The times., 1898-11-27


Eritain is skepticarIy Wondering.
New York, Nov. 26.-As the time for the
next annual assembly of the League of
American Wheelmen draws near, there is
= greatly increased interest in the sub
ject of cycle racing governmental con-
trol. This will be the most important sub
ject for discussion at the February
meeting, and the partisans of the re-
spective sides of the question are already
engaged in lively discussion of it. This
same subject has been under more or less
consideration by the annual legislative
meeting of the league for the past three
years but has never yet reached the dig
nifty of a direct vote as to whether the
league shall continue to control the
sport, as heretofore. There are evidences
now, however, that the matter will not
only be discussed at the coming meeting.
but that it will come up IN some form
which will require vote. Should this be
the case il will be found that the New
York division will be bitterly opposed to
further control, no matter what becomes
tee is violently opposed 10 the racing ele-
nent. They expect assistance in downing
th.. racing element from Massachusetts,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and one
two other States.
on teh opposing side will be Ohio,
Indiana, Michigan, illinois Minnesota,
Maryland kentucky, Connecticut, and.
in fact. nearly all of the Western and
Southern States. as well as a large part
of New England. The friends of racing
also claim that Pennsylvania will give
majority in favor of continued control
and that Massachusetts will be with
them as a whole. Should this prove true
ana it seems to be the most conservative
view OF the case. New York will be prac-
tic4lIy alone in its opposition TO racing.
Whichever state oppose racing Will
have the hardest end of the job. for it
will require a two-thirds vote of the
sembly TO give up the control. That 1t
will be impossible to secure this is al
most positively assured. even at this ear
ly date But the bigoted New Workers
will not stop their agitation for any ap-
parent disadvantage they may be labor
ing under. They have fathered the oppo-
sition To racing for 50 long a time. and
have been so uniformly unsuccessful in
their efforts to eliminate it from the con-
stitution of the league. that it is now
becoming a sore point with them, and
they will fight it to the end-and then
srowi and be suiky when they are de-
feated.
That seems to be their characteristic
for they have shown the same disposition
In other matters in the past So much is
This true that the progressive element in
the division dubs them the "Grandmoth-
ers' Sewing Circle But they may give
way to reason in the end though it is not
at all probable, and It may be perhaps
charitable TO hope they will. But in any
event they are creating disaffection in
the division by their stand on the racing
question and this fact will not make it
any the easier for the new administra-
tion. which is composed OF men who have
taken the same view of the subject while
holding minor positions. They need all
the assistance they can get, for the di-
vision is in a bay way and some of its
best workers are racing enthusiasts.
Candidates for Office.
The new development of the political
situation in the League of American
-Wheelmen during the past week was a
meeting of chief consuls-elect at ST. Lou
is. at which were present representatives
Of Ohio. Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri.
- Other States sent their regrets.
The representatives present are avowed-
" opposed to the reelection OF PreSlGeut
Potter Illinois and Missouri have con-
sistently fought the present executive for
many years, but have never been able to
be on the winning side The Ohio chief
conSul-elect was brought from oblivion
by Potter, who appointed him. through
the racing board, handicapper of the Ohio
district in face of the bitterest kind of op-
position from the anti-Potterites. The
Ohio man has supported Potter for two
hut a i
date for chief consul of his division and
succeeded in the election. Since that time
he seems to have forgotten those who are
responsible for his entree to the list of
officials for he is now openly opposing
the administration under which he has
served for two years, before which time
ne was unheard of.
1t was not announced what had been
done 1T the meeting. but ii is known that
the annual attempt at solidifying the
West in the assembly viii be m@ae, with
4 view to debating to the East what kind
Of a national ticket shall be elected With
President Potter out of the running, this
combination would in all prob sbility be
successful but it can scarcely hope TO
win against the popular New Yorker. a
fight is TO be made, however, and there
will be first-class campaign managers on
both sides. The fight for the presidency
will, in consequence, be the bitterest the
league has ever seen, and the result will
probably leave hard feelings.
The list Of candidates for the two vice
presidences is growing steadily, and for
this class there will be some excellent en-
tries. The latest TO announce himself +
George d. Locke, chief consul-elect of the
Illinois division, a leagur official fOl
years and one of its brightest and most
energetic workers. He is also one of the
shrewdest politicians in the league, despits
The fact that ne has repeatedly been Cu
the losing side in national affairs
His shrewdness was shown in the re.
cent division election. in which ne clev.
erly shut off all opposition TO his ticket
by the use of parliamentary tactics which
were alike unexpected and clever. Other
candidates for the position are Herbert
Foltz of Indiana; Edward N Hines, OF
Michigan; r. w. Hayes, of Massachu
- setts. and ID. ]. O'Brien, of Nebraska OF
these Hines is now second vice presiden
and will probably succeed himself. Folt;
is member of the national racing board
his State, and would command the en-
tire Western support, wei as a gooC
section of the East. The fight between
these will be pretty one, and will prob
ably be as interesting as the one for tn,
presidency.
The secretary holds his position 20,