The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-12
SIX DAY CYCLISTS
PREPARE TO FIGHT
VIII Ride in So-Called 'Out-
law Race, Sanction or
No Sanction.

Another sporting war to n finish
has been declared. this time by the
professional six day bicycle riders. who
say they refuse 10 be inundated by
the National Cycle Racing Association s
threat of suspension IL they ride IN the
so-called outlaw six day race that
Is to be held in the Twenty-second
Regiment Armory during the week OF
November q. Twenty prominent riders
declared themselves yesterday in I'M
mistakable language. They propose,
they say, to so through with their con-
tracts, sanction or no sanction.
The contention Of the riders is that
they have violated no rules In contract
Ing 70 ride in the arinory race. At the
same time they accuse the controlling
association OF tryin5 60 stifle Legitimate
competition In the promotion of bicycle
races. Tie position OF the riders Is
set forth in q statement signed by the
twenty men, l. 1ong whom are Alfred
Goullet and Jacob Magin. who won the
six day race in the Garden last win
ter; Arthur Spencer. the American
sprint champion; William Keller, New
England champion; Eddie Madden, Fred
Hill. Lawrence Gaffney. Joseph Keep
sky, Frank Cory and two Australians
A. McBeatt and Cecil Walker.
The statement follows:
The undersigned professional BIZ
cycle riders. who have always abided
by the rules of the National Cycle
cling Association. protest against
the unjust criticism heaped upon us
by the promoters OF the bicycl rae
ing track In Newark who claim
they constitute the ". c. A., because
we ref sc to bow 10 their wishes and
repudiate contracts which we legiti-
mete.y entered tito TO ride In a six
day race In the T enty-second Rcgi-
ment Armory. New York. the week
OF November p TO %.
1--WE are threaten with suspen-
sion II we ride in the race and for no
other reason. that we can see, than
that we refuse to give the Newark
promoters preference.
The Newark promoters fear open
competition in the cycle racing sport.
and whenever there has been any
danger of opposition, they have been
using club on the riders. This we
now resent. We feel that we are
within our legal and moral rights In
competing on any track or for any
company that guarantees clean COM
| petition under the rules that govern
the sport OF cycle racing. We feel
that We have as much Lksht TO in
crease our earnings as II DOAci OF II
ball player. Open competition has
never injured the sport OF baseball
or boxing. The rules OF the Ma
tional Cycling Association do not for
| bid us from competing on any track
throughout the world so long as we
ride under the written rules. We
have violated no rules and have no
| intention OF doing 30. but because we
| refuse 10 show preference for and
abide by the iron hand ruling OF a
Newark promoter. we are threatened
with suspension.
when threats failed they have
tried by use OF money brides 10 get
some of the riders to break their
contracts but without avail. This Is
only additional proof OF their groed
and that they are in deadly fear OF
open competition. We are fully de-
cided 10 ride In the race at the
Twen;y-second Regiment Armory.
sanction or no sanction. The under
signed represent the best six day
riders In the world and we are going
to let tho public jsdge for Itself"