The times., 1898-10-09
METHODS OF MOTT BOARD
Sources of Income Used in the
Control of Bicycle Racing.
CONTROL BOARD SALARIES
The Amount Reaches $4,000 n Year,
of Which the Mott Family Gets
$1,000 - Professional Riders Fur
nish the Bulk of the Income
Fines Imposed for Effect.

president of the Park Bicycle Club. Civ
ing his reasons for taking the initiative
in breaking away from the League of
American Wheelmen control of racing,
was read by a number of persons and
many comments made thereon. 1t is
believed that in his letter he has struck
the keynote of several important things
While not going into detail. he has skim
med the surface of a number of things
which tend to throw a good deal of dis
credit upon the manner and method I'm
which the league retains control of the
racing game. being. perhaps, the most
lucrative thing that the organization
could possible take hold Of
A house divided against itself cannot
stand. is supposed 10 be a true saying.
yet such is the case with the L. A. w.
regarding the question of racing control
A good many members have at all of
the national assembly meetings for the
past two or three years. perhaps longer.
been advocating the divorcing of racing
from the organization, recognizing that
IN continuing control of bicycle racing
the organization was drifting entirely
away from its primary principles. When
organized, racing was not even dreamt
OF by the charter members, much less
assuming control Of the sport in the
country.
Growth of Racing Control.
From side issue, the racing question
has grown to be the biggest thing pos
sibIe, and the practical mainstay of the
organization at the present time. With
racing control taken away, the L. A
W. viii be relegated into the back ranks
until people with energy and ambition
take hold and build it up on the lines
originally laid down. By following out
the primary principle of organization
there is plenty of work TO be done and
q big opportunity for the organization
TO spring into prominence in an entirely
different field. and field that would be
acceptable 10 all of the wheelmen of the
country. Operated on the lines which re-
suited in the birth of the organization.
the wheelmen of the country would join
and continue their membership. solely for
the good they would be able to do for the
advancement Of bicycling and its inter
ests. including touring, the passage OF
suitable laws. etc.
Enst MOnopoIfzes Power
Just at present the president of the or
ganization is Isaac B. Potter. of New
York city. II might be added that New
York is the banner State in the league.
l. may also be stated appropriately at
this Juncture that six or seven Of the
Eastern States have more than one-kalf
OF the total membership of the organiza-
tion in the country. With the knowledge
OF this power these States. or rather the
representatives, Of these States. Rave been
inc
do not believe in Sunday racing The
laws Of their communities do not permit
such a supposed desecration Of the Sab
bath Gut in the West d different set
of laws exist; also an entire difference OF
opinion. The Western members have all
along advocated Sunday racing, while the
Eastern members have steadfastly op-
posed the granting Of such privilege. Be-
ing in the majority, the East controlled
the day.
Potter Opposes Racing Control.
Mr.. Potter is now serving his second
term as the president of the national or
ganiZation. He was also formerly chiei
consul of the New York diMsion. and as
such accomplished several things. He
succeeded in building up in his State the
largest membership ever before known in
the division into such a deep debt that
it viii take many years of prosperity to
liquidate. While not coming out directly
on the subject. it is understood that he
is opposed to the league control of racing
He is rather too diplomatic to say much
in this respect. He writes now and ther
for the papers and in a recent article
published in a New York paper, he dwell
on The racing question. Mr.. Potter, 4
.Ea-naH 1. l.
wells his remarks. His article is suzcep
tible Of several Interpretations. Mr. Pot
ter may be able TO give one version, bu
not hearing his version, and reading tn,
article, a person would be inclined to be
Heve that the president of ths-great or
ganization actually thought bicycle rae
ing was no good for the league. In fact
he attempts to beIittle the matter. 81
much for Mr.. Potter and his ideas.
Chairman Albert Mott.
The chairman of the racing board oi
this great organization is Albert Mott
Mr.. Mott lives in a suburb OF Baltimore
known as Park Avenue Heights He ha.
wife and children, and it is understood
they are all musically inclined Mr. Mot
works for Uncle Sam in the day time
and at night he does nothing much. H
racing board and some believe him to b
so. but a good many other people seem {
think that Mrs. Mott runs this end of tn
line Mr.. Mott is said to be a man of i'm
pulses and he might do at one momen
exactly the reverse of what he said h
would the previous moment. 1t is har
TO believe that a man would be so er
ratio: il is much more natural of
woman. These actions tend to strensthe
the belief of many that petticoats instea
of trousers virtually administer what lit
tie justice there may be for the racin
men who happen 10 be hauled before tn
attention Of the chairman of the board.
The l.. A. w. Racing board.
With Mr.. Mott there are five othe
gentlemen. scattered all over the coun
try, who help TO constitute the raoini
board. They have more or less work I,
perform. Under the control of the racin:
board come all of the handicappers an,
referees of every State. The appointmen
of these officials is a good deal in tn
line of appointments in political life. TIL
men who help the winning side TO vic
tory are not left out in the cold. Their
is always some Office in which they cai
be placed, which is more or less remun
erative IN a good many divisions tn
positions OF handicappers are regarded a
dead sure things. Under the rules, th
Handicapped is allowed 10 charge twenty
five cents for every man handicapped
Thus If a race is held and there ar
twenty men entered. the official handi
capper receives five dollars for his work
II there are two handicap races on tn
rrs,- :