Evening star., 1898-02-11
PITCHER MERCER ARRIVES

In the assembly of the L. A W, at st.
Louis, after The Stars report closed, YES
terday, representatives of the 30 meet
clubs of Boston and Buffalo addressed the
assembly. inviting the league to hold its
annual gathering in these cities next year.
Mr.. Cooke of Rhode Island asked that the
national assembly be held at Providence
and after Mr.. Boyle had withdrawn Phila-
delphias like invitation, the assembly
granted Mr.. Cookies request. The assem-
bly, then adjourned until o'clock deciding
to meet in the Masonic Hall, where better
accommodations could be enjoyed
The afternoon session was turbulent and
unsatisfactory to majority of the dele
gates. The defeat of the amendment to
admit professionals to membership proved
bitter pill to the men who cast 1S2 votes
in Its favor. A two-thrds ma ajority was
required to establish the amendment on
the books of the league. Thirty-ive votes
were lacking when the secretary footed up
his table of ballots.
An auditing committee for the ensuing
year, consisting of George E. Black of New
York, ]. Fred. Adams of Massachusetts,
and George w. Grecnburg of Chicago, was
elected. On behalf of the mayor of Indian
apolis, where the meet of 1898 will be held
Merrill Moores, delegate to the conven-
tion, presented to Chairman Potter for the
Wheelmen an immense key and the liberty
of the city. A motion by Chief Consul Sans
or Maryland to pay to Chairman Mott of
the national racing board the balance of
FUNDS In the treasury for the board, some
$l,4oo, as compensation for his work during
the past year was unanimously adopted.
1t was also voted to pay to Secretary
BaSsett 500 for his services and to author
1ze the loaning of $3.50 to the Internatio
championship Association to defray the ex-
penses of sending amateur and professional
teams to the worlds championship contests
to be held at Vienna.
Through Chairman Mott the racing board
faI 1n,,.r 1;e,4, f,;.l
transferred to the professional class for
Nthe infraction of rules other than tnat of
competing for money. 1t was recommended
that they be restored to their former stand
ing in the amateur class. This recommend
alton was adopted, with the single excep-
ton OF }. b. Corser of Allentown, Pa.
Opposed to PrOfessionnls.
The consideration of amendments to the
constitution and bylaws of the league was
then begun. The first was an amendment
of article ; of section 1 of the constitution.
Mr. Cooke of Rhode Island and Mr. Law
son of Kentucky moved to strike out the
word amateur"
This would have the effect of admitting
to membership in the league members of
the professional class, which had hitherto
been entirely excluded. There ersued a
most interesting debate. Every opportuni-
ty was given the delegates to be heard be-
fore the previous question was put. AS the
result of the ballot the amendment failed
of adoption by Il vote of 1S2 ayes to 143
nays. AS 80 votes in all were cast. 217
was the number required to carry it. An
analysis of the vote showed that most of
the opposition to the admission of ''profes-
sonals' to membership came from the east
New York and New Jersey voting solidly
against the amendment. Pennsylvania 5
vote was divided, Al being for the amend
ment and 80 against it. MASSACHUSETTS and
Rhode Island voted solidy for the amend
ment. Aside from these two states and
Pennsylvania, the main support of the
amendment came from the divisions south
and west of the Allegheny mountains.
The second amendment proposed to ar
ticle 3. section l, of the constitution, failed
to be even considered, for it was discovered
that it had not been published as required
motion to cast it aside was adopted
The next amendment was adopted after
! made in the wording. In brief it provided
that the board of officers of any state di-
vision shall have the power to establish a
junior membership of the League of Ameri-
can Wheelmen to be subject to the control
and management of the board of officers
of the state division in which the junior
member resides.
Such membership shall consist of persons
| between the ages of twelve and eighteen
years, who must be a member of the fami
| ly or ward of a regular member of the
League of American Wheelmen in good
standing at the time of the presentation OF
the application for membership as a juniol
member of the league.
The remainder of this amendment per
tained to the details of the new departure