The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-11
PROFESSIONALS KEPT OUT
WILL NOT BE ADMITTED TO MEN,
BERsHIP ~ THE LEAGUE.
Key to Indianapolis Hospitality Pre-
dence to Be Next Meeting Place.

been printed and circulated before the meet
ing began. These were promptly adopted
and the assembly proceeded TO the election
of officers who were all chosen before the
recess for lunch was taken. The Potter
ticket was elected without much opposition.
1t follows:
Presfdent-Isaac B. Potter. of New York
First Vice observation-disclosures j. Keenan,,
of Pennsylvania.
Second Vice President-E. N. Hines, of
Michigan.
Treasurer-James c. Tattersall, of New
Jersey.
The afternoon session was given up to
consideration and disposal of miscellaneous
business and the final. discussion of amend
ments to the constitution and bylaws. The
delegates decided they did not want profess
SIGNALS admitted to the league and defeated
that amendment. Another was adopted
giving the board of officers of any state
division power to establish a junior MEM
bership Of the League of American Wheel
men.
The morning session of the assembly was
called to order at 1915 o'clock by President
Potter. and the calling of the roll was i'm
mediately proceeded with 1t showed that
307 delegates were present in person or rep
resented by proxies. The proxies numbered
49, The reports of President Potter and
the other officers of the league had previ-
ously been prepared and printed, as well
the reports of the various standing COM
mittees, and were passed upon without
reading.
The report of President Potter primarily
dwelt at length upon the progress of the
good roads movements in the league He
then called attention to the fact that ten
States have passed laws requiring bicycles
to be carried baggage without extra
charge and bills are now pending in the
Legislatures of Kentucky Virginia and
Maryland for the same purpose. This pol
icy, on the Long Island Railroad alone,
increased the traffic from 10000 cycling pas
sengers in 1896 to 800 in 1897. He recon-
mended that the publishing of executive
bulletin of news and notes relating to the
rate divisions be continued. He also recon-
mended the continuance of the loan fund
Which served an excellent purpose within
the last year During the past year 54,793
new members have Joined the league and
4S,Ol7 OF the old members have renewed.
But as in former years. the percentage of
renewals is by no means satisfactory. In
closing his report, President Potter dwelt
briefly on the dissatisfaction that was ex-
pressed in southern California owing TO the
failure of the passage of amendment at
the last assembly to sanction Sunday rae
ing. He maintained that the deliberate
judgment of the National Assembly must
at all times prevail.
THE SECRETARY'S REPORT.
Secretary Abbott Bassett, in his report
said the year of 1897 had seen the member
ship grow from 1900 to 100000 and the
finances had shown a very healthy condi-
ton. The membership rolls show a gain
of AZ per cent. The largest percentage
shown in the past was 81 per cent, in 1897.
The gross income for 1897 was $165, O42, an
increase Of Sal, SAG over 1896 Among the
several divisions during 1897 was distributed
$9l, 5N Subscriptions to the Bulletin
amounted to $25,247. and to its publishers
was paid SIS, 239, making the Bulletin cost
the league 1892. The number of paid sub
scriptions received was 1O0,990. League club
fees amounted tos$ sos. AS instructed at the
last assembly, the work of REMEMBERING the
membership cards has been begun but it is
expected at least two years will be con-
dex.
The report of the auditing committee
composed of ]. Fred Adams, John j. Van
Horn and George L. Mccarthy, showed that
the league has in it's treasury over $4,000.
me principal heavy receipts >for Che last
year We're; Applications, $95,SS7; renewals,
$96,0l2; subscriptions, $25247. The heavy ex-
penditures We're: Distributions among di-
visions. $91,504; Bulletin account $39 239.
The report of Albert Mott, chairman of
the racing board, showed that during the
year the receipts by the racing board
amounted to 1926. the expenditures 81 594
leaving balance on hand of 81, S32. During
the year 2,9l2 race meets were held, where
1856 races had been given participated in
by 5000 racing men, who have won and re-
eeeived racing and pace-making prizes to
the value of $1,654,G20 zone new feature .
that has improved bicycle racing in the past
season is the entrance into it of capitalists
and business men, the report continued
'They are in it for an investment and to
get proper returns. Consequently their
meets are conducted in business-like man
ner and with system. Racing sanction priv
ileges is not only necessary, but it is a
wise measure in fostering this class OF recre-
control by the l.. A. W. without direct Pc
cuniary profits, invites public confidence to
an extent that could not be accomplished
in any other manner Mr.. Mott called at
tention to the manner of determining the
professional national champion, and claimed
it is at fault For obvious reasons'' he
continued, the national amateur champion
ships should be determined entirely at the
national meet, and there should be but one
In the report Of Otto Doerner. chairman
OF the committee of Improvement of high
ways he stated vast amount of personal
effort had been expended upon the good
roads work in most of the States and many
active minds had devoted themselves en-
Enthusiastically and persistently to the
cause. Apart from the continuous general
agitation going on all over the country the
good roads movement has made good spe-
cif1c progress in a number of States.
TRANSPORTATION or WHEELS.
The report of the committee on transpor-
tation stated that with the exception of
Pennsylvania, Maryland. Delaware, Vlr-
ginia, West Virginia, Indiana, southern Iili-
nois and Florida, the railroads carry wheels
by force of law while these States are in
cluded by voluntary concession. The key
to the Eastern situation is now in the State
of Indiana. IL its Legislature should pass
bicycle baggage law the scheme Of trans
portation between Chicago and St Louis
and New England would be finished Iii
nois is the key to the Western situation
and, recognizing this the greater part of the
committee work has been concentrated
there In the South the railroads are unde-
cided Florida's railroads voluntarily
granted free transportation. commencing
Jan. /, Of this year.
The report of the membership committee
submitted BY Chairman George l.. Cook
showed that out of 10000 applicants and
members just 40 had complaints or objec-
tons entered against them for causes other
than ineligbility and in twenty of these
instances the objections were oyerruled as
trivial or unfOun9ed
The report OF the committee on rights
and privileges submitted by Chairman
Walter S. jenkins comprised the citation
of numerous instances where the commit
tee had been appealed TO from all over
the country for opinions concerning the
rights and privileges Of riders from COM
plants resulting from collisions to consti-
tutional questions. In all cases opinions
We're given that would tend TO produce har-
mony where seeming discord threatened
49,. !.