The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-12
BICYCLE MEN INDIGNANT
ONE VAN SICkLEN, OF CHICAGO,
GETS UP A CHEAP CAMPAIGN FAKE.
Tries to Drag National l.. A. w. Meet
Into POIitics-He Is Now SAT
Outs" with His Job.

Bicycle row was in a state of Indignation
yesterday over the effort made by one F.
w. Van Sicklen, who came here from Chi
cago last spring to act as advertising agent
of the Hay e. Willitts Company, to drag
the movement for the L. A. w. meet into
politics. The young man is a wild Democrat
and has been wearing a Taggart button
about the size of "a saucer during the past
two months. About a month ago he called
a meeting of 1.-The associated cycling clubs
an organization that does not exist except
on paper, for the purpose of taking action
regarding the municipal contest. Nobody
attended, and it was announced that the
meeting had been potponsed until Oct. g.
A few days later Messrs. Hearsey and Hay
met Van Sicklen, and he told them the
meeting had already been held.
who was there?" asked Mr.. Hearsey.
II was" replied Van Sicklen.
How could you do anything?"
Il made the motion and declared it car
ried."
This was the extent of the action taken
by wheelmen on the subject, and it is COM
mon report that the letters and kilograms
published by Van Sicklen yesterday are
fakes" as pure and simple as was the
alleged meeting
This thing makes me warm all over"
said II. T.. Hearsey yesterday. 81 have
been going along attending to the bicycle
business and doing what L could to promote
the L. A. W. meet here next summer, with
out any reference to politics, and to have
this movement made political weapon is
an outrage. Now there is no such thing as
the associated cycling clubs. We started
such an organization with theSddea of hav-
iYlcr
That was the Ridiculous Club, of which 1
am member. That club is not behind
Van Sicklen's trick We are of course,
grateful for the assistance given at Phila-
delphia by the mayor, but we would have
had the same assistance if Mr.. Harding or
Mr. Smith, or any other man. had been
mayor. And don't you suppose that any
man who may be elected mayor will heartily
welcome the league, If it comes here next
year, Why OF course he will. Heretofore
politics had never been dragged into the
| cycling clubs or cycle trade in INDIANAPOLIS
ana am astounded at the cold nerve of
TINS stranger in thus endangering the L. A.
": movement in the hope of doing some
thing for his favorite.''
President Hay, of the Hay & Willitts
ing for Van Sicklen with an ak all day.
The pity of it is" said Mr.. Hay that
in indianapolis into politics. Members of
the commercial organizations, regardless of
party, went to Philadelphia to secure the
meet, and thousands of citizens have Joined
the l.. "A. w. to give the movement force
and dare say it has more Republican than
Democratic members here. Such a thing
as bringing it into politics had never been
thought Of Van Sicklen is employed by us
ana | knew he was a hot Taggart man.
but l did not regard that as any of my
business, but as a member of the cycling
cups l must certainly protest against his
action. l think he about the only
Wheelman that took any interest in the po-
litical end of it.
Then l notice that they quote Mr. Mon
tague Perrett," continued Mr.. Hay, "as
appealing in the name of the L. A W. for
the reelection of Mr.. Taggart. Now this
Mr.. perrett is a travelling salesman for a
tire concern. He does not hold any office
In the L. A. W., and l seriously doubt if
he is a member of it."
Van Sicklen was yesterday notified by the
firm by which he is employed that his serv-
ices We're no longer needed. Mr.. Hay said
he had been giving too much of the time
for which the firm paid him to politics.
1t is believed that Van Sicklen himself
composed one of the documents which he
claimed to be from Philadelphia. 1t is in his
style. Bicyclists who take an active inter-
est in the sport were denouncing Van Sick
len on every hand and they say that if the
l.. a. w. meet fails to come to Indian
apolis It will be due to the misrepresenta-
tons of this Chicago Importation and the
efforts of the Sentinel and News to lend
color to his untruthful scribbling.