Evening journal., 1898-01-19
WITH THg L A. W
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO BIZ
ACTED ON AT THE LEAGUE
MEETING.

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO BE
ACTED ON AT THE LEAGUE
MEETING.
Proposed amendments to the l.. A. W.
constitution and bylaws, to be acted
upon at the meeting Of the National As
sembiy in ST. Louis next month. con
tinue to be forwarded to Secretary Bas-
sett, and a number OF important
changes are included in those received
by him during the past few days. Fred
Gerlach, the Illinois ex-member of the
Racing Board brings up the question of
the admission of professionals again,
by proposing to strike out the word
amateur" from the list of qualifica-
tiOns necessary for admission, and it is
to be hoped that this year that amend
ment will be adopted. For the past two
years the organization has stood in the
illogical position of governing that
large and still growing class Of riders
without giving them any voice what
ever in the government of the organiza-
ton, because of a fictitious sentiment
against admitting them to member
ship, and il is time that this SHOULD be
rectifled. Owen Lawson, of Kentucky,
presents a similar amendment. but pr1-
poses in addition that no person, either
amateur or professional shall be eligi-
BILE to ride in a race under l.. A. w.
sanction unless he be a member of the
organization. George L. Cooke. of
Rhode Island proposes to solve both
that and the color question by making
it optional with each state whether
professionals or colored persons be ad-
mitted to membership. The greatest
objection to the latter plan is the fact
that a person who had been admitted
to membership in one state might be
barred from receiving any privileges
in an adjoining state because in the
latter he would be ineligible 10 mem
bership.
The question Of salary to the chair
man of the Racing Board is again
brought up by George ID. Locke, Of llli-
nois, who proposes that hereafter that
official receive $500 annually and
that the other members receive such
sums annually for the expenses of their
offices as shall be fixed or approved by
the National Assembly at any regular
or special meeting" Chief Consul
Kemp.On, Of Chic, proposed that here
after the fee Of 81, now required from
clubs joining the League, be waived.
Perhaps the most important amend
ment of these submitted is one which
in brief, provides that hereafter the
election of national officers shall be by
popular vote of the membership az
large, instead of by the members of the
National Assembly, as at present The
amendments presented make the pan
practical possibility, and there are
a number Of reasons which make the
proposed innovation one greatly to be
desired. The wrangle which now takes
place annually over the election OF CT
acers IS something which is anything
but beneficial to the organization, and
which certainly does not dignity it in
the eyes of the public, while the ''prae-
tical politics" which enter into these
elections would do credit to almost any
political organization. The proposed
change would, moreover. be a very
popular one with the membership at
large. who, with the present method of
conducting the elections, feel that they
have little real voice in the govern
ment Of the national Organization.