The times., 1899-02-12

they should have been treated as they
were, especially in view Of the fact that
under the rules of either the Amateur Ath
! letic Union or the Intercollegiate Asso-
citation they would not be SO liable.
Applications to he Considered.
What consideration the applications for
registration as amateurs will receive yet
remains to he determined. So far Schade
and Halstead are the only two men who
have so requested this privilege. William
A. Bolden is expected TO be heard from,
and several other local amateur riders who
| have never been under the ban of the
! League. In the case of Schade and Hal
stead. especially in the case of the former.
while he rode last season as professional
and won several prizes as such, he was
forced TO do it or else not ride at all, and
after training so faithfully and diligently
| in the beginning of the season it seemed
particularly hard for him to entirely aban-
don racing.
The applications are now in the hands
| of MIR. Lasley. the chairman of the dis
| tIict board, ana while his action is purely
! probiematical matter at present, it seems
! quite likely that he will give a fair hearing
on the matter He is particularly fortu
| nate in knowing all of the circumstances
| OF the matter. yet for reference purposes
| he has secured the reasons of the riders for
reinstatement as amateurs and registration
! under the new constitution Of the National
! Cycling Association. Whatever action he
may take in the matter will undoubtedly
! be ratified by the other members of the
| beard, five in number though. of course,
| this cannot be stated as a certainty.
If the action OF this board goes through
then it will be Z precedent FOR the other
boards of the country to follow. Applica-
tioIs for reinstatement Will undoubtedly be
! filed from all sections OF the country, and
many persons not eligible will cndeavor to
become amateurs before quitting the rae
ing game. To prevent any gross frauds
or impositions considerable care viii have
1 to be exercised in this matter, and It can
| be predicted that many applicatic-G VII be
rejected. Under the new racing rules as
only amateurs can race for medals there
is not much OF an incentive for some rid
ers to return to this class.
The Registration Fee.
The registration fee of the amateur rid
ers is placed at 81, while for professional
riders the sum of 80 has to be put up an
nually. Trainers will also have to deposit
a like amount it being recognized that
they are the cause of good deal of trou-
bic and the spread of dissatisfaction among
the racing men. BY registering them the
trainers will be under strict control. and
can be handled as any racing man. barred
from all tracks if necessary.
Among the professional riders there is a
good deal of rivalry as to which one will
receive the No. l in the list of registra-
tion. Gardiner is after the honor, and 50
are Bald and Tom Cooper. Other members
of the American Racing Cyclists Union
would also like TO have the same privilege.
Only one man will get it, and as yet no an
nouncement has been made as to whom it
will be. Just how the registration will be
conducted is hard to state just at present,
but it seems most likely that each district
will have certain numbers assigned 10 it.
For Illustration, one district will have from
No. l TO No. 1879 inclusive, another from No.
800 to No. 999 third from No. 1000 TO No.
1899. and so on. 1t may be that there will
be one set of numbers for amateurs and
another for professionals, so as to avoid
the possibility OF confusion.
1t is almost entirely too early in the
season for the registrations to come in.
I The professional riders, those who belong
to the Racing Mems Association, will most
likely all come in Immediately. The ANA
teur riders will more than likely hold out
until the season opens, and then they will
flock in. Most of them will remain out
can Wheelmen will take in the matter
before committing themselves but sooner
or later they are bound to come in.
League OF American WhccImcn.
Things in The cycling world are becom-
ing decidedly interesting, especially in
view of the recent session of the National
Assembly of the League of American
Wheelmen. which was held during the
week at Providence, r. l.
The question of cycle racing control is
now more OF a topic of conversation than
ever before, and the strength of the new
association. known as the National Cycling
/ Association. will be more strongly felt
than ever before. There has been much
speculation as to its future course, but
this has been mapped out, and viii be
followed to a letter. The new Organza-
ton is entirely independent from the
League Of American Wheelmen, and moth
ing will more fully demonstrate the fact
than the coming racing season.
That the new association has the SYM
/ pathy of the racing men has been fully
| evidenced. Not only has it the sympathy
and the moral support of the racing men
and the others interested in the associa-
tion itself. but it also has the sympathy
of many organizations TO which the League
of American Wheelmen is affiliated and it
Q
4 rupture will occur. This rupture will be
! nothing more nor less than the recognition
| of the new association by many of the or
| ganiZations to which the League is a1iiat-
! ed. This is bound to come in the natural
order Of things.
The Coming Cycle Show.
| While everything regarding racing has
received an increased interest during the
week, the work of preparing for the local
cycle show has received equally as much
impetus. The racing game does not in any
way affect the success of the show. and it
will prosper regardless Of all other conll-
tons in the cycle world. 1t is in IL field
entirely distinct from bicycle racing, ard
cannot be affected by any conditions that
may exist at present, or come up i'll the
1 future, regarding the game. That Is one
thing that is cousoling to all Interested il.
I the project.
| AS has been published. the show will
! continue for the week of February -
/ There will be regular night sessions cyary
evening at o'clock, continuing until mid
night or Whereabouts. In addition to this
| the board of managers decided last week.
I as foreshadowed in The Times last Sun
| day, to have an afternoon Session. or matt.
nee, every day at . o'clock This Will he
| for the benefit Of the chldTSl. a!ld their
parents, enabling tnem to AVOID the rush
that is usually attendant upon night
gathering.
The music for the occasion will be fur
nished by the National Guard Band, the
heroes of Santiago. whose patriotic music
| thrilled the hearts of the District boys on