The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-28
NEWS OF THE WHEELMEN.
Membership of the l.. A. w. Shows n Gain
of Over 900 in One Week.


For couple OF weeks past the officials Of
the L. A. W. have Leon saying that the return
wave OF enthusiasm within the ranks and OF
general prosperity was approaching. II has
begun to be understood that the fight for The
control OF racing Ia not one OF vital consequence
to the organization. nor even OF general i'm.
portance. but simply one being.waged by the
Racing Board. a saarled body politically con-
strueted. that fights for it's personal survival.
while all the time many Of the League le adOrs
and 1t Is believed a majority of ito mem bers
think that the League has no business with
racing. especially professional. and that the
proper thing to have done was to relinquish
the, control OF the snort instead OF getting
Into suuabbls and risk being forced 10 give It
up. great many seem to have an idea that
the success OF the n. c. A. In controlling the
star racing nen and conducting meets siRni-
Ned that the l.. W. was on the decline
Nothing could be further from tho truth. Even
though the League Is defeated in the racing
field. land many OF its represec tative men not
only believe but hope II will be. Its course
will run the same. it's purposes will remain I'M
changed and its influence will be as great as
ever. Mon like ex-President Potter and Chief
Consul OF the state NJ. NJ. Beldng have de-
clared that they think it will be better for tho
League to loso.the control Of racing The first
positive indication that these matters are be-
ginning to be understood and tho reaction
reached was obtained yesterday when the
weekly report on the me m bership figures ar
rived from Boston. Secretary Bassett 's:state-
ment shows that. deducting all expiratlons.
there is a net gan'to the national organization
OIL 4!4 since last Tuesday. or this gain New
FORK State gets 300 and the other divisions each
a share..The total figures are 5S.717 the num-
Der Of new members being 473. The stand
ing Of the leading States Ia: New York. TO-
5S7: Pennsylvania, IA. O24; Massachusetts TO-
251.
Arrangements for tho annual State meet OF
the L. A. W. which will he held at Patchog ne
on the last three days OF this week. have been
completed. and the Indications point strongly
to the occasion being az interesting as any Of
the previous State meets. Opportunities for
some rare riding will be received BY those who
attend. for the island thereab bouts ia threaded
with cycle paths thar lead through leve wood
land. and are as pretty, as any wheelways in
the country. Riders should remember. how
ever that tn. sidenath law is in force. and in
have q license tag. The Suffolk county tag
costs 80 cents, and they can be obtained at the
street. The tag 10 neat made OF aluminium
and bears the inscription: New York side
the number OF the license and the Year Of n is
suauce.
To-day James T.. Sullivan Secretary OF Tho A.
A. t.. and ,. +. Ford, Chief Engineer OF the
Long Island Railroad. will again measure the
board track laid between the rails and over
which Charles VI. Murphy will ride on Friday
in an ATTEMPT to reel off one mile following
the engine and car In less than one minute
His trainer SAYS that II he Is not killed Murphy
will ride in nifty five seconds than in six.
ty-ive. as he did on his preliminary trial. On
Friday Murphy will use wheel Reared to 12O
instead Of ll2 az before. There has been much
discussion between him and his handlers over
tho ad visibility Of using a brake TO slow down
with. but tho danger Of it seems to be consid-
cred as great as its possible benefit The ride
Ia scheduled for3 O'Clock in the afternoon Sew
eral tailv-ho parties have been made up by
clubs to 20 to the scene of the ride at haywood
and in anticipation of big crowd both from
the city and from Patchogue special trains will
he run. Meantime Murphy has been tetsd at
babylon more than the victor OF champion
ship Tight Hall the yachts in the place have
been placed at his disposal: he has received
liquor enough to start hotel. and diamond
stud has been given to him from ono admirer
NOTES.
The n. Y. A. c. team, including Williams, Fearing,
Douglass and schwartz have entered for the races
at PatChogue on Saturday.
hfteen-mlle amateur road race will he run at
Westneld y. j.. on July 4. Entries close with
Wellesley Robinson, Westfeld. 4. J.