The times., 1898-10-03
The League ofAmerican Wheel
men Is Frightened.
CRACK RIDERS CONFIDENT
The New American Racing Cyclists
Union Gaining Strength Every
Day = The League Dreaded the
Coming of the InevitabIe-Its Eff
forts to Maintain, Control of Rae
fng-Future Prospects.

tne racing board OF the League OF Amer1-
can Wheelmen, ever entertained any
doubts as to the practical realization of
the promoters of the American Racing
Cyclists Union, all such doubts are now
dispelled. The insurgents, or outlaws, as
they are termed by the league officials,
came up, have seen their first race meet,
and all that remainsafor them TO do is
to conquer the intrigpes and plots that
will be laid for their downfall. That the
race meet of Saturday was not prevented
from being held is due through no efforts
of Albert Mott. He did what was in his
power. which, with all due respect to him,
did not amount to much, and now he will
probably endeavor to intimidate all hands
by fixing up large suspensions.
As has been demonstrated by past oc-
currences, the large suspensions will be
placed, not SO much to frighten the riders
in the new union as 10 intimidate other
riders from joining For awhile it may
have its effect, but it cannot last long.
The first outlaws, or secessionists, in Cal
ifornia were heavily punished but the
chairman of the racing board kindly(?)
and very graciously(0 RENTED all of the
penalties upon the proviso that the rec
reant riders would return to the fold and
remain under the rules of the League of
American Wheelmen.
While an attempt was made to have it
appear that this condescension on the
part of the chairman of the board ema-
mated solely from his interest in the well
fare of the racers, yet 1t was plainly APP
parent that the act was done simply to
prevent any further spread of dissension
among the ranks of the riders. The
league does not seem TO be anxious TO
lose the goose which lays the golden egg
and the racing game has proven TO be
that goose.
The chairman recognizes the fact that
with the control of racing taken away
from the organization II will be only a
question of short time when the organi-
zation will sink into oblivion.
The l.. A. w. Feared Rebellion.
The league has all along feared an open
rebellion against its authority. Cycle
racing in it's infancy was a comparatively
easy thing to manage. but now the child
has reached its full strength. and is
breaking away from the apron string OF
its mother So long as the small riders
kicked very little attention was paid TO
them. but now the condition of affairs is
different The crack riders, the men who
make racing a success the men who COM
mand the following OF a majority of the
national racers in the country, have
banded together and made the break.
So far they have been successful. They
have effected permanent organization,
and have held their first race meet. 1t
seems as though they gain strength every
day, and when the skirmishing Is over
and the big battle commences, the strug-
gle will be an interesting one.
Right to Control Cycle Racing.
The League of American Wheelmen has
really no more right to control cycle
racing than any other organization, and
especially professional racing. 1t is
body of amateurs, and yet claims and has
exercised supreme control over racing.
AS a. C. Batcheider states, the amateur
athletic unions which exercise supervision
over different branches of athletic sports.
including amateur boxing, might as well
try to claim jurisdiction over the pro.ss-
sionaI pugilistic match fights. The com
parison is perfectly just. Affiliated with
| the other amateur organizations, the
| rules of which bar professionals, the
| league tries to straddle two horses at one
| time. To keep affiliated with the ANA
| teur organizations It admits only anna
| teurs to its ranks, though 1t is under
| stood that the present secretary was once
| a professional, and yet to control bicycle
| racing it claims control of professional
| racing, not giving the riders a single
| word to say in their own behalf SO fas
as the making of rules is concerned. 1t
is extremely probable that a good many
| members of the league, especially the OF
ficials, recognize the injustice of this, yet
| they permit the condition of affairs to
| continue.
| Bicycle Racing II Hobby.
Bicycle racing is now a hobby. 1t is a
recognized sport, and though still in its
infancy, bids fair to take as great a hold
on the public as baseball, the recognized
national game. In fact by some it is
| claimed that bicycle racing in the future
is bound to supersede baseball in popu-
lar opinion Rules made for the govern
nent of the sport several years ago can
not possibly hold at present Baseball
rules are changed annually, but the
changes made in the racing rules amount
TO very little Cycle racing has come to
| a
great amount of money invested in it in
the shape of tracks all over the country.
| The mana gements of these tracks do not
| want to be hampered by arbitrary rules
and regulations. While to them the desire
is to put the sport in front and the dollars
| and cents in the rear, yet it is. purely a
matter of business with them.
The Best plan to Pursue.
1t seems to all interested that the best
plan to pursue is to place cycle racing
| within the power of some organization
that will properly manage the sport, with
suitable restrictions. to prevent it's dcgIa.
dation. The question that arises IS, to
what organization shall the pow er be
transmitted. The professional riders are
greatly interested in the matter at pres
| ent and so are the track owners. The
| best solution of the problem is the or
ganization of a professional racing league
and also an organization of track
owners. Representatives of the two
organizations, or the two organiza
| tions themselves. being vitally in
terested in the sport, ought to be able t.
regulate things harmoniously. While no
definitely settled this win probably b,
| the line of action.
Money Derived by League.
The league probably derives as mucl
money from the racing game as it doe
| from its membership This will prob
ably be the case this year Counting tn
cost of sanctions, the lowest at SIS, and ex
1 tending up to s25 for each meet, tn
cost of registration for each professiona