Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-09
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The scrap between the League OF Ameri-
can wheelmen and the National Cycling as
sociation for control Of racing continues
with undated vigor Each organization
claims to have cinch But the season
is too young to indicate the winner. APP
narently the odds favor the National Cycling
association 1t is diligently saving wood
while the "othcr fellow" is doing the talk
ing. II the press boomers Of the league are
TO be believed that organization has run the
race business to cover and will bag 1t When'
ever Chairman Gerlach gives the wink
Here is n sample of the matter sent out by
tbe league boomers: THE outlaw leaders
who nave been endeavoring to persuade the
sportsmen of the country that cycle racing
should be turned over to them for their own
private benefit, after 1t has been fostered TO
such magnificent proportions by the League
of American Wheelmen, were thrown into
n state OF panic by the announcement that
some Of the leading riders who have been
identified with them had already deserted
TO the league. The press agent immedi-
ately wrote interviews with himself and the
two officers OF the association said that
traitors were expected, etc.
"These leaders have hoped that the riders
who were suspended would not go back TO
the established organization until the racing
season opened, at least. But they have
been as far amiss in their calculations ever
since they started, the only success they
have had being in keeping these riders IN
doubt as to whether they Will be able to
make a living this year. The riders are
not so easily led into private schemes how
ever, and know where they are assured OF
honest racing and plenty of 1t.
chairman Gerlach of the League OF
u,ba hoard is
thority for the statement that he has the
best of assurances that every prominent
rider will be within the League of American
Wheelmen before the season is well started.
IL is significant also that the amateurs who
were deluded by the professional promoters
are asking to be taken back"
1t will be noticed that these glowing as
surances carefully omit such necessary de-
tails as names of the professionals seeking
admission as well the track owners
scurrying to get back into the leagues
favor. Without these facts 1t is impossible
to tell how many are repenting. The only
repentant on record so far is the owner OF
a track in Massachusetts, who paid his fine
in order to remove the stigma of failing
to pay his debts zone difficulty that CON
fronts the racing board of the league" says
the friendly New York Sun, lis that most
of the amateurs who rode in the outlaw
races were not suspended, but were made
professionals. The only way amateur status
can be restored in such cases, according to
the League of American Wheemen constitu-
tion, is by action of the national assembly
that meets once a year. 1t has been fore
shadowed, though, that Chairman Gerlach
may not only receive the professionals under
cin their m
decide that the racing board should re-
consider and revise its DEGREES of profess
sionalism.
such intentions have been repeatedly i'm
pued to the racing board and it's members
do not deny them, but seek to defend the
plan with the plea that IL the former board
made mistakes it Is the duty Of the present
one to rectify them. One of the amateurs
professionalism by the league last fall was
o. V. Babcock of this city. A reporter of
the Sun met Babcock recently and ques-
toned him concerning his plans for the sum-
mer. Babcock said: L do not know yet
but I think 1 will go outlaw Babcock
gave as his reason for this inclination that
he thought the National Cycling association
would offer bigger purses for the pros and
.better prizes for the amateurs. incidentally
he remarked: 4 have heard a great deal OF
men. but have not seen any money nor
heard any definite assurances of what it
proposes to do
at is on the prize issue that the National
Cycling association bases its largest hopes of
winning the fight for race control. Identified
with the new organization several pro-
moters who have the capital and the faith
to offer big purses. The Atlantic Athletic
association which has leased the Manhattan
Beach track, and Nate Salisbury of the
Ambrose Park track are known to be be-
levers in the idea that big stakes draw big
crowds. 1t has been planned to have a
handicap event at Ambrose Park for which
the prize will be $1,000, which will be the
biggest purse ever offered for bicycle race
in this country. 1t is said that the pro-
moters of the Manhattan Beach track in
tend to plunge in a similar fashion and
prizes of this kind the National Cycling as
sociation says with smile, Will cause even
the men who have returned to the league