The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-12
SUNDAY RACES BARRED
LOCAL OPTION AMENDMENT DE-
FEATED BY l.. A. w. ASSEMBLY
minority Of Votes Cast in Favor of
Compromise Proposition, but
Not the Necessary TvO-Thirds-
Most Important League Meeting
Ever Held Is Over.

"oSt important League Meeting
Ever Held Is Over
ST. LOUIS, Mo, Feb 11.-After three
GAYS OF hard work the national assem-
bly, of the League of American Wheel
men tonight finally adjourned one OF
the most notable sessions ever held by
the body. AT this session the fight OF
President Isaac Potter for reelection
vas successful and the all-important
question Of local option in the matter
OF sunday racing was again defeated
An amendment was offered to the
bylaws, moving to insert the follow
ing:
NO meeting shall receive sanction, If 1t is
10 be held on Sunday, in any division where
the board Of officers of such division shall,
by resolut on, prohibit the same.
w. H. Baker, a delegate from Buffalo
offered as a substitute for this amend
ment the following, which he spoke or
at length:
It shall have the power to grant or with
hold permits for race meetings and to i'm
pose penalties upon race promoters and
racing men, who may hold race meetings
or engage in racing at the same without
the official permit of the board. But no
race meeting shall receive official permit
If it is to be held on Sunday, except as
hereinafter provided, or pass upon sched-
petitors.
The League of American Vince men, viii e
encouraging sunday racing and all
lawful and 1mmoderate use of the bicycle
recognizing the fact that sectional customs
and uses among reputable people in GER
of the indulgence in outdoor sports and
athletic games on Sunday, 1t is reSy prov
Vlded that no cycle racing on Sunday shall
be recognized or tolerated by permit OF
the national racing board or otherwise
In any way, unless each division of the
league shall have first taken a ballot be-
fore June l. 1898, upon the question of
Sunday racing, which each divis on is here
by directed to do
The failure of any division to take the
ballot as herein directed shall be construed
as constructive ballot of such division
unanimously opposed to Sunday racing.
And. provided further, that after each
division has taken such ballot and where
majority of the members of any division
nave voted in favor of such Sunday racing,
then Sunday racing shall be permitted in
such division under the same ru es and
regulations of the national racing board as
govern races held on other days of the
week.
Sunday Compromise.
Mr.. Baker said he offered this substi-
tute as a compromise. In his state. he
added the sentiment was overwheIm
1gly against Sunday racing The ques-
ton he considered to be a dangerous
one, and one that might disrupt and
dismember the league He contendeC
that the league could not stand sponsor
for Sunday racing and retain it's re.
spectability.
The debate that followed was elo.
qCent and fiery at times. Consul Kerr
ker, of New Jersey, spoke against Sun
day racing: Del Moulton, of Illinois
was for it and the ex-president him.
self spoke strongly in favor of the
substitute, as did A B. Choate, of Min.
neapolis. The latter declared that il
vas not question of religion, but one
of eXpediency.
Frank P. Won Volkenburgh, assistant
United States attorney and a delegate
from Milwaukee, made a fiery and elo-
ouent address denouncing the com
promise substitute. He favored loca
option and would vote on the origina
amendment. A number of Other
speeches were made pro and con anG
by a good majority Mr.. Bakers amend
ment was substituted for the origina
amendment
AT this point the delegates got into
parliamentary tangle that for time
could not be unraveled. When finally
1t was Strengthened out, a vote was
taken on the previous question-the
adoption of the substitute as an amend
ment to the bylaws.
1t was defeated, as the required two
thirds majority was not in favor of its
adoption. The total number of votes
cast was 327, making the necessary two.
thirds, 21S A count of the votes show