The times., 1898-11-13

Worlds Championship - Outlaws
and the L. c. A.-The Pacing Prob
lem.
New York, Nov. 12-Politics IN the
League of American Wheelmen are open
Heretofore candidates for the various
offices did not make their appearance
earlier than the lst of January. the cleo
tion being held in February. but at the
present time there are candidates in the
field for nearly all of the offices to be
filled And there are some interesting
features. too, in this premature canvass
for unconsciously some of the State lead
ers are showing their inclinations in sup
port of or in opposition the candidates
named and to the issues outlined. AS
stated last week, there is some smooth
work being done for few of the candi-
dates. and this work is now even more ap-
parent, though the promoters of it would
not like 10 have il known. This is princi-
pahy in opposition to the reelection of
Isaac b. Potter to the presidency
The managers of the opposition candi-
dates assert that the present president
has not been the success anticipated and
say that change is therefore necessary.
Their principal claim, however, is that
President Potter has now had two terms
in the office and should for that reason.
II no other, withdraw from the field. The
president in the meantime refuses to say
whether he will again be a candidate and
The situation is thereby rendered uneer-
tain. His friends assert that he will not
be a candidate again and the pressure of
his private law practice is such as to
make II imperative that he withdraw
from official league connections He is
q thorough league enthusiast. however,
having given some of the best years of
his life to the cause of the wheelmen of
the country, and it may be difficult for
him TO retire. This is especially true if
opposition to him assert itself for Potter
IS known as n hard fighter. and if any
prospective candidates want race for
the position he will probably give it to
them 1t is a matter of fact that he would
not have been a candidate last year had
ii not been that some Of the leaders in
other States made a fight against him.
This caused him to announce himself
and by making a hard fight he was re-
elected. This year he would not have to
make so difficult a campaign, for in spite
of what the prospective campaign man
ayers assert against him. Potter has done
some excellent work. and more of it will
be apparent in the very near future.
one of his accomplishments of the
year has been the perfection of the local
consulate idea by which the League of
American Wheeimen will have a regu-
larly organized branch in every town in
he country and wherever practicable
they will be conducted on club lines. The
organization of these consulates is now in
progress and il is expected that when the
league has an actual local organization,
thousands of members will come to it and
the work of the organization will then
be more effective even than 1t has been
in the past.
Book on Cycle Paths.
Another big task which President Pot
ter has finished is the preparation of a
book on the subject of Cycle Paths. -
one of the most important issues Of the
wheelmen. In this book he has given the
reasons for building these paths as vel
as instructions on how to organize Il
build them and practical instructions Cr
construction. Many other things he ha:
accomplished, which in the aggregate
show that he has not been idle by any
means and chief among these is the ar
rangement under which leagIe member!
get d substantial discount on every bool
and publication of every kind appearing
in this country.
The small decrease In membership thi.
year has not in any way been due to III,
presidents office. 1t is directly traceabl
TO the war and its attendant depress:ons
All sports and pastimes have suffered be
cause of it and the league has bsen NJ
exception. That Potter is not to be hell
accountable is shown in the fact tha
during his first term, when there were n
such difficulties to encounter. the organ
ization added thousands of members L
its roll.
Still another point in favor of Potte
is that the financial condition of tn
league is better than 1t ever was. Their
is an ample amount of money in tn
treasury and this, too, in the face of tn
decrease in membership. Potter ha
some strong points in his favor and if
fight is to be made against him on h
record. he will show some interestinl
facts to his critics.
The Candidates.
One Of the ayowed candidates for tn
presidency is c. Frank Kireker, chief cor
sui of the New Jersey division and fol
merly national second vice president H
is an attorney living in Paterson, an
while he has made an efficient State off
ciaI it is scarcely thought ne will be abb
to control much support in the annual a:
sefnbly Another candidate, probabl.
whose name has not been officially al
nounced is Thomas J. Keenan,, now M
Uonal first vice president Mr.. Keenan,
very strong in his own State of Pennsy
vania ana in the central Western State
He is the league leader in his district. an
is one of the strongest men in the organ
lzation and would make formidable car
didate. In case of the withdrawal {
President Potter he would be in the be.
position of any of the possible candidate
There are several others with bees
their bonnets who are waiting for Il