The times., 1899-01-08
More Money for Divisions.

More Money for Divisions.
An amendment TO the constitution of the
League of American Wheelmen has been
offered by which the proportion of receipts
to the divisions will be materially increas-
ed. This amendment is receiving cordial
support, as it has been the experience of
even the largest divisions that the amount
received from the initiation fees and dues
was not sufficient, while that received by
the national treasury was more than
enough for the national officers. This has
been particularly shown during the past
year, for. although the membership has
decreased by several thousands. there has
been mere money in the national treasury
all during the year than ever before. 1t
is claimed by the divisions that the direct
work of the organization is done through
the divisions and all of the recruiting
comes from them. so that as much of the
funds as possible should be given them
that this work may be carried on properly.
This is admitted as reasonable and there
will probably be no opposition to the
amendment. Should this be passed. sr.-
eral thousand dollars more will be p ac d
in the divisions annually and the work of
agitating for good reads, the passage OF
baggage bills the placing OF signboards.
the issuing of road books and al the eth
er details will be done on larger scale.
It is argued that this will assist in in
creasing the membership and may Incl
dentally solve the famous question,
What do ! get for my doller?" That
question was always one CT the puzz es of
the League leaders and they wish TO
make a more practical demonstration
than they have been able to in the past.
Farmers nnd whecImen Allied.
Tho off nd of ha
National Congress at Fort Worth, Texas,
of the good roads work done by the League
of American Wheelmen is evidence of one
Of the greatest 'reconciliations between two
classes OF the age. Any old-time wheel
man will remember that IN the early days
of cycling it had no bitterer foe than the
farmer Farmers in every section of the
country seemed to unite in doing every
thing to make the way of the wheelman
as hard as possible. and very often suc-
ceeded. In the beginning of the agitation
for good roads by the wheelmen the farm
ers were the first TO offer opposition, and
they did SO with the cry that the wheel
men wanted them taxed for personal ends
better bicycle riding.
II was an extremely difficult matter for
the league officials TO make the farmers
understand that good highways are a mat
ter of economy TO the farmer as we'll as
convenience TO both classes. IT required
the building of stone roads in several
States before this could be thoroughly
demonstrated to the farmers. but it seems
that they have learned the lesson well,
for in nearly every case that wheelmen
are agtating for highway Improvement be-
fore the legislatures their strongest ally
now il the farmer and his various organi-
cations. In addition 10 the work the wheel
men have done, and from which the far
mers have reaped a benefit, they have spent
several hundred thousands of dollars in the
cause and have just now got the movement
on a systematic basis. But the interesting
part of the question is that in the short
space of not more than five years the two
great classes which were at war with each
other are now the strongest of allies.