Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1910-01-24
DE ROSTER SAYS
he IS WRONGED
MOTORCYCLE CHAMPION DIS
CUSSES SUSPENSION
KNOWS OF NO REASON FOR
TREATMENT
Promises to Shed Further Light on
Matter, But Asks That Judg-
ment of Friends Be
Withheld

Common report during the past week
stated that Jahe De Roster, the worlds
champion motorcycle rider, had been
SUSPENDED one report made the sus-
pension three months, another that
the punishment was for a year 1t is
understood that such an action was
contemplated some time ago, and 1t
will be recalled that the suggestion
was made in this paper that il would
be an unwise move.
Whether this conclusion was justified
in the interest of good sports will de-
VeloD later, but yesterday De Roster
in a communication TO The Herald
gives his signed statement concerning
the matter, which is submitted to the
public, which has been interested so
largely in the events at the Coliseum.
Following is De Rosters statement:
Automobile Editor Los Angeles
Herald. 1 have been suspended by
the chairman OF the national racing
board Of the Federation of American
Motorcyclists without having had any
reason assigned for the suspension.
was not suspended for the reasons
published in Sunday morning paper,
and it is evident that paper has been
made the victim of a false statement
on the part of some one connected
with the mana cement of the Coliseum
motorcycle track.
Inc SIdlGElC41l It46I1Cu ~ EOAo LbA III
that I had been suspended because L
had demanded $3.50 wrongfully from
the Coliseum management prior to the
last race in which l appeared on that
track, in which l won the 100-mile
race two weeks ago. This is absolute
ly and positively not true. A protest
was made by the local management
against my action in demanding this
money in advance, which l had per-
70 n hJ1f this TrOfpGt IA G
not resulted in my suspension, or at
least this is not the reason given for
my three months suspension by Chair
man Thornley, of the national racing
board.
1.-THE real reason for my suspension,
however, [ have not been told. do
know that a telegram, and, in fact,
two have been received in this city
the past week, one by Walter Hempel
of Ascot park and the other by Ref
cree Kettles from Chairman Thornley,,
in which it is stated I have been sus-
pended for a race at Ascot park and
not at the Coliseum.
.oThese races were held about five
weeks ago. l was entered against
Paul Derkum in two races-a ten-mile
and a fiye-mile event. l won the first
race and a protest was Immediately
lodged against me on the ground 1 had
used my brakes during the race. I
was leading in the second race when
my wheel skidded and l was thrown
and badly shaken up. Derkum also
fell. but if he protested the race 1 was
never informed of it. If such a protest
was fled the only grounds for pro-
test could have been that l fell-and
no reasonable or right thinking per-
son will believe I fell just in order to
make Derkum fall, too, or. in other
words, risk my life in order to injure
a competitor.
No Opportunity to Defend
1.-The messages received the past
week from Chairman Thornley, state
that I have been suspended on account
of that second race. Why, [ do not
know, but [ mean to find out, as it is
apparent that some one is doing some
underhand work by filing charges
against me and judgment being
passed on me without my being given
a fair or honorable opportunity to de-
fend myself. The statement which
was worked off in the paper yesterday
morning, and of which the paper was
made an innocent victim, to the effect
[ had been suspended because of my
having demanded my money in adj
vance of the 100-fnile race, shows on
the face of it that falsehoods are being
made against me by my enemies, and
that they will not stop at anything to
iniure me.
1.-THE reason why 1 demanded my
money was because I had no written
contract with the Coliseum manage
ment covering the 100-mile race, and
if I had waited until after the race
| had a good chance of not getting
the full $3.50 which had been previous
ly agreed upon as the amount / should
receive in the absence of such
7 i,
the cash in advance to avoid any fu-
ture controversy, which I had a per-
feet right to do. The Coliseum man
agement has never been free from
debt and owes money now, and [ do
not believe that the riders who make
up the drawing cards for their races
should be asked to take any chances
on getting their money. At least, I
did not intend to take those chances,
and the management is evidently NOV
ing heaven and earth to get me in
bad both with the public and with
the newspapers and the national racing
board to punish me.
Proved Leading Card
81 have always been at the tape to
ride and have always ridden my very
best. If the management had not
had me as one of it's leading cards
and I believe the public will agree that
have been the leading card at the
Coliseum track ever since it opened
then the management never would
have been able to get a crowd out of
which to pay for their track. So long
as l have no financial interest in the
success of the track and only have my
earning power to depend on, / believe
| have a right to protect myself in
the way did.
Il do not believe the national racing
board will allow the riders to suffer at
the behest of the Coliseum manage
ment when they realize all the condi-
lions out here, and / certainly intend
to make it my business, now that the
fight has been started against me- to
let them know all the facts. When [
say all the facts, mean all of them,
broken promises and all, and / will be
very much surprised if the Coliseum
management does not lose its racing
franchise for illegal conduct in pro-
noting race meets in violation of many
Of the federation rules.
Meanwhile / ask my friends to
withhold their judgment and their
verdict.
II am leaving for a health trip to
recover from the shaking up I got IN
he Ascot park accident, but will re-
urn to Los Angeles later. I believe 1
rave many friends in this city who
will help to see that justice is finally
lone me, and prevent little coterie
If schemers who have not been able
% twist me around their thumb from
ioing me an outright injury. I appre-
.iate the confidence that my friends
rave shown in me. and I shall always