The Worcester spy., 1898-10-19
Taylor Tires of
Outlaws.
WILL PAY HIS FINE.
He Tells Why He Joined
the Ranks of the Rebels.

the country, no longer possesses any at
fractions for Major Taylor. Worces-
ter's colored rider, the very last of the
big men to join the rebel ranks a few
weeks ago, is now the first of the en-
tire lot to seek again the protection and
approval of the league.
Taylor has not as yet gone through
the formality of making an application
for reinstatement. He has been look
ing over the ground to ascertain under
what conditions his name will be
erased from Chairman Motifs blacklist
and placed upon the list of those in
good and regular standing.
Yesterday the information he desired
came by telegraph. Il was in the shape
of telegram, and stated that the L.
A. W, was perfectly willing to rein
state him whenever he made applica-
tion. But now that Taylor has had his
fun, he must pay for it. and the price
in this instance is s150-the amount of
the fine imposed upon him by Chair
man Mott.
The major is now upon one of his
periodical visits to this city, having ar
rived here early yesterday morning
from his old home in Indianapolis,
where his family still lives. A Spy
man sought out Taylor soon after his
arrival, to find out if it were really true
that he had forsaken the Cyclists I'm
ion for all time, and desired re-admis
sion into the League of American
Wheelmen.
Although usually averse to talking at
any length upon cycling subjects, Tay-
lor was perfectly willing to say some
thing about the Cyclists Union and the
story that he was going back into the
Of Il
did not hesitate to say that he was anx-
ious to get back into the League, why,
man." he said, there is no such thing
as the Cyclists Union now. AT least,
it exists only on paper. The boys will
all be trying to get back either this fall
or next spring. And I just happen to
be the first one of the bunch
Taylor then went on and gave an
interesting account of the formation of
the Cyclists Union, and the reasons
that led him to throw off the L. A. w.
yoke, Il first heard of the movement
when l was racing Freeman at Water
bury last month" he said. "A tele-
gram came to me, signed by Bald, Coo
per and some of the Others saying that
they had left the L. A. W., and asking
if l would join them. At the time
did not know the reason which subse-
quently proved to be on account of sus-
pension for training over a black listed
track. At Trenton they had their first
meeting, when the preliminary steps
looking to a permanent organization
were effected. That was the day be-
fore the l.. A. w. races there and the
boys, after the meeting was over, came
TO me and wanted to know if I was
willing to stand by them. In other
words. they were unwilling to race in
the sanctioned races that afternoon.
said ] was there to race, and refused
NIL a Cfo a,1f he |,
riders had agreed to stay out, with the
exception of Tom Butler and Watson
Coleman, but finding that we intended
TO ride, they changed their deteFmina-
tlon and went in Thus you see. I
STAYED off the organization for a couple
of days.
From Trenton we all went over to
Philadelphia for the L. A. w. races
there on the following Saturday Wed
nesdaY evening another meeting of the
sore" men was held at a hotel there,
and the organization completed. All
the first-elass men signed the
charter, with the exception of owen
KimbIe and myself; we We're opposed
to joining, and said so. | knew that
there would be few more L. A. w.
meets with SO many of the men sus-
pended, but | was determinedeto stay
out, for l thought | could have at least
one good man to meet in Kimble. FL
nally, however. Kimble Joined and |
decided to do the same thing.
Before / became a member, however,
! had q talk with all the boys in one Of
their meetings and told them under just
what conditions they might include my
name in their membership. I insisted.
If / was to be connected with the
union, that no champions q events
would take place ON Sunday, for / do
not believe in Sunday racing. Arthur
Gardiner. took a similar. stand and
unanimous vote it was decided to enter
no race meets that offered champion
ship events on Sunday. At the sugges-
tion of one of the members it was also
voted to take no part in meetings at
which my entry was rejected on ac-
count of race prejudice. The riders also
promised me a fair show.
'Of course l knew there was nothing
binding about all this The men gave
their word of honor that they would
live up to the agreement and / went in.
l want to say that my treatment at the
hands of the Cyclists union individual
ly has been perfectly satisfactory and
/ have not bit of fault TO find with
their actions.
What was your object in going into
the union?" asked the reporter.
'Weln said Taylor, in order to win
any championship that had the Slight
est bit of merit to it, l had to be rid
ing with the outlawed men. With ev-
cry one of the first class men, with very
few exceptions, riding in their ranks,
ii left no one to meet me in the straight
J.. A. w. championships, and OF course
the victory | would have won in get
ting the championship would have
been mighty hollow. ! went into the
union simply and solely to get crack
a the big men. / never was of the
opinion that the opposition against the
L. A. w. would be lasting. Personal
ly, l much prefer to stand by the
league, but business is business, and
business made it seem best that I &c
over. 1 can't say that I'm sorry that
j took the step did, u it did not turn
out quite so satisfactorily, I mean the
championship contest. as l had de-
sired
Was it not true" the reporter con-
tinued, that so point championship
event was contested at the first ST.
Louis meeting on Sunday"
Yes, it was, but there was lots of
opposition to it, can tell you" the ma
Jor continued. Tim Hearst was run
ming the races and had advertised the
trial heats in this championship fol-
Saturday. with the finals on Sunday
afternoon. The riders living up TO the
agreement, all wanted the finals Sat
urday afternoon. and We compelled Tim
to promise that the final would he run
off with the trials before any one oi
the men would come TO the scratch in
the trial heats.
Cooper Bald, Gardiner. Kimble an6
myself all won our heats and wanted
the final run off as we'll But Hearst
kept putting off trial heats in amateur
events and although we protested mos
vigorously he refused to call as out foi
tiaa final. We saw plainly enough that