The times., 1898-12-18
OPPOSITION TO KEENAN,
Said to be Developing in the
Ranks of the [. A. w.
pEACEABLE ELECTION
The Plasburg Candidates Friends
Undisturbed-COnwa w. Sans
VIII BE His Opponent-The Next
National Meet-'The Six Days Race.
Other Cycling Gossip.

Other Cycling Gossip.
New York, Dec. 17.-From several hap
penings of the past week there are indi-
cations that Thomas ]. Keenan, will have
opposition in his candidacy for the presi-
dency of the League of American Wheel
men. As already forecasted. 1t Is believed
that his opponent will be Conway w.
Sans, chief consul of Maryland and
chairman of the national rights and
privileges committee The movement in
behalf of Sans is scarcely under way at
the present time, but it has been suffi-
ciently inaugurated to warrant the state-
ment that he is in the field for the Office.
His friends are quietly feeling the situa-
tion now. and If they find he has fight
ing chance they will announce their be-
lief that he should be the next president.
1t is said that II Sans is a candidate he
will have the support of President Pot
ter, and this seems very reasonable, as
as he has been one of the leading lieu
tenants of Potter for several years and
in that capacity has rated as one of the
shrewdest politicians in the league. He
has learned much, too. from his astute
New York friend, and his connection with
the national committee has given him a
wide insight into the workings of the Or
ganiZation. He is a lawyer by profession
and is rated as one of the leading men,
bers of the bar in his home city of Bal
timore.
Close Election.
His connections in the league have been
of such a character that he has not
been brought into any of the partisan dis
cussions which have all but disrupted the
organization, and he numbers among his
friends men who have taken both sides in
past differences of opinion. In this he is
! like Keenan--ne,ther has any avowcd enc
mics in the list of delegates-and for that
reason the election would be based more
| than ever before on the re.ative merits of
| the two candidates. The friends of Sans
| say that should he become a candidate no
| partisan feeling will be allowed to enter
| the contest in so far as they are concern
| ed 1t Is their desire to have a friendly
election in every sense, appealing TO the
delegates for suffrage only from the rec
| ords of the men, and when the votes are
| counted to be among the first to congrat-
ulate the successful candidate and help
| him make his administration success
| IL this can be done, it will be OF the great
est benefit to the league. for the elections
of the past five years have been conduct
ed on the most bitterly partisan lines.
and when the assembly adjourned there
| were many hard feelings taken home WITH
| the defeated delegates
| This resulted. in a great measure, IN
| DISCRIMINATION when organization was
| he al
| always had to fight against those wfo
| orposed IL in the election. The idea oil
| making this a peaceabie election may yet
| prove to be a dream only. but members
| of the league who are not cla-sed with
| the leaders hope IL Will not be so. nat
| the league needs at the present uine
| more than anything else is fr-endiy
| election and determination on ooth
| sides to assist the administration IL 1t
| cats mis- II will regain its membe: ship,
| hut If not it will be but repetition oil
the mast five years of inharmonious
| wrangling.
| Keenan's Friends Undisturbed.
While the candidacy of Sans is expect
ed by the friends OF keenan, they axe go
ing ahead with their plans unco.cerneily
and fully expect to land him n winner.
There are. however two evidences of dis
cord which made their appearance during
the week. The first was in the case OF
Il George d. Locke, of Illinois, who wants
to be second vice president. Some OF the
members of the keenan, combination CD
iect to his name being used in that con-
nection because of the debt the Illinois
division owes the national treasury.
They argue that If ne was elected TO the
nosition he wants he would be one of the
three members of the national executive
| committed and as such would have toe
; | much to say regarding that Illinois indebt-
; | edness The other cause of friction In the
combination is said to have arisen in con
nection with the treasurership. 1t was
said that the position was offered fai
) Western State and was practically accept,
ed as one of the combination ticket. Later
| the party to whom it was promised heard
| that the combination is leaning towarc
Tattersall, of New Jersey. As matter
| of fact, ii is thought by the practical poll
| ticians of the league that the ticket out
lined at first by the Westerners would moi
go through as it was too much Western
the East not getting anything in the lin,
: of offices. Now a compromise is suggest
ed, so that the presidency will go to Penn
sylyania, the first vice presidency to Indi
| ana, the second vice presidency to Massa
chusetts and the treasurership to Nebras
ka. This would be much better from 6
l. political point of view, as 1t gives repre-
. sentation to all the sections.
4 Close Election.
While 1t Is too early to consider thu
probable makeup of the Sans ticket
since his candidacy has not been definite
ly announced, it would not be aston:sh
ing If the first vice presidency on i
would go to Wisconsin. the second vic
presidency to New Hampshire and tn
| treasurership to Nebraska. The Sam
adherents expect to get the full vote o
New England with the exception c
Massachusetts,, New York. Virginia
West Virginia. Maryland. Kentucky
Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, I5w
and Colorado, which would be enough t
win. The Kenan managers say that sev
eral of these States will surely be in tn
keenan, column and laugh at the idel O
their being otherwise.
A careful forecast of the situation fron
o conservative point shows that neithe
side would have enough votes to win a
I the present time and that if Sans be
comes a candidate he will have u vet
almost equal to Keenan's. the result be
ing in few doubtful States which ma,
l be swung one way or the other. If thi
!. is true, and it seems to be, and if tn
election can be conducted on frlend