The record-union., 1897-05-03
men.

ter-f1IStOry or the Splt=Oil FTom
the League of American Wheel
men.
SAN FRANCISCO, May 2.-The final
step in the desertion of the League
of American Wheelmen by the cyclists
of Northern California was taken to-
day. This step completes the forma-
ton of a body that will look after
things cycling in this part of California,
and which is modelled on lines similar
to the League of American Wheelmen,
with many of the abuses of that or
ganiZatiOn eliminated.
The completing link in the chain of
the new governing body was the open
ing of Sunday bicycle racing in this
part of the State and with the excep-
ton of one or two Sunday meets run
at Santa Monica last year, by the dis
satisfied wheelmen of Southern Cali
fornia, to-day's race-meet at the Velo-
drome was the first regular Sunday
meeting held in the United States.
The demand for Sunday bicycle races
has been on the increase in this sec
ton of the country for the past three
years, and the owners of bicycle tracks
foresaw great financial loss unless the
League of American Wheelmen could
be induced to sanction racing on the
Sabbath, which in California is as
much a day of pleasure as it is a day
of worship. For the last two years
the wheelmen of this State have ap-
pealed to the National Assembly of the
League of American Wheelmen to
Int aqnh time
they have been unsuccessful, the dele
gates from other States being unable
to comprehend the needs of the wheel
men of the West, and particularly OF
the wheelmen of California.
Bicycle racing in California has never
been a paying proposition for the sim
pie reason that the people who most
desire to witness the racing have been
unable to leave their work to attend
the weekday meets. After two or
three years of repeated failures it was
decided that something had to be done,
and that Sunday racing was the only
satisfactory means of putting cycle
racing on a paying basis. Not wishing
to desert the old, familiar League of
American Wheelmen, it was decided to
wait until the National Assembly of
Inc League, WHICH LlGt III I GOl e]I
Albany, \. Y.
There were three delegates from
Northern California on the ground to
fight for the Sunday racing clause, and
they were sure of success until the
moment the result of the balloting was
announced; but the vote was against
them, and incidentally California. 1t
seemed to be a case of the East against
the West. 1t was plain that something
had gone wrong. An investigation by
the loyal Californians showed that
gross treachery had been practiced by
some of the delegates who had prom
ised their support and votes. The
Californians were turned down" by
the most approved ward politician
methods.
President Isaac L. Potter of the
League of American Wheelmen had
promised his support to the Califor-
mans in return for their support of him
in his fight for the Presidency of the
League. When the time came for him
to say something in favor of Sunday
racing for sections that wanted it, Mr..
Potter repudiated all his previous state
nents in behalf of the question, and
actually spoke against Sunday racing
and against racing men. AS President
of the league. he would rather ignore
the racing interests altogether. Nothing
was left for the Californians to do, so
they returned home, determined to set
lie the question in their own way, even
If it meant the disruption of the League
of American Wheelmen in this State.
The wheelmen Of this part of CalifOr
mia We're deeply chagrined over the de-
feat of their pet idea by the under
hand work practiced on the California
delegates, and steps were Immediately
taken for the formation of a new body
to control racing, to work for good
roads and to look after cycling general
~ in this State. The new body was to
do exactly what the League of Ameri
can Wheelmen promised to do. but
which it did not do and so the Califor
mia Associated Cycling Clubs was reor-
gained for the above mentioned pur-
poses.
The California Associated Cycling
Clubs, only d month old, has nearly
800 members. and has received appl-
cations from dissatisfied wheelmen in
other parts Of the country. 1t is more
than probable that Texas will be ad-
mitted to membership and such a
move on the part of the California As
ISOLATED Cycling Clubs will mean the
formation OF national body to con
troll racing in ali its phases.
That Sunday racing VIII be a grand
success is now assured if the crowd
which attended to-day's races can be
taken as a criterion. The grand-stands
were literally overlooking and the ex-
element ran high at all times.
Sunday racing was inaugurated to-
day at the Nelodrome track in this city
under a sanction granted by the Cali
fornia Associated Cycling Clubs, the
organization which has displaced the
League OF American Wheelmen in this
State. The attendance far exceeded
the expectations OF the promoters. The
grand-stand was packed and the spec
tators were very enthusiastic.
To-day's showing leaves no doubt in
the minds of local cyclists of the sue
cess of the Sunday racing venture in
California.
The racing to-day was only fair. as
q high wind interfered with the riders,
and initiated against speedy perform
ances. The competition, however, was
very close in many instances.
The amateur races, a half-mile hand
leap and a two-thirds mile scratch.
We're won by f. F. Russ of the Olym-
pie Club Wheelmen.
The professional races did not bring