New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-27
NO DISCOUNT TO THE L. A. w.
THE TRADE REFUSES TO INDORsE sHER-
WOODS SCHEME.
PLAIN TALK REGARDING THE PLAN TO GIVE
DISCOUNTS TO LEAGUE OF AMERICAN
wHEELMEN MEMBERSHIP SHOT
FOR POTTER AND SHERWOOD.

WHEELMEN MEMBERSHIP SHOT
FOR POTTER AND SHERWOOD.
An enthusiastic cyclist. who has made a close
study OF the bicycling industry. was spoken 10
yesterday regarding the scheme OF Chief Con-
sui Sherwood. OF Indiana 20 have the manu-
iactlrer and dealer give a discount to the men,
bers OF the l.. \. ". II was like touching of
hidden magazine
From importunlng for assistance in execut-
Ing IFS many projects. he said. the high officers
OF the League OF American WI eelmen have
now turned to abuse the cycle trade. That so
violent a change Of front should have occurred
at this moment is not surprising to those who
are deeply concerned with affairs OF both the
trade and the League. The League. as Bismarck
once remarked Of Salisbury. Is like tall lath
painted 10 resemble en- iron sword: 1t imper-
fcctly counterfets the strength with which II is
publicly credited 1t is numerically weak. It
has lN;.pb members. On the other hand. the
trade is also weak. a result OF tn protracted
assaults Of buyers. The conditions therefore,
may be- said 90 be favorable for a further at
tack on the trade by the League. But distress
has taught the trade the value OF resistance
ly organization. There some weak spots In
us armor. but they are not 10 he pierced by such
poor campaigners as Mr. Potter Mr.. SHEER
wood, the former Of whom Is lachrymose he
recites the sad story OF how the latter grew
poor through un -eQuited endeavOr for the
Leagus. What Sherwood does, goes says the
pithy Potter. in hurs; Of admiration for the
Hoosier who is distributing circulars petition
Ing the trade TO render aid IN the work of pro-
curing League members through the agency Of
the contemplated purchasing department But
the makers who receiv ! Mr.. SterwoOds letters
are 50 wofully deficient in appreciation Of his
genius that they cOm?lacently cOns!gn them to
the waste-paper basket and turn to similar pro-
ductions of other men Of letters. So much f0r
Mr. Sherwood.
Nov, for Mr. Potter. This gentleman affects
n rancorous haze for the cycle trade. particu-
larry that arm Of il which IS concerned with
manufacture. He Is vehement in protesting
that in twelve years the trade has not contrib
uted cent to the League. and pleads this
an excuse for the predatory designs which he
entertains toward the trade Any one with a
mind Jess tr-acherous than MI Peters, how
ever Will have little difficulty in recalling the
period when he was actively maintained in en-
ploymeut Editor o. tn" Good Roads Maya
zine through the tneroUs contributors ~ the
cycle making fraternity t. the advertising pages
OF that Very dull book. II is further A matter
of record that Mr. Potter himself received a
large sum Of money in order 20 defray the ex-
penses incurred in connection with the passage
Of the Armstrong Baggage bill These are but
two Instances in which Mr.. Potter was person
ally the recipient Of trade bounty II would he
more in keeping with the well-known facts in
the case II in Place o. accusing manufacturers
Of being nggardly In supplying Mr. Potter with
are not wholly in the interest Of the League he
made open acknowledgment OK the great assist
organization. 1t is related upon the best OF au-
thority that when the high tide Of prosperity
prevailed in the cycle trade Mr.. Potter tried to
obtain from II so large a sum as $4,000. failing
in which effort he humbly thankful for the
large cheek before mentioned.
Mr.. Potter is angry because but one manu-
facturer responded with a check for 500 in re-
Spouse 10 his appeal FOR financial assistance in
the development OF the declared aims Of his or
sanization He even goes so far as 20 challenge
the right OF the manufa cturers ~ withhold
financial from
zeal FOR that organization he is unmindful 81 the
fact that his ability 70 properly expend such
moneys as might be intrus;ed 10 his is 70
the trade improved The interests OF manu-
facturers Of bicycles in the maintenance Of good
roads is quite apparent 10 thosa who pause 70
reflect upon the conditions which the cycle
business rests There was time when one
large manufacturer In this country annually
spent $4,000 70 100000 year in maintaining
a department for the distribution OF literature
which would give enlightenment concerning the
value Of good roads. and such expenditures at
such time were vastly In excess II the sum AZ.
propriated by the Government and used with the
same end in view.
That this manufacturer Is not now engaged n
such work is altogether ascribabie 10 the fact
that an agency more powerful than his. or that
~ the League. is az work % stop such expense
The public spread Of cycling. the aid OF daily
newspapers, The keen interest which legislators
In every State are taking IN good roads is suni-
Gent excuse for the temporary withdrawal OF
aid in the good roads movement by bicycle
makers
The scheme Of Mr. Potter to Increase the
League membership is unworthy Of the organ
izatiOn II II is designed 70 achieve il at the OK
pense Of those who have been the stanchest
friends Of the League. To one who is Indifferent
10 both the League and the cycle trade. II would
seem that II the organization cannot procure and
hold members without Matchmaking manufact-
urers. speedy dlsintegratiOn awaits IT,
The pursuance OF such tactics as are so dear
70 Mr.. Potter and Mr. Sherwood will probably
II amplihed 70 affect other trades which have
goods 70 sell 20 cyclists. lead 10 an utter Is
arrangement Of public sympathy for the League
which sympathy. by the way, in the past has
been too generously accorded. considering the
good which has been accomplished through it."