The times., 1898-12-11
SPORT TO Be KEPT PURE
Organization Of the National
Cycling Association.
ADDRESS OF J. D. LAsLEY
Delivered at the Meeting In New
York Last Thursday-Unsatisfa
tory State of RacIng-Re.oIutions
PledginE the Formation of u New
Racing Body Adopted.

Racing Body Adopted.
The following is the address of J. D..
Lasiey. Washington. d. c., at the meet
ing, at which the National Cycling Asso-
citation was formed Thursday at the Fifth
Avenue Hotel. New York city:
''To my fellow track owners, to the race
promoting clubs, and to the racing men:
Being one of the signers of the call for
this meeting, you will expect that my
reasons for doing can and will be ex-
planned. 1 take it that we are all here
for the purpose of sowing the cause for
the present unsatisfactory state of the
sport in which we are all interested, and
also IL possible TO bring about its better
ment.
Even had there been no breakaway
from l.. A. W. control by the leading Pro-
fessionals. 1t was my intention to have
endeavored to bring about such concen-
tration of all interests as are here today.
IN my opinion. the time has come when
1t Is better for racing that 1t be divorced
from the L. A. w. and 1 might also ex-
press the belief that the l.. A. w. will
be better unencumbered with racing. No
longer should the two be allied. The L.
a. W. VIII never AUNT tue professional 10
membership, despite the fact that he
would make as desirable member as
the amateur racing man. Both are con-
trolled by the L. A. W.-one with repre-
sentation and the other without. One
can only admire the professional for his
independence in refusing longer to obey
the mandates of a body which, while
placing him before the public as an un-
desirable quantity. still mulcts him by
the seif-constituted right of selecting how
he shall earn his livelihood. Such a sit
uation is iudicrous in~the extreme: that it
should have existed at all is surprising,
but that it will continue no more is car
tain.
And now the stars of the racing world
ever realizing the need of a governing
body, come to the track owners and race
promoting clubs. and ask these two in
terests TO organize a new body to con-
troll the sport. permitting the racing man
TO be small factor in the proceeding
II might also be mentioned that the am
ateurs as whole want TO follow the lead
of their. professional brethren.
Racing has been the football of the L.
A W. in the annual elections: at other
times 1t has supplied pap 10 those who
assisted the victors to office large and
powerful element in the l.. A w desires
- 'NN tiaf atifitlS craft NnpS+ en-
joying remunerative offices naturally are
ayerse to this happening. The anti-racing
faction is assuming the whip hand Should
this side triumph in the next National
Assembly, racing would be dropped with
celerity. and this should not be made
possible. Incompetence uuprogressive-
ness. and bull-headedness have marked
the present administration of the sport
until the general public. the tracks, pro-
moters, and racing men demand another
body. | firmly believe that body built
somewhat upon the lines embodied in the
constitution and bylaws. as submitted
hereafter will tit the situation 1t has
been said that 1t Is better for cycling
racing that a disinterrsted body should
control it, and this fallacy is hardly de-
serving of a reply. Do you mean TO say
that we, the track owners who have our
thousands of dollars invested the pro-
moters who risk their money; and the
racing men who obtain their livelihood
do not realize in order to sustain the
confidence and support of the public that
the sport must be kept pure and absolute
ly above suspicion? Why. these men
above all others realize this fact Do
you believe that the l.. a w, more than
half of which does not want racing aud
the other faction wants il for the perQui-
sites that it brings, is the proper organi-
zation to direct sport which can be
made not according TO my idea but in
accordance with the oft unreasonable die
tates of one man. who prates of the back
ing of the l.. A. W.
The present method of deciding a
champion; a national circuit which skips
helter SHELTER about the country from
early spring until snow flies: the picay-
une prize limit ruling; the unfair grant
ing of circuit meets on holidays; the
charge for the excess of the prize limit
in spite of the fact sthat the constitution
does not grant the right: the nosing into
business arrangements with the racing
board when they had naught to do It;
the absurd amateur rule: the alliance
with the A. r. L. and /. c. A A. A.,
which permits those riders to enjoy The
privileges of seni-professionalism while
the l.. A. W. article is transferred 10 the
paid class for the most trifiing transgres-
sions: and many other giaring faults
show the necessity for an up-to-date new
organization.
Take body composed of tracks. with
active and associate memberships: in
corporated race-promoting club, also di-
vided into two classes; and duly accred-
tied representatives of the professional
riders. and you have all interests COM
bined. The track owners have the mon
ey invested: the race-promoting clubs
risk money in the promoting: the anna
teur rider has his set through the clubs
and the professional speaks for himself
'In the spring the various State circuits
could be held: during July and August a
grand circuit that would be such in every
sense of the word would sweep across
the country; and in the fall the riders
could go West or South. There would be
no circuit meets on holidays. and the
oh "a 11r,sa h.a laI H.
grand circuit, the dates for which and
the races at each meet could be arranged
months in advance.
1T is my opinion that 1t would be un-
wise for one body to control the whole
country. Our sphere should be confined
to the territory east of the Mississippi
River, with the exception of Louisiana,
where the Southern Cycling Association
now exists. Alliance should be made with
this organization. the Western Cycling
Association and the California Associated
Cycling Clubs, and also with the govern
ing bodies in other countries
"A board of control composed Of the
chairmen of the several districts, with Il
paid national chairman who would de-
vote all of his time to the work, would fill
the bill during the racing season. All rid
ers both professional and amateur
should be registered, and licenses should
be issued to professional trainers. Tracks
desiring to hold meets under our rules,
and not members of the association,
should be obliged to pay fee. Member
ships should give permission to tracks and
promoting clubs without further expense
Outside the grand circuit, limited to ten
weeks, tracks would have the privilege of
holding as many meets as they desired
during the circuit the board of control
should see that the big line was not dam