The times., 1898-12-04
POLITICS OF THE LEAGUE
President Potter Talks About
the Situation.
AyERsE TO DISCUSSION
Keennn May BE the Next Executive.
Effect on Racing ControI-The Life
8 of AthIetes-Servicc of Later
Champions-Bnid's Failure as a
Theatrical Star.


New York, Dec. 3-P:esident Potter has
been hard pressed by his friends during
the past week for a statement as to what
his position in regard to the presidency
of the League of American wheelmen
viii be next year. As usual. he has stead
fastfy refused TO commit himself at this
season of the year, and his course has
been that OF wisdom in the past, for his
silence has served to confound his oppo-
nents without in any way weakening his
own case. He takes The same stand this
year. refusing to state whether he will
again be candidate for the highest homer
among American Whee,men. The request
for some kind of a statement has been 50
strong. however, during the past week
that he has been compelled to say some
thing on the subject, and this is what he
has to remark:
Potter Talks.
II do not think 1t 10 be the best policy
for the officers of the league to talk or
even think of politics at this early time.
L say this with due consideration, for
know full well the effect of it You know
as well as 1 do that as soon as the officers
begin 10 coddle their brains on political
matters all active work in their divisions
ceases and is not resumed until after the
annual election. Ii means that for three
months, at the best recruiting season OF
the year, the active workers have their
minds On a subject which is foreign to
their work and the organization for that
time becomes practically demorahzed.
This has been shown to be the case TOT
several years past and is st.ll fact tell
you that the men who begin the early po-
litical agitation should have six months
Politics is all right at the proper time,
but that is not now, for there Is too much
work to be done, and 1t will not be done
if the officers are trying to make political
combinations.
Y will make an announcement of my
position on December Is. although t1inh
even that is too early. and would prefer
to postpone it until January /. but II
do so at that time, since the agitation
has so far advanced this year that g
work is already being interfered with. l
cannot give any idea at the present tiihe
as to what my position will be. 70: l have
not given the matter any attelt on. wait
until the time l mention and then l Will
of the president is very onerous- 1t con-
sumes all my time and does rot Permit
me 10 give anything like the attention
should to my private business. There
is no remuneration for this work ana
have now served two years as president
a like time as chief consul of the NV
York division and have been in harness
for over ten years Don't you think /
am entitled TO rest?'
Thus argues the president. who. thcush
If inrerferes with his own business, Is
still so attached to the league ana us
work that it will be difficult for lin to
voluntarily give it up.
Potter May Retire.
Those who know Potter best, however
believe that he is perfectly sincere III
wishing to retire from the presidency, Tor
they realize the truth of his statements
regarding his personal business. He is
one of the leading lawyers of New York
city. having had in the past very re'
munerative practice. This has suffer eo
considerably since his election to the
presidency. and he must now give IL Ms
attention again, for, whatever his loyal
" to the league, his personal Interests
must not be ruined, as they would tt
within a short time at the present rate
of deterioration. The presidency cccu
pies almost all of his time dui ing IN
day. and he is very often busy at III
home attending to the many detail cutie
of the position His business. thereiore
suffers. and Potter believes the sens.bl
course is for him to decline third tei m
AT least that is the expectation of
friends, though it is not yet determined
as an absolute fact that he will not agai.
be a candidate. But he probably Wi
adopt The plan of retiring from ssrvic
and If he should the situation in the pc
u.icaI field will be considerably cla ifed
Keenan, the Next President.
With Potter out of the running Thoma
]. Keenan,, of Pennsylvania, will no doub
secure the presidency. as predicted b
your correspondent several weeks age
Keenan, will have the support of all tn
Western and Middle States. large par
of New England and probably New Yori
There Will probably be no opposition
hmm with Potter out of 1t, for he ha
strong support from the leading division:
has an exceptional record as leagu
worker, having been in service for severs
Years and being possessed of the neces
sary executive ability demanded by tn
position, as has been shown in his admin
istration of other organizations He
now and has been for several years tn
vice consul of the Pennsylvania division
and has been the most active worker i
placing that division at the head of tn
list. His campaign will be conducted b
Chief Consul Mears. of Ohio, himself on
of the shrewdest of the league worker
and Wallace Sherwood Will assist.
Potter's retirement would throw til
control of the assembly into the hands {
the West, 4 section which has striven fc
power unsuccessfully for years. This wi
be their opportunity, and they viii not b
slow in graspifg it. With this section i
control. the vice presidencies will probs
bly, go to George Locke. chief consul
Illinois. and Herbert w. Foltz, of Indian:
The treasuryship win be placed in the fa
West, and the can6;date who has bee
named is David J. o'Brien, chief cons,
of Nebraska. This office is usually altel