Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-13

The slump in bicycle prices taken in con
nection with the decision to hoiu ~
shows this winter furnishes aounuan' ~
aonce of the collapse OF what was ea
tho high grade wheel trust. ine .ho
h,,ation was composed OF two-thirus VI ~
leading manufacturers and nalul""'
erted tremendous influence IN t"e 49,
Through the medium Of the NaIionai 80
Hoard of Trade 1t fixed prices, iee
commissions and put in force UNIFORM So.
,ntees on wheels and tires. Inc ~
GAUGE OF the collapse Is not lar " Se'n'
II MAY he summed up in one "otuTTo'e',
nroSuctiop. The glut, of the, mafkeo WIN
iow-priced wheels, which gave good service
Cav Tho .nrice. forced down the high grades
business necessities also battered down
ro,,r,c,ions imposed by makers, and dimin-
,shed demand did the rest. Never ID the
history of cycling was the prospect peter
for rock bottom prices for the best makes
OF bicycles.
The New York Tribune reports that
League of American Wheelmen politicians
are actively at work fixing "slates" for the
coming election. "The most prominent
candidates mentioned for the presidency at
present are f. Frank Kireker of New Jer-
sey, and T. ]. Keenan, OF Pittsburg. Her
bert Foultz OF Indiana is mentioned as a
likely candidate for the vice presidency. AS
for the candidacy Of Isaac B. Potter OF New
York for reelection. nobody Is authorized
to. speak" about the matter. Mr.. Potter mas
been as dumb as the proverbial clam re-
garding his intentions, and even MS most
intimate friends have been unable to get
-z.l -. Iia tntnntinnG
Massachusetts, is also quiet regarding her
preferences for the presidency. Still, should
Massachusetts, and New York come out
streng for Potter, possibly New Jersey
might do the same thing, for 1t is not be-
lieved that Kireker would stand in the way
Of the New York man."
Bicycle racing Is still prominently before
the minds Of the members Of the League OF
American Wheelmen, and each person is de-
batting seriously as to whether 1t snould OF
should not be dropped from the analrs OIL
the organization. Chairman, Mott Is still de-
cidedly against any departure from the pres
emit plan ofgsupervision by the league, and
President Potter, now, that a fight has been
opened by the race promoters and riders, mas
also reached the opinion that the league
should control racing. But there Is much
opposition to this plan. and the next meet
ing Of the delegates, in February, promises
to bring forth some interesting things, pro-
vidod the matter Is not settled py that time
by, outside parties.
The l.. A.. w. Bulletin, the official organ
ofthe league, argues against further super
yiA,on OF racing. The league aims, 1t states,
not to promote bicycle racing, but to pro-
mote the god OF the wheeling public as a
whole and it's main object should be to Sc
cure good roads.
Sterling Elliott. ex-president of the League
of American Wheelmen and editor OF the
publication, speaks on the topic in this fash
ION In the issue Of November A:
FThere was q time when a bicycle race
was properly regarded as a desirable help to
the cause OF cycling; when people stopped
and locked curiously after a passing bicycle
as they do now at a motor-carriage or a
dancing bear; when the man who had bi-
cycles to sell must needs find odd, cranky
people to sell them to.
But the time has long since passed. when,
1t could be considered OF the slightest conse-
quence whether bicycle racing lived or died.
i'm fact, there is much reason for be-
lieving that the general tone OF cycling
would be improved IL it were possible to stop
bicycle racing altogether.
THE racing man humps his back and puts
his head down to lessen the air resistance.
Young America, from his position on the
bleachers, witnesses the double-up position
and forthwith adopts 1t as his own. be-
lieving that he will be a hero in the eyes
OF the populace in proportion to his ability
to ride with the back Of his neck on the
handle bar. .
"You know the result as we'll as I do.
Though wouldn't be willing to admit
that you know 1t any better than I do.
"Air resistance increases and decreases
az the square of the velocity, so that the
only defensible reason for looking like the
connecting link is entirely absent at slow
speeds and, at the average speed Of the
average rider, is of far less consequence
than is the healthfulness of keeping himself
in the form that God made him.
III the League OF American Wheelmen
formally turns the control of racing over
to some other body we will be to a certain
extent-in the eyes of the public, at least
responsible for the actions of that body.
.Ij don't believe in placing 1t on any
body's doorstep--any more than a man who
had smoked his cigar would insult another
by Offering him the butt.
let us drop 1t in the middle Of the
street., In broad daylight, not knowing who
will pick 1t up and feeling pleased that We
don't have to know anything about 1t.
Does horse racing, encourage people to.
ride In horse-drawn carriages? . :
DO cock fights stimulate the raising Of
ordinary poultry?
rs the dog fight a guaranty that people
will think more of dogs?'
Docs politics. as practiced in some OF the
large cities. prompt decent people to aspira-
tions along that line?
IF these things are true, then cycle rae
ing is an advantage to all who have an in
terest in the legitimate use of the wheel.
IF cycle racing, as now conducted, ought
to live, 1t will live, but 1t should live on its
merits, as other forms of amusement have
to, and not at the expense Of the reputation