The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-05-19
BUSINESS PROPOSITION.
coon ROADS ARE AN ECONOMIC
 NECESSITY.
Something of inc Movement to Ger Them - Twenty-YcRr Campaign
 by the Lengue of American Wheel

Them -- A Twenty-Ycar Campaign
 by the League of American Wheel
 men.
 Speaking of one of the most impor- tant matters now occupying the atten- ton of wheelmen, Vice-President Kingsbury, of the League of American Wheelmen, says:
 ''The suggestion that the highway improvement committee of the League of American Wheelmen take immediate steps toward the insertion of good roads blanks in the democratic and republl- can national platforms has met with such instant approval and so much en- couragement that it seems safe to pre- dict for 1t complete success. Under the splendid aid which the league has given to it, the movement for better roads has grown to great proportions and now, under the united efforts of the wheelmen. farmers and automobtlists is so rapidly becoming recognized as a plain business proposition, the benefl- cial results of which are out of all pro- portion to its cost, that far-seelng statesmen will no longer have any de- sire to ignore the question Of highway improvement under national legislation and appropriation.
 Tt seems perfectly proper that the demand for a declaration of belief on this subject from the leading political parties should come from the organiza- ton which was the pioneer in the move ment; it has been long, twenty-year campaign of education, commencing md ba 1fStr of such literature as could be obtained and working gradually, by the expendi- ture of thousands and thousands of dol lars and the distribution of millions of pamphlets up to successful legislation in many states and the adoption of the state aid system, which has proven an unqualified success wherever tried. The time has now arrived for still broader movement, and from the League of American Wheelmen should come the primary efforts which shall result in a thoroughly practical system of national, state and city road build ing, which would apportion the expense and soon put the highways of this coun- try on basis equal to that perfection which national and state financial aid have made 1t possible for our through rail and waterways to attain.
 ''The effect of the insertion of strong plank declaring in favor of na- tional highways, which. with the united effort of farmers, automobilists and wheelmen should not be difficult to ob- tain, could only have beneficial results, even if placed there only with the idea of vote getting by the party manage ment; the good roads movement to- day is strong enough to follow up such a party promise with demands for its fulfillment; it would prove the entering wedge which could be driven deep enough into the heart of congress to produce immediate results and am confident it will be accomplished and that we shall mark the beginning of the new century by starting national high ways"
 CYCLING NOTES.
 The executive committee of the League of American Wheelmen meet, which will be held in Milwaukee July 1O-15, have appointed the St. Charles Hotel as official headquarters.
 After several years of persistent work the Massachusetts division of the League of American Wheelmen has succeeded in securing the passage of state law compelling railroads to carry bicycles as baggage without any excess charges. Massachusetts is the fifteenth state to pass such a bill through the ef- forts of the League of American Wheel men.
 The new official organ of the League of American Wheelmen will be known as '"The League of American Wheel mems Magazine" and the first issue will be dated June 1, A monthly re- view of cycling will be one of the fea lures, and there will be photographic and good roads departments. The edi- tor will be Abbott Bassett, secretary of the league and Charles w. Mears will be managing editor. The best publica- tion the League of American Wheel men has ever had is in prospect.
 Secretary-Treasurer w. S. Bull of the New York division League of American wheelmen, one of the most efficient of- ficers the organizatio ever had, has re- signed his official position and been succeeded by J. F. Clark. MT, Bull felt he could not devote his entire time to division affairs for a longer time and resigned in the interests of the .office, tie IldIlJlOlu dull6S OL NIilIli IE ilpt- bughly appreciated. During his incum- bency of the office the financial depart ment of the division was most system atically conducted, and his vacation of the office is distinct loss to the organ iza tion.
 The committee in charge of the League of American Wheelmen nation al meet which is scheduled at Milwau- kee for July 10-15 has decided upon an artistic official badge It will consist of a handsome bronze pin upon which will be inscribed the figures 1900" and pendant medal suspended by the league color, royal purple, upon the obverse of which will be stamped the League of American Wheelmen emplem, around which will appear the inscription, 'Twenty-frst Annual Meet Milwau kee" The reverse will contain a beau tifully-executed medallion view of Mill waukee Bay, with a suitable inscription around it denoting the fact that it is souvenir of the city. These will be dis tributed exclusively to League of Amer ican Wheelmen members,
 
 THE GOOD. ROADS PLANKS. The League of American Wheelmen
 Fo,