The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1913-08-30
Doing
A GREAT WORK
MoToRCYCLlSTS HAVE AN Or
GANizATloN THAT Is DOING
A GREAT WORK FOR THE MEM
RERs, FURNISHING MUCH USE
Full INFORMATION. ..

In the early days Of motorcycling
either as a pastime or sport, it soon
became apparent, that as with the BIZ
cycle and later the automobile, there
was urgent need of national organiz-
alton to control racing and other COM
guard the interests of riders generally.
The call for the first meeting of the
F. A. M. was issued by r G. Belts, it's
founder, then editor of Bicycling
World and who was subsequently
honored as first president of the as
sociation; a position he continued to
fill for several years with lasting honor
to himself and much credit to the as
sociation. The first meeting was held
on Sept. z, 1903 at the club rooms Of
the Kings County Wheelmen, Brook
lyn, N. Y. ....-... -.
The federation has for it's objects the
encouragement of the use Of motor
cycles, the banding together of local
motorcyclistS into fraternal, orderly,
organized clubs. and the promotion Of
the general interests in motOrcycling;
to ascertain, defend and protect the
rights of motorcyclists to facilitate
touring; to assist in the good roads
movement; and to govern and admin
and other competitions in which motor
cycles engage. r-
During the intervening ten years
since the organization Of the F. A.
NJ, the association officers have work.
ed zealously in the interests Of it's
members and the objects we strive to
attain, and were it possible in the
scope Of this article to enumerate the
many victories and cases successfully
terminated, in which matters affect
ing the legal rights and privileges Of
motorcyclists were at stake-not to
mention the many thousands of dollars
saved to motorcyclists through fore
stalling contemplated obnoxious or un-
just laws-the credit to the F. A M.
would show up as something big. And
even though we narrow the field of
endeavour and cut it down to New
York state alone, and follow up the
work of r. G. Belts at Albany some
years since with that of succeeding
F. A. M. officials to the very Iatest
successful action of our present legal
action committee last March, the
showing would still reflect much
credit upon the F. A. M, if that was
the most it ever accomplished. The
federation has materially advanced
the work in connection with every OBJ
ject for which it stands and its
organization now extends over the en-
tire country. -a1
With representatives at the head Of
all states and hundreds of county and
local officials, with many of the lead
ing popuious motorcycle states prop
erly functiOring as state organization
units. and conducting their state
tours, state endurance runs or state
championship races in connection
with their annual state convention
the organization work may be said to
be satisfactory. Membership totals
rising $4,000 including 3S5 F. A. NJ
clubs; it also has chain of 900 regis
tered F. A. M. repair shops.
Touring as INDUCED in by F. A. M.
members is fast becoming a habit:
and it is small wonder this Is so, when
we consider the present capabilities
and even luxury of the dependable
motorcycles, of, today. No other vehicle
at near the somen price offers such
possibilities with minimum of ex-
pense for operation. ..
Started less than a year ago. it is
already serving to members several
tour routes, and furnishing
such special information upon request
as its present facilities offer. All F.