Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-06-04


After the poor season for cycle rae
ing, and, in fact, for sports Of all sorts,
that was experienced last year l had
been looking forward to one of unpre-
cedented prosperity and good racing
during the coming summer. Unless,
however, the present controversy be-
tween the National Cycling Associa-
ton and the League OF American
Wheelmen be soon settled l am afraid
the early part of the season will be
marred for the public, the promoters
and the riders. There is only one way
in which the question of control of pro-
fessional bicycle racing can be settled,
and that is for the l.. A. w. to get out
and allow the N. C. A to run matters
properly instead of the former trying
to retain command of the field and put
ting affairs into a far worse muddle
than it did last year. The L. A. w
has legitimate field of enterprise, that
of road improvement and such matters,
and it should be content to stick to that
and leave the rest in more competent
hands.
The L. A. w. certainly has done
great deal for the good of bicycle rae
ing in the past. That much cannot be
denied. But the time has now come
when the control should pass out of the
leagues hands, and it would be better
for all parties concerned were it done
gracefully now than to have the reins
forcibly taken from it's grasp in the
near future
Any one who has followed cycle rae
ing matters at all is well aware how
the break from the league was made
last season, but there are many things
connected with it about which the gen
eral public has never been enlightened.
1t is not my desire, nor have | the
space, to go over the question in detail.
The spirit CT dissatisfaction was brood
ing for long time in the hearts of the
prominent professionals before any at
tempt to break away from the L. A. w.
was made.
The refusal Of the league officials to
allow some OF the riders to compete in
a race at Chicago on aLbor Day for
which a thousand dollar purse was
hung up, probably did more to bring
things to climax than anything else.
There was circuit meet the same date
scheduled for Springfield, Mass, at
which only small prizes were offered.
AS everybody knows, it was bad year,
and we hoped to recuperate our purses
somewhat by competing at Chicago
in this race. There was plenty of time
to change the date of the Springfield
affair, and as a matter of fact only six
men could enter at Chicago, so that
plenty of riders were left to compete at
the Massachusetts, meet.
But, no. The league officials couldn't
see it that way The meet at SPRING
field had been scheduled to take place,
and take place it must, for their rules
were like those Of the Modes and Per-
sians-never to be broken except by
themselves.
At Trenton the break came, and we
formed an association Of riders with
which, with but one or two unimport-
ant exceptions, the members have kept
faith.
A good many people have asked me
and speedy success of the National Cy-
cling association in its fight with the
L. A. w. My reasons for this conf
dence are quickly given. 1t will be
found that in the bicycle racing bust
ness, as in politics, the saying, "As
goes New York SO goes the rest of the
country" will hold good. Now the N.
G.. A. has absolute control of all the
tracks in the metropolitan district, and
no races can be held in that section eX-
cept under its auspices.
Track owners and promoters are not
in the business for their health. and
those in other parts of the country are
simply waiting ION the fence" SO to
speak. for the result of the first few
races held in the New York district be-
fore declaring their allegiance to one
side or the other. When they find how
well patronized the races are at Man
haitian Beach, Ambrose Park and other
New York tracks, they will immediate
ly clamor for licenses from the N. c..
A. and ask to be included in its circuit.