT is proposed to rent
suitable building.
Chairman Mott of the National Racing
Board. will probably be of great assistance
to indianapolis in the fight for next mex, year
tention the part of the racing board TO
show Indianapolis any particular favor.
The paragraph is as follows:
OMAHA IN BAD DOOR.
q 1, I0a
placed upon the list of those whom sane
tions will be refused for failing to deliver
the prizes won at their meet, July s."
This, in the eyes of racing men, and
wheelmen in general, is almost a crime.
The Omaha 1898 Meet Club gave q race
meet to raise money to send delegates to
Philadelphia. From the showing made at
Philadelphia it is easy to realize that the
club must have lost money on the race
meet. But this does not excuse the nom
delivery of prizes, and it requires a good
reason for falling to do so, not to be CEN
sured by the racing board. The fact that,
at this late day, the racing board blacklists
the 1898 Omaha Meet Club makes 1t APP
pear that the good reason was not forth
coming. The trade papers of this week
and hundreds of dailies Throughout the
country published Chairman Motifs weekly
bulletin. and thereby Omaha has received
some adverse advertising that Will be I'M
possible for it to overcome with volumes
of literature about that the cattle show
that is to be held there next year, and OF
which it is proposed to- make the l.. A. W.
meet a sideshow. The Referee, one OF the
leading trade papers, comments as follows
editorially on the position of Omaha:
1.-THE 1898 national meet of Omaha does
not at present, enjoy the enviable reputa-
ton which it sould at this time, so long
as it is asking favors from the League of
American Wheelmen. The last bulletin is
sued by the racing board gives out the in
formation that the club has been denied
fOe. 70 n 1nliXaT
prizes won at its meet. July s. Here is a
little bomb for Indianapolis to throw
indianapolis certainly ought TO be wiling
to call attention to 1t, even IL TINS city were
not a rival candidate.
1t is doubtful if the assembly could le-
gally, under the constitution, give the meet
to Omaha, even if there was the inclina-
ton, and it is certain that the assembly
would not vote that way unless repara-
ton should be made for the wrong Omaha's
meet club had perpetrated.
1t has already been said that Omaha is
out of the race for the 1898 meet, but the
Omaha Meet Club has repeatedly denied
rumors to that effect The fact that the
club has allowed this matter of failing TO
pay prizes to bel bulIetinedl makes it appear
that it has finally thrown up the sponge
and has no hope of getting the meet The
only other supposed competitor OF lndlan-
apolis is also out of the way. This was
Buffalo. 1t was announced some time ago
that Buffalo would be sprung as dark
horse and would get the support of New
York and the New England states. rms
has been exploded, and Buffalo herself de-
clares that she is a candidate only for the
meet of 1899. 1t was said that President Pot
ter, of the League, had entered into an
agreement with William A. Brady, prize
fight manager. and Others, to go into the
national meet business as a speculation.
ana that this coterie of gentlemen decided
that they would have the meet at Buffalo.
President Potter says this report was only
a newspaper story. and untrue. 1t is also
as good as settled that the league would
not permit anything ofYthe kind being done.
This gives indianapolis practically a clear
field at present but it should be shown that
the position is appreciated and pledges
must be fulfilled. Two thousand new league
members must be secured in the State.