The times., 1899-02-12

the League officials in favor of the Icten-
| tion Of cycle racing control are willing 10
| make some concessions that are extremely
out OF the ordinary. They are wiling
so II has been stated. to take back into the
organization the amateur and professional
| riders who have been suspended for vari-
ous acts, or who have been fined so heavi-
| ly that there is never any Likelihood of Il
single penny of the fine bang paid. Soma
| papers are publishing communications from
| The crack outlaw riders, OR rather alleged
communications, in which the racing men
announce their willingness TO return to
the fold il relieved of all fines and sus-
pensions. This extends even to the riders
OF the amateur class.
II has been stated that Fred Schade of
this city. and several other local riders.
both amateurs and professionals, have been
requested 10 return to the League control
OF racing. How much truth there is in the
statement can hardly be ascertained. Ii
any such overtures have been made they
come direct from Baltimore and have been
kept very quiet.
1t is. however. positively announced that
Fred Schade and several other local riders
have filed the first application for registra-
tion under the National Cycling Associa-
tion. Schade's application is for reinstate-
ment as an amateur. and he has advanced a
number of reasons why this should be
granted him. In the League circles Ar
thur 4. Zimmerman, one of the greatest
riders Of his day. was once declared pro-
fessional and subsequently again transfer
red TO the amateur ranks after he had
raced for cash and for glory as pro man.
Amateurs and Professionals.
In the new association it was decided at
the outset to begin the racing game with
clean slate By this is meant that there
will be no previous records recognized,
because of the manner in which many
were made, the difference in pacing ac-
counting for this. For instance Il man who
established a record for a mile flying start
should be entitled TO some credit. when
his record is broken by another rider, who
with The dying start, and paced by quint
or seXtette covers a mile in several sec
onds faster time. In the first case the
record may have been established by tan
dem or triplet pace. In the clean slate
will be included revision of the classes,
the amateur riders and the professional
men being recognized. In the former the
prize limit will consist of simply gold,
silver or bronze medals, while in the latter
class there will be no prize limit, cash or
anything else being allowable for trophies
The cause for revision of the amateur
rule is this: In the Amateur Athletic I'm
| ion, the recognized body Of its kind in the
country an amateur is permitted to re
ceive his training expenses from his club
and his club can send him anywhere in
| the country to compete. In the Intcrcoi-
| legiate Athletic Association, the member
ship of which is made up from the leading
| colleges of the country, student receive
all OF his training free Of charge TO him
! self, and is sent to participate in meets in
| different parts OF the country. particular Iy
| the annual games which are held MAY 81.
at Berkeley Oval New York city Both
| of these organizations are affiliated with
! the League OF American Wheelmen vet
| under the rules of the latter organization
an amateur rider must furnish all of his
| training money. and pay his own fare TO
any meet outside Of his city which he may
| care 10 attend. good illustration OF this
| rule would be where an amateur IA mem
/ Der OF The League. was also a student at
some college As student his training
expenses would be footed by somebody
! else and he could be sent anywhere in
| the country, and yet the League would
! say nothing. IT, however. the same rider
did not belong TO any college or Was not a
member cf club belonging to the A. 4. u.
| aud did the same thing he would immedi-
ately find himself thrown in the profession
! al class. This certainly does not seem
fair.
In the case Of Schade, Moran, HaIstead
Counselman, Wilson, Mueller Cause
George L. Smith and several others, they
were thrown professionals simply on ac-
count OF the fact that they received car
fare between this city and Baltimore
where they went last spring to pace Moran
in his match race with r. L. French. of
the Monumental City. 1t was on account
Of this specific violation of the League rae
ing rules that The men were made profess
sionals. Each one of the riders may have
previously done something that would
have made them professional under the
rules but this was never found out
liehce 1t seems unfair and unjust that