Evening journal., 1897-02-08

Friends OF Elliott and Potter Conducting
vigorous CnmpaiEn--The Prospects of
Good roaas Legislation by the New
York LeGi,laturc.
ALBANY, Feb s.-The capital city is
filing mp with cyclists, who are here to
attend the annual convention Of the League
of American Wheelmen which begins on
Wednesday morning The friends of Ster-
ling Elliott and Isaac b. Potter, the lead
crs in the race for national president, have
opened headquarters and the canvass is
now fairly under way. Tho other candi-
dates are Morrison of Wisconsin. Hartwel
of Colorado and Connolly Of Illinois, but
neither of thon are formidable contestants
for the position. Those present say that
both Elliott and Potter are playing shrewd
politics, Elliott putting Connolly on his
slate for first vice president while Potter
has the other two on his slate for posi-
tions. Every delegate who reaches town Is
put in possession Of a printed circular de-
failing the work that Mr.. Potter has done
for the American league They call atten-
tion 10 the fact that he obtained the pas
sage Of the bin giving wheelmon the same
privileges as any Other vehicle owner on
public highways that he increased the
membership al the New Yorl, state divi-
sion from . 800 to 81 900, and lastly that
Albany is the place of his birth, and the
convention Icing held horo il would be a
deserved compliment to elect him presi-
dert
Delegates to the Convention.
II all the delegates attend from The va.
rious states 21G of thom viii face Leuten-
ant Governor Woodruff when be calls the
preliminary good roads meeting to order
on Wednesday. I'm addition great num-
hcr of whcclncn who are not delegates ARE
interested in the convention and in the
movement of good roads The number Of
delegates from each state is gauged by the
number of enrolled whcelmen i'm such
stats. Now york comes first, with 53 dole
gates. Pennsylvania, 20; Massachusetts,
2di Now Jersey. IA; Illinois, n; Missouri
md Ohio, Sclch; Connecticut, Iowa, Ken
lucky and Maryland, IS each North Caro-
lima and Wisconsin, Cach, Indiana, 3 4:
Kansas Maine, Colorado Minnesota, No
hraska California. Tennessee, Texas and
Washington, { each; Arkansas, Arzo-
ma, Now Hampshire and Oregon, each; 4;
Michigan o; Utah, Vermont Virginia
and West y irginia. each; Alabama, Flor
iia. Delaware. Montana Nevada, Now
Mcxico, North Carolina. North Dakota
Oklahoma, South Carolina aNd Wyoming
I each. Tho actual work of the delegates
viii not begin until Thursday morning,
and then So IS expected that great deal of
time Will be consumed i'm discussion of the
many Important questions which win he
presented for consideration.
Tho Question of Good Roads.
Ono of thc reasons for holding tho con-
Nonfion In Albany was To impress the New
York state legislature with the strength of
tho union and II possible have this state
become the pioneer In tho movement for
good roads. The entire session on Wednos-
dly VIII bo given up to this matter, and
1t is altogether probable that hearings will
hc arranged before some of the Legislative
committees on Wednesday afternoon ON
the good roaus bin introduced by Senator
liighic. In addition to Lieutenant Govern
or Woodruff IL Is expected that Speaker
OGfady, Assemblyman Armstrong, who
sccured Che passage of tho FREQ bicycle
transportation act, and Senator Charles
Guy who has just had reported fnvorably
bill giving hicyclists an exclusive strip
of roadway along some Now York high
ways, will all be present and address the
meeting Superintendent Of Public Works
George ". Aldridge, who has granted per.
mits for bicycle paths along the canal
hlnk, has also been asked 60 say some
thing 10 the gathering. Thc league has ap-
propriated $1,000 for the purpose of this
mcotil'g and for the printing of and dis
trbution of literature on the subject
Condition OF the League.
The reports of the secretary and treas
urer will be presented TO the league on
Thursday and will contain AN interesting
and rather startling array of figures. There
are now in tho league 7l,026 members, OF
whom 2O.S36 reside i'm the state of New
York. ll,2Oi in Pennsylvania, 9,71l In
Massachusetts and 4,797 i'm New Jersey.
Illinois comes next in number followed
very closely 10y Missouri and Ohio. From
third sn'the Is of states as to membership
New York division has gone up to first
place. and from having ! 2 per cent of the
ontire membership New York now has 81
per cent. Tho gain in membership during
the last ycar OF the entire national league
hns hccn about D 800 AS to tho finances
the report will show thar while i'm the ex
pcnditurc OF money for PUSHING the good
roads crusade the organization is in q
healthy state. IL has i'm is treasury S14,
493 surplus. of which e5,2ti was paid Ovel
by the publishers of The L. A. W. Bul
lctin under an arrangement with tn,
league IL will De shown that i'm many
states extremely important legislation ha.
been cnuctod for the assistance and benefit
of the League.
ChAnEss In the Constitution.
The prop lsod changes In the constitu
ton of The leg quo a-c, some of them, of
very radical ma ture and arc liable to caus
great del of discuNion One proposoS
hv MI Gideon. chairman of the racin,
board, win undoubtedly ho passed. so as e
stop the f~iction which exists between col
lcge athletic clubs and tho wheclmcn. Th
proposed amendment will exempt collop
riders i'm college races from the rules of TN
L. A. W. in regard TO training and travel
ing Expenses b. allowing these races to b
held under the auspices of and the rule
of the Intercollegiate Athletic association
This amendment will really only put bicy
Gle ridors upon the same basis as other ath
istcs some of the other changes propose,
nrc: The changing of ihc rllos by whicl