The record-union., 1897-02-08

ALBANY On. Y J., Feb. THE hotels
are beginning to fill up with delegates
to the annual convention of the League
Of American Wheelmen, and by noon
tomorrow the canvass for President
will be well under way and hotel room
will be al premium. The assembly
does not open until Wednesday morn
ing, but the friends of Sterling Elliott
and Isaac b. Potter, the leaders in the
race for national President, are here
to open UP campaign headquarters.
The other candidates, Morrison of
Wisconsin, Hartwell of Colorado and
Connolly Of Illinois have not as yet ap-
peared, either in person or by proxy,
and are not looked upon as formidable
candidates. Indeed, those present to-
night say that both Elliot and Potter
are playing shreWd politics, Elliot put
ting Connolly on his slate for Vice
President and Potter doing the same
thing with the other two. Already
every delegate who reaches town Is
put in possession Of printed circular
detailing the work that Mr.. Potter has
done for the American League. They
call attentlo to the fact that he OBJ
tanned the passage of the bill giving
wheelmen the same privilege as any
other vehicle owner on public highways;
that he Increased the membership OF
the New York State division from =, 900
t0 Il 900, and lastly, that Albany is
the place of his birth and the conven
ton being held here, it would be a.
deserved compliment to elect him Pres
ident.
n q
various States, 276 of them will face
Lieutenant Governor w oodruff when he
calls the preliminary good roads meet
ing to order on Wednesday, In addi-
ton great number of wheelmen who
are not delegated 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 en-
rolled wheelmen in such State New
York comes first with 50 delegates
Pennsylvania %; Massachusetts 26;
New Jersey IA; Illinois IL; Missouri
| and Ohio 8 each; Connecticut, Iowa,
Kentucky, Maryland Indiana each g.;
North California and Wisconsin Z each !;
Kansas, Maine, Colorado, Minnesota,
| Nebraska, South California, Tennessee,
Texas and Washington each 4; Arkan-
sas, Arizona, New Hampshire, Oregon
each ); Michigan 5; Utah, Vermont,
Virginia and West Virginia each g;
Alabama, Florida, Delaware Montana,
Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina.
| North Dakota, Oklahoma. South Caro-
| lima and Wyoming each l.
The actual work of the delega tes will
not begin until Thursday morning. and
| then 1t is expected a great deal of time
will be consumed in discussion of the
| many important questions which will
| be presented for consideration. One of
| the reasons for holding the convention
| in Albany was to impress the New
| York State Legislature with the
| strength of the union, and if possible
| have the State become the pioneer in
| the movement for good roads Th en-
tire session on Wednesday will be given
| up 10 this matter, and it is altogether
| probable that hearing will be arranged
| before some of the Executive Commit
| tees on Wednesday afternoon, when
| the good roads bill is to be introduced
| by Senator Highly. In addition to
| Lieutenant Governor Woodruff, it is
| predicted that Speaker OGrady and
AsSembiyman Armstrong, who secured
the passage Of the free bicycle trans
| portation Act and Senator Charles
Guy, who has just reported favorably
a bill giving bicyclists an exclusive
strip of load along some New York
highways, will be present and address
the meeting. Superint endent of Pub
lie Works George w. Aldridge, who has
granted permits for bicycle paths along
the canal Bernie bank, has also been
asked to say something to the gather
| ing. The league has appropriated
| Hl,OOO fer the purpose of this meeting
and for the printing and distributing
| of literature on the subject