Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-12-31

To the readers of the Evening Star
a Happy New Year. ]. P. N.
%
The bike riders were laughing Ut
their sleeve last night over what they
termed the complete backdown of the
Cycle Racing Association. Packey Nc
Farland, Thomas P. Convey and
Michael Boyle, the Chicago men who
have been in Newark several days
seeking a sanction to hold a six-day
race in the Windy City. have scored
a hollow victory, according to the
riders. During conference yester-
day In New York, which was arranged
by Harold Dibblee, an enthusiastic
! fan, and at which were Inglis NJ
! Uppercu, of the Cycle Racing Asso-
citation. and Packey Mcfarland, of the
Twentieth Century Cycling Associa-
ton of Chicago, a sanction was offer
ed to the Western promoters for q
certain percentage of the receipts.
Mcfarland later put the Uppercu
proposition up to Messrs. Convey and
Boyle his associates, and they, along
with the riders, who held a long ses-
sion at Dave Mackay's Hall yesterday,
turned the offer down. The Chicago
promoters and the riders decided that
they would not give one penny to the
Cycle Racing Association, but said
that they would be willing to pay as
/ high as $50 to the National Cycling
Association for permission to run a
six-day grind in Chicago.
@
Mr.. Dibblee, who arranged the con-
ference between Messrs. Uppercu and
Mcfarland, said this morning that
Mr.. Uppercu had acted honorably and
fair in his dealings, and he asked
that the details of the meeting be
more fully explained.
Il arranged the meeting with Up
percu at the request of Mcfarland.
At the time Mcfarland told me he
would be willing to give a percentage
OF the receipts to the Cycle Racing
Association, but in the meantime he
had seen Convey and Boyle, his part
ners and they would not agree to the
proposition of Uppercu. really be-
lieved some compromise would be ef-
fected, hut now 1t seems that the Chi
cago men and the riders are averse to
giving the Cycle Racing Association
anything for permission to run the
race"
Mcfarland said yesterday that he
was fighter in the ring, but he was
for peace in business, but Convey and
Boyle, especially Convey, who feels
that he has been treated rather shah
billy by the promoters, was for bat
tie. This became a certainty when
the matter was put UP to the riders
and they came out so strong to race
in Chicago with permission or without
sanction.
That the riders have the whip hand
there isn't doubt in the world. Their
plan to form union and secure af-
filiation with the Federation of Labor
is master stroke. AS riders they
will be union men, and those who do
not join their organization will be
pointed at as "scabs." AS Federation
of Labor members the riders will have
the support of the labor men and
they will be very powerful. Instead
of being barred, which has been
threatened, the riders who have Just
organized will have control of the sit
uation in cycling, not only in this
community, but throughout the coun-
try.
10
The riders plan to conduct all their
business along union lines. They will
have board of governors and a
walking delegate, and they will con-
troll the racing end Of the game en-
tirely. In other words, the riders
will have riders deal with riders and
not promoters deal with riders. The
referee at race meets will be ap-
! pointed by the union and there will
also be judges around the track who
: will report any foul or dishonest
racing. The referee will act on his
own judgment, but the rider may ap-
! peal the case to the union. If every
thhing goes through as planned
/ cycling will be much better of for
the quarrel. The promoter has al
ways been accused of giving the
rider the worst of it. Under the new
scheme the rider will secure protec-
ton from his fellow members.
! O.
All this. Of course, will mean the
passing of the N. C. A.. which will be
quite unnecessary when the union
takes hold of affairs. Dues will be
paid and fines collected and the new
Organization will be in position tc
govern itself and be self-supporting
All that is necessary is to get the
right men at the head of the organ
Iization.
Frank Kramer. the champion
hasn't been consulted in the matte,
as yet, but Mr.. Convey explains tht
reason why.
Kramer is under contract to the
Cycle Racing Association and We
didn't care to deal with him. said
Convey. However, before I ieav,