Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-05

| cycling in Omaha continues to sink deeper
ana deeper into the slough of despond. No
one seems to care continental how far it
sinks and no effort at rescue is visible. En-
| thusiasts of former days appear Indifferent
| or unwilling to make a squirt against the
! influence of approaching winter. Perhaps
| wheeling will bloom in the spring. That
| remains to be seen. There is good reason
| Tor the hopes entertained of a revival. The
exposition blockade Of the north boulevard
for two years has been one of the main
causes for the slump in wheeling. Before
the exposition the boulevard was the most
popular highway for spin. There were
no hills to climb, no ragged pavements to
jar the nerves. A ride over that splendid
road, and on to Florence and back, was
a genuine pleasure With the vanishing of
the White City and the reopening of the
boulevard there Is reason to expect return
of the wheeling throngs which lent life and
gayety to the great driveway in former
years.
Racing Board Manager Gerlach of the
League of American Wheelmen knows
good thing when he holds it and is enthu-
siastically in favor of the league continuing
control of racing. Hear his mellow song:
the many claims being made that the League
of American Wheelmen would reliquish the
government of cycle racing. The League OF
American Wheelmen through its racing
beard, as stated in its rules, acts as a gov
erning body, establishes rules for the con-
duct and government of track races exercises
its powers to prevent fraud or impostions
upon the public and to enforce the mutual
obligations of promoters and the racing men.
THE purpose of the League of American
Wheelmen in the sport is solely for the de-
velopment and welfare of the sport. Under
the government riders may become cham
plons in country, and by reason of Its
afhliation with the National Cyclists asso-
citation may become recognized champions of
the world. Manifestly it has no financial in
terest in racing. Hundreds Of its members
hvae devoted unstntedly time and efforts
in the hope of perpetuating cycle racing
clean and honest sport. Not many years
ago professional riders were maintained AMI
employed by manufacturers to advertise their
wares.
The reduction in the price OF bicycles
made 1t impossible for the manufacturers to
cont!uue this form OF advertisement. There
upon the professional riders were obliged to
rely upon their winnings and dependent upon
their own success. Under these conditions
many riders were obliged to adopt methods
the honesty of which was questionable in
order to make 1t possible for them to con-
tinue. Becoming dissatisfied with the safe
guards placed upon racing by the League
OF American Wheelmen to conserve the re-
spect of the public, number of riders saw
fit to organize for the purpose Cf conducting
races not under the government established
~ fhn I q ftnan
II believe the vast majority of members, J
and particularly the officials, who best un- =
derstand the situation, viii unquestionably
favor the continued control Of racing by the /
League of American Whoelmen."
The growing interest in the subject OF |
good roads is now one OF considerable sig |
nifcance owing TO the class of men who are |
working up the agitation. The enactment /
of good road laws in the eastern states was
secured through the combined efforts OF the
farmers and the wheelmen. In New Jersey
the movement was initiated by the farmers.
who sought the aid Of the wheelmen and |
found their assistance Of lncalculable value. !
This was not unexpected, for the wheelmen
have always been consistent advocates of
highway improvement, and the Gospel of
Good Roads" formed the chief plank in their
Wheelmen was organized. 1t has been
charged that the motive of the wheemen
was selfish one and, in the early days of
cycling when every wheeman was a road
rider and rode a high wheel, there may /
have been some ground for the charge, but
no foundation fer such belief exists to-
day Since the adoption of the safety ma
chine as a business vehicle by all sorts and
OF men, not one city wheelman
In ten is seen upon country road more
lhan few times each year and the wheel
mems interest in good roads is merely a
business proposition, the adoption OF which
would benefit him only in proportion as it
would benefit any other member of the COM
munity.
The young men who formed the League
of American Wheelmen twenty years ago
IRE now the substantial business and pro-
essional men OF their respective communi-
les. and their connection with the organ
zation is maintained chiefly for the pur-
pose OF aiding the movement for better