The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-28
OF THE wHEELMEN.
LOOKS As III PoTTER WILL NAVE
TEE FIELD To HIMSELF.

TO L. A. W. n~,ulea-Lepasn Fieia's Opinion
or the siH-Dny race ut the GnTdon.
President Potter Of the l.. A. w. declared yes
terday that the political situation In the organi-
satlon remains unchanged. He Informed n
SUN reporter that he had q talk with t. ].
keenan,. Jr., OF tho Pennsylvania division early
in the afternoon over the lonG-distanoo tele-
phone. and the latter assured Potter that he
will stick to his ticket. keenan, snys that the
division 10 pledged to support him, and he does
not see how they can do otherwise than vote for
him as First vioc-P resident on the Potter ticket.
The friends Of George d. Gideon. whom Sterling
Elliott tried to induce TO run against Potter.
affirm that no manner OF persuasion could
induce Gideon to take the o11ce OF Prost-
dent Of the League. He IS anxious to
retire from active participation In the a-
fairs OF the organization. Chief Consul
westlake Of Connecticut. upon whom Elliott
was calculating for support. has written to Pot"
ter that the Connecticut division will vote for
him. westlake says he wants TO zee Potter re-
elected, az no 10 Of the opinion that one year 10
too short q time for an l.. A. w. President to 90
complish any really beneficial work. The as
surance from New Jersey that the twenty votes
OF that division will be cast for Potter 10 &C.
ceptod 40 proof that o. Frank Kireker. Second
Vice. President Of tho League. will e q candidate
for reelection. A Jmmunication is expected
from the Pennsylv MIA division to-day by Presi-
dent Potter. Al official statement from the
leaders In that state will. 1t 10 expected, clear
away the mysterious movements Of Sterling
Elliott and the Gideon boom.
The repeated victories Of Jimmy Michael have
excited considerable comment, and the question
10 whether there 10 any rider in tho world who
can beat the diminutive Welshman In paced
middle distance races. Noted cyclers OF every
country have met Michael, and, barring Frank
Starbuck. all have been defeated. Starbuck
beat Michael at Philadelphia this year. but it
was duo to superior pacemakers. A party OF
racing men were discussing Michael's perform.
ances yesterday. and one Of them said:
mo man will ever beat Jimmy Michael. no
mAttor how fast he 10. until he acquires the
knack Of following pace scientifically. Tn
wheelman's success 10 duo not alono to his
speed and staying qualifications. but more es-
specially to his proficiency in making lightning
like oh anRes Of pacing machines without loss Of
time or ground. 1t will be noticed that Michael,
in all his match contests. invariably gains q lap
or q good distance on his opponent In his drst
two miles. He has paced races down to such q
science that he inatructs his teams to pull him
right through for this gain at the start. which
10 a big advantage. Another feature Of his
paced races 10 that he never attempt y rushing
chase after his ADVANCE crew, ShOuld thcy Dy
any mischance draw away from him. On the
contrary, he always holds his pace and waits for
his men to come back TO him.
Compare all the men who have raced against
Michael. They have been very speedy. but they
lost through poor paceniaking. 1t shows, there
not so good as teams who make a practice OF
riding together constantly. The racing condi-
tions in this country are ripe for the formation
will be- under tho captaincy OF a good general.
Teams made up OH this line can command good
salaries. and the more proficient they become
the more valuable will be their Services"
The men who annually create new rules for
the l.. A. w. arc ut work preparing amendments
to be presented at the meeting Of the National
Assembly in February. 1t 10 the object of the
effect some radical changes. Douglas W. Rob,
et of ST. Louis. o member OF the National Racing
Board under Gideon. will submit this amend
ment:
Sanctions for Sunday race meets shall be granted
only in such divisions in which the Board of Ofhcers
such INC so alsastsn sal sanl1irre s,Hpa shall Cs revoked Ssrm at amy
time by the Board Of oficers filing notice OF same.
tn The p a men ftd is practically Ss,Isa giving ns.d local 6; o Pr.
GERS with power TO indorse or condemn such
races as they may deem proper. Robert. having
In view the adjustment Of siN.day contests. will
also introduce this amendment:
That the Racing Board be restricted from sanction.
ing any meeting which schedules an event recurring
twenty four hours for tine race.
A member OF the New Jersey division has
n sSss ali fp +. 4! ". Ssna &c a%snd% appHin PrSv1 anss
receive the Endorsement OF their division Board
Of Officers before their, appointment becomes
by Robert. with the object OF preventing mem
bers of the League holding the office OF Presi-
State division at the Same time. During recent
years the President Of the League has also been
tSe C Of En- e9 81 xI W q claim h,I d ,Sa, smcb s Sn sn msm.
ment should include Vice-Presidents Of the ma
tional organization.
The London Field of Dec. IS on tho
recent six-day race in this city rs follows:
tion that has ever been held In connection with bicy-
Iy never been equalied. for though the CHEF actors
IN 1t were nominaily free agents. they were so allured
reports are 20 be relied upon. iniimidated by
t proaoser a. and no S S,h @sfS w fSSiI pr 1o tea h by the OF v sne
lure. IL will be ~remembered that In Deoem.
was held in New YORK. and was Won By E. HAZE. an
| English professional rider. who has been engaged In
twelve years. on that occasion tina continuous exer-
tion uor the men were allowed to ride day aud night
told severely on the contestants, want of sleep and
rest reducing those who recovered to a condition Of
occasion With a score or nearly wi miles, but the
circumstances were such that tt WIS not thought like
however. placing no obstacle in tho way. and some
speculatora scenting pront In the exhibition. there
the d more odious fearS ar csioaia,ed 4 y insure Iiis the be
most gratifying anSnG,.l success; The only redeem.
AN- an
the fact that It has been freely denounced by the
top any further eOmpsiitiona being held on these
lines,
The official year Of the l.. A. w. closes on
Dec. /. Secretary Bassett gives out the follow.
ing table. showing the numerical strength OF
each division in the organization and its total
membership. as follows:
Divisions. Members. Decisions Members
Alabama. . ..,.. S3 New Mexico. 49,. ~
Arizona. ......... II Now York ......... 20, sOH
ArL ansas ... "a North California. b82
co orai ........ b55 North Carolina. -. 70
Connecticut. ...... 2,0I4l North Dakota. "a
poiaw are "..u;. 2eilohio;. .."."...". 9.llo
Di,tri't Columbia Val oklahoma. ...... 4
Florida ,..,,. E. 0llOregon. go. ...... 3Bi
Geo B.A.....,.. IPsnnsylvania- -. 2l. 35F
Idaho. ...-...,... 3IRhGde Island ..... l.bHt
II .nois -. ..... 3,777laouth California. ala
lndianR.......... l,308lSouth Carolina. 1871
IOwa.....n... se7 South Dakota. 81
KANSAS, 80. ... go. 4Do Tennessee. ...... 2ht
Kentucky. =. gS7 Texas...... 3Sh
louisiana. ....... lao Utah. ........... 90
Maine ........... 6o5 Vermont ,......... 169
MARYLAND. ....... 1880 Virginia .......... lS2
Massachusetts 80. IL, 4O9 Washington. 500. AT
Michigan ..., ..,. 2,Oe6 West VlrglnIa,,,. l7t