Omaha daily bee., 1898-10-09

The secession OF a score OF leading pro-
fessional racing men from the League Of
American Wheemen is the overshadowing
topic Of Interest in racing circles. What the
effect will be on race control by the league
is speculative question. Opinions differ
widely Among the seceders things are in
the formative stage, so that it Is impossible
to determine whether 1t can be nodded into
a strong united organization. League Off
GERS, particularly members OF the Racing
Board, affect indifference, being confident
that the rebellion will end as did the at
tempt Of base ball players to cut loose from
the managers Of teams several years ago.
The ball players found that playing ball and
managing the finances was more of a Job
than they bargained for, and were glad to
get back to the old conditions at the end Of
six months. There is this difference in the
conditions; The seceders are supported by
several track managers. They held two
race meets in Washington within ten days
and received most encouraging support.
Tracks in Baltimore, Philadelphia, the
Berkeley Oval and New York are open to
them; they held meet in st. Louis yester-
day and have arranged dates for Denver,
Salt Lake City, ogden, San Francisco and
California points. A meeting of track own
ers favorable to the movement is to be held
in New York tomorrow
Il have studied the racing question for
several years" says a man prominently
connected with cycle racing affairs in the
New York Tribune, "and l have come to
tho conclusion that the best way out of the
troubles would be to form an organization
for The control of the sport both on the
track and on the road My idea would be
that the League of American Wheelmen
appoint two members the Century Road
Club of America two more, the National
Track association two, and the racing men
two. Then allow these eight men to elect
o chairman or president who would not be
identified in any way with any of those Or
ganizations. With such a body in control OF
the sport think cycle racing could be gov
erned and governed we'll Each faction
would have its representation, and it would
be difficult to have chickering's and troubles
/ would not be surprised If such a scheme
was proposed at the national assembly OF
the League of American Wheelmen."
The first official action taken by the Rae
ing board OF the l.. A. w. in relation to the
revolt of the professional riders comes in
the form of suspensions and fines upon riders
and officials affiliated with the seeding asso-
Citations. Chairman Mott last Monday an
nounced the ruling of the board as fol-
lows:
The following penalties are imposed for
factions detrimental to the racing interests
of the l.. A. w. for participating in un-
sanctioned races at Washington. d. c., and
for failure to ride after entry at sanctioned
meets ]. D. Lasley of Washington, ID. O.,
is permanently suspended from the sane
onI r,,la off oil 7,
tracks in any capacity; the Park Bicycle
club track, near Washington D. c., is fined
81, 900 and suspended from the sanction priv
ilege until it is paid. Bald, Cooper, McFar-
land, o. Stevens, Arthur Gardner and Jay
Eaton are fined 5000 each and suspended
until It is paid; Major Taylor, Kimble Free
man and Fred Sims are fined $3.50 each and
suspended until 1t Is paid; Earl Kiser, A.
l. Brown, w. T.. Becker, Henry Terrill, Otto
Maya and j. e. Walsh are fined 800 each
and suspended until it Is paid; Steenson, Mo-
ran, Throop and c. E. Cause are fined $50
each and suspended until 1t is paid.
The following are ruled off all l.. A. w.
tracks for officiating at unsanctioned races.
Walt w. Wilson, Buffalo; Frank j. Wisner,
Edward Neumeyer, jr.; L. S. Conolly, r. NJ.
Dobbins, Il. P. Hough, Paul Won Boeckman,
r.. w. X Pollock Rudolph Jose, William
Hill, H. r. Stocks and W. G. Cowley, Wash
ington, d. c., and A. G. Batchelder, New
York.
Commenting on the present chaotic con-
dition of league affairs the New York
Tribune says: "Various professional bicycle
racers have seeded from the League OF
American Wheelmen and are forming
league of their own, with the apparent ex-
pectation of making 1t serious rival OF
the older organization. In that expectation
they are not likely to succeed. They may
form a strong racing league, though even
that is doubtful. They cannot on the basis
of professional racing build up an organiza-
tion that will include or much appeal to the
general cycling public. BY the latter, in
deed, their departure from the League of
American Wheelmen will be regarded with
a considerable degree or equinamity, If not
displeasure. There is no radical objection
to their presence in the league. But there
would be decided objection to their making
the league mere racing association or to
their monopolizing its attention with racing
matters.
THE true object of such an organization
as the League Of American Wheelmen Is 20
promote the general interests Of the average
bicycle rider and the average bicycle rider is
not professional racer. He rides for pleas |
ure or health or as a means of locomotion
and not TO make money or to win prizes. !
The league has greatly promoted his inter- !
ests by securing protective legislation, i'm
proved roads, sgnboards and what not In
such benefcent work there is further scope
for its fullest activities. 1t may properly |
enough have a Racing Board as an adjunct,
but 10 must not itself become mere adjunct |
TO the Racing Board There is a vast differ |
ence between gentlemen's riding and drlv- |