The record-union., 1898-02-10
National Assembly of the |. A. W.
COnVenes in Annual Session.
Entire Days Proceedings Devoted 10 DIS
cuSSIOn Of Good Roads.
Interest In the Election at Fever
Heat-Confidently Expected ON
All Sides That President Potter
VIII be Reelected and Thae
His Whole Ticket win be Sue
cessfal.


ST. LOUIS, Feb. S.-The entire day
was devoted by the National Assembly
/ OF the l.. a. w, 10 the discussion of
good roads
Chairman Otto DoeFner of Milwaukee
presided over the meeting. and in his
opening address stated that reports
were coming in from all over the coun-
try that the farmers had entered the
good roads movement with an unex-
pected zeal.
Professor John Hamilton of Harris
burg, Pa. President OF the National As
sociation of Farmer Institute Conduc-
tors, delivered the principal address OF
the day
The meeting did not adjourn until lata
IN the afternoon.
The interest in the election has in
creased TO fever heat The New York
delegation has posted a bulletin board
in their headquarters on which is
marked down every vote as fast as it
is pledged for Potter. AT o'clock to-
night the board read 276 votes pledged.
That President Potter will be re-elect-
ed is confidently expected on all sides,
and speculation is now being made on
his majority. The success of his whole
ticket also seems assured. for no de-
cided opposition has shown yet, nor
has any other ticket been made public.
Rumors of the candidacy of George u.
Gideon, ex-Chairman of the Racing
Board, and of Fred Garloch, Extracting
Board member from Chicago, are bruit-
ed about, but have not as yet assumed
definite shape
The Potter slate is as follows: Pres
ident, Isaac Potter of New York; First
Nice-President, Thomas j. keenan, OF
Pennsylvania; Second Vice President,
Edward n. Hines of Michigan: Secre-
tary, Abott Bassett, Massachusetts,;
Treasurer, j. C. Tattersoll of New Jer-
sey.
A protracted session of the Racing
Board was held to-day, with all the
members present Professionals from
nearly all the States We're recommend
ed for transfer to the amateur class.
and their eases will be acted on by the
National Assembly. The following
was among those SO recommended:
Calffornia-Howard W. Squires, OAK
land.
Everything is now in readiness for
the opening session of the assembly to-
morrow morning, and with but q very
few scattering exceptions, the delegates
have arrived.
The matter which will receive the
most active discussion is local option
for divisions. An amendment provid
ing that State divisions be granted the
right TO determine for themselves
whether or not Sunday bicycle races
should be permitted was introduced
last year at the assembly at Albany.
i,
that time division option was not con-
sidered to be of moment to the league,
but the defeat of the amendment. occa-
sioning the formation of outlaw leagues
in California and Louisiana, where the
control of the sport passed almost en-
tirely into the hands of the newly
formed organizat tions, has had the et-
feet Of causing the present delegates to
hear both sides OF the question, and TO
determine to decide the case on its mer-
its The prevailing opinion seems 10
be that if ii is best for the league such
an amendment Will be adopted at The
present convention. The disposition To
afford the advocates Of Sunday racing
every possible opportunity to give their
plans fair trial extends even among the
members of such States as Massachu-
setts and New York, where previously
strong opposition to the idea was
found In view of this change of SEN
tment, it is evident that the local op-
ton amendment vii! be given thorough
consideration when it comes before the
assembly on Thursday morning.
Henry Goodman, the Pacific Coast
member of the Racing Board. received
a telegram to-day from George II.
Strong, Chief Consul of the North Cal
ifcrnia division, asking that he induce
the Racing Board, if possible, to REIN
state all the seeding riders of the Pa
cific Coast to their former standing in
the league. This blanket action WAS
thought to be impossible, and it is sail
the Racing Board has wired to Mr..
Strong asking that he secure the
signed requests at once of the men who
desire reinstatement, that the matter
may then be placed before the assembly
on his statement that he holds such re-
quests. This request seemingly indi-
Gates the entire disruption OF the Sc
cession movement on the coast, start
ed just one year ago.
Tonight il banquet was held in the
dining hall of the Southern Hotel and
the festivities were continued until mid
night.