The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-10
HOOsiers AT Work Among the Dele
gates, Booming the Coming
'.Meet" at indianapolis.
TALK WITH CHAIRMAN MOTT
REGARDING THE RACES THAT WILL
BE RUN IN THIS CITY.
Mr.. Parry's "Sinews of War"-Presi-
dent Potter Certain of Re-EIee-
tiOn-Good Roads Movement.

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 9.-Although the real
| work of the national assembly of the
League of American Wheelmen does not
| begin until tomorrow, the delegates, who
are nearly all here We're probably buster
to-day and tonight than they will be dur
ing the rest of the week. Many conferences
were held to discuss matters that will come
before the assembly and league politics also
required the attention of many of the dele
gates. The Indianians are here in. force.
81 intended to have meeting of our boys
this morning." said Chairman Mott, of the
racing board, turning to IL. w. Foltz, of
Indiana with whom he was chatting in the
Southern Hotel lobby, but this Indiana
crowd is getting in, and | guess we had
better sample what they have first" ID. M.
Parry, president of the Indianapolis '9S
Meet Club, standing nearby smiled signifi-
cantly, for Mr. Parry was intrusted with
the sinews of war just before leaving home,
and the day was not far advanced before
the 'sinews'' were put into operation. An
expense fund of $3.50 was raised by the In
dianapolis club to entertain members of the
national assembly here but this amount
will probably be donated by private contri-
buttons of the delegates from the Hoosier
capital, FOR there is very strong compet
ton in the entertainment line New York,
booming Mr. Potter for the presidency of
the league, has opened q hospitable bar
room on the parlor floor of the hotel, while
Boston, clamoring for the 1899 meet, is not
continuing itself strictly to Puritan hospital
ity. BY the way, the indianapolis people
are favoring the Massachusetts, metropolis,
although, like true Hoosier politicians, they
are not obtruding this fact on the notice
of the assembly, since indianapolis wants a
rousing, enthusiastic crowd at its own af-
fair IL August and is taking few chances
on creating enemies.
THE INDIANAPOLIS MEET.
'The racing at the Indianapolis meet"
said Chairman Mott to the Journal repre-
sentative, will probably awaken more in
terest than at any previous meet, provided
the proposed change in the national cham
pionship rules is made, and the board
seems agreed on this change. AS it is now
we have half dozen championships, the
third mile half mile, mile and so on. There
is no one great championship to distinguish
a rider above all others in the country The
change will provide for a series of contests
to be graded by points. The series will in
clude all national circuit races, where the
winners in both professional and amateur
classes will be scored by points. For in
will be given six points and the second man
four points. In this way a percentage la
BILE can be maintained and be published
each week in the newspapers, thus stimu-
lating public interestras in baseball At the
Indianapolis national meet the winner of
the great professional race would be scored
fifty points, practically assuring the winner
of this big race the national championship,
and ending the season of racing with a
grand climax on which the attention of the
entire cycling racing world would be CEN
tered. The management of the concluding
race, of course. will be in the hands of the
Indianapolis committee"
There has been some talk here of the
size of the track to be built at In
dianapolis AT both the Louisville
and Philadelphia meets, the track was
third of d mile, but Mr.. Foltz member
of the racing board from Indiana, favors a
quarter-mile track If a cement track is
constructed there would be a considerable
saving in cost by following Mr.. Foltzs
plan. The street-car company, which has
agreed to build the track, wants it put at
Fairview Park, it is understood although
some members of the local committee think
it would be advisable to have it near the
city.
THE VAN SICKLEN CASE.
The national racing committee has one case
before it from Indianapolis that of Fred Van
Sicklen, who has been an ardent worker for
the indianapolis meet, despite the fact that
he is barred from membership in the l.. A.
w. He was very active in building up the
IL. a. w. membership in Indiana during the
last year. He was classed as a professional
ten years ago for selling a prize won in a
race. He admits the fairness of the charge
against him, but claims extenuating cir
cumstances. His racing days are over and
he wants his amateur status restored so
that he may join the league in the event
the national assembly, at its present session.
refuses to admit professional riders to mem
bership. Last year the assembly turned
down proposition to open the doors to men
who ride for money prizes
The delegates at the national assembly
are promising a great attendance for the
indianapolis meet. President Potter. of the
league, said he thought it would fully equal
that at Philadelphia. Delegate Mears Of
Cleveland, o.. prophesied that fully two
thousand would come from Ohio He
thought, however, that Pennsylvania would
be the banner State, outside of Indiana. in
point of numbers, as the league is strongest
III the keystone State. Delegate jenkins,
of Louisville. KY, estimated that Kentucky
would send a thousand wheelmen most OF
them on their wheels. Kentucky cyclists
propose to gather at Louisville and wheel
in body TO the HoOsier capital, picking up
Indiana cyclists on the way. IT is hoped
by the time indianapolis is reached an army
of dust-covered wheelmen will enter the
city in one long column. The attendance
from Illinois is problematical. Chicago men
do not believe the turnout from that city
Will be large.
There are several odd features to the l..
A. w. management. Secretary Bassett of
Massachusetts, it is said, has never ridden
a bicycle in his life, and. for that matter
there are several of the high officials who
yet have their first ride to take. Mr. Bas-
sett receives a $500 annual salary and can
pay car fare. There are two delegates here
from California. one is a humpbacked man
and the other has deformed feet and has
but two fingers, instead of two hands
c. L. p.
GOOD ROADS MEETING.