Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-07-08

have listened to the stories said they
didn't want any of that game. The
claim is made that the Belgians are
not fair at all, and that fines are
plastered on the riders for no offense
whatever The men are fined, it is
said, and almost before they have a
chance to pay up the fine is doubled.
In some cases the riders are fined and
not notified until weeks afterward.
Men go to Belgium with what look
like good contracts, but they owe
themselves when they come away.
Belgium is a fine place, the riders
say, to steer clear of.
@
Bobby Walthour is the latest Yam
kee cyclist to incur the displeasure of
the Belgians walthour was fined
$500 for alleged breach of contract
with a pacemaker, and when the fine
wasn't paid in a stated time and APP
parently without appeal, the amount
was doubled. Walthour, who is rid
ing in this country, refuses to pay
the fine and declares he hasn't
contract with the pacemaker in ques-
| ton. He has taken an oath to that
effect. which means perjury in case
he is not telling the truth. With the
oath in his possession. Chairman
Kelsey, of the National Cycling AS
ISOLATION, the controlling body in this
country and which is also affiliated
with the Belgium organization, both
being members of the U. C. l., the in
ternational association, has decided
to back up Walthour and fight the
matter out at either the meeting of
the U. C. I. in August or at the meet
ing next February in Paris. And
this fight is going to be to a finish, it
is said. for the Americans are mighty
sick of the way they have been
| treated over in Belgium.
@
To the credit of the Belgians, they
do not play any favorites Big and
little suffer alike at their hands
When Champion Frank Kramer was
over in Belgium last winter he was
fined. For a long time he didn't
know anything about it and when
he was notified he was just about
to sail for home, sweet home. Kramer
Thought he would wait until he re-
the fine, and to his surprise the sum
was just doubled for not paying it
ever there. Naturally Kramer was
very sore and for a time it looked
as if the champion was going to make
a fight over paying it. He finally
gave the money to Chairman KEEL
sey and the affair was settled. And
what do you suppose Kramer was
fined for? Nothingl This is generally
the alibj furnished by the cyclists
was a reason, it seems. Kramer was
riding a match race and he was told
when to appear on the track He was
on his way in plenty of time, but one
of the tires on his bicycle blew out
and he had to fix it. When he ar
rived on the scene he was a minute
or so late and nothing was said to
him about fine. He started in the
race, of course, and he won, as
usual. He went back to Paris even
fined. The amount of Kramer's fine
was SIS, but il was doubled because
he didn't pay Immediately
o
Kramer is one of the biggest kick
ers against the Belgians and one of
the greatest stickers for Walthour.
The champion knows how it is to be
fined for doing nothing" and he is
in full sympathy with Walthour. In
fact, all the riders in this country are
for fighting the matter to the bitter
end. They say they have no objec-
ton to competing in Belgium, where
the game is pretty good, but they are
not able to see where they come off
in paying fines for every little offence.
Alfred Goullet and liver Lawson are
also among those present when the
Belgium situation is up for discus
sion. Goullet and Lawson were fined
500 during q six-day race, and both
of them say that it was robbery"
Goullet paid his, but Lawson, who
was angry at the time and also snort
of change, refused to settle. For this
the fine was doubled, and he paid the
$500 only a few weeks ago.
@
Belgium is not the only country in
which the men who rule the game
are strict. Throughout Europe the
man on the wheel has little to say.
In France the cyclists are fined il
they transgress the rules in the least.
Penalties are imposed for Lace of
neatness, for not being on the mark
on time. for foul riding and for not
setting pace in turn The cyclists are