KERRIGAN RESIGNS - Secession from the League of American Wheelmen Begins. - The San Francisco Call, 28 Mar 1897

KERRIGAN RESIGNS Secession from the League of American Wheelmen Begins. 28 Mar 1897, Sun The San Francisco Call (San Francisco, California) Newspapers.com

KERRIGAN RESIGNS

Secession From the League of American Wheelmen Begins.

STRONG REASONS GIVEN FOR WITHDRAWAL.

The California Division Now Without an Executive Head.

A NEW AND POWERFUL BODY TO BE FORMED.

Associated Cycling Clubs to Be the Basis of the Organization in This State.

Chief Consul Frank H. Kerrigan of North California Division League of American Wheelmen has tendered his resignation as an official of the great cycling organization, thus firing the first gun in the secession movement that will eventually involve all of the league members in the division mentioned.

The trouble is of long standing, but first came to a head when Mr. Kerrigan went East as the delegate of the North California Division of the annual meeting of the league. The California representatives fought vigorously the proposition to refuse sanction for Sunday racing [and letting Black people become members - MF] and announced that the large majority of league members in this State would withdraw if they could not race as they desired. They were laughed at and the Sunday racing voted down.

On Judge Kerrigan's return to this City meetings were held and a majority of the large clubs pledged themselves to withdraw when the membership of their members expired. It was then decided to form a new organization on this coast with the California Associated Cycling Clubs as a basis, and ignore the league entirely if it did not see fit to recognize the California wheeling interest in its new form.

With this end in view a resolution was adopted at a meeting of the board of governors of the California Associated Cycling Clubs, held on the 19th inst., authorizing changes in the constitution of the body that would make it in all intents and purposes the successor of the league.

Chief Consul Kerrigan's resignation was sent to Stanley G. Scovern, the secretary-treasurer of North California Division, last evening, and reads as follows:

SAN FRANCISCO, March 27, 1897. 

Stanley G. Scovern, Secretary-Treasurer of the N. Cal. Div., League of American Wheelmen - 

DEAR SIR: 1 hereby tender my resignation as chief consul of the North California Division of the League of American Wheelmen.

In explanation of my action in this behalf I believe it fitting that I should outline the reasons which have brought me to the conclusion that this is the only course I can consistently take.

As the head of a cycling organization in this State taking money from its members in the form of annual dues, it seems to me that I should be in a position to say to each contributing member: "Our organization is doing the best work possible for you and for cycling interests in this State, and is expending the money you furnish it to your greatest advantage." If I reach the conclusion that I am not in a position to say this, if I come to believe that with the same annual dues, with the same expenditure of money, a cycling organization can be formed in this state that will and can do more good for cycling and for the State, then I consider that I should be occupying a false position in remaining chief consul of the North California Division.

And I have reached that conclusion, not hastily, but after a careful consideration of the conditions that surround us here in California and a personal comparison with those of the Eastern States.

The North California division now numbers some 1600 members. If all these should renew their membership for the coming year they would pay into the League of American Wheelmen the sum of $1600. Of this sum $1040 would be sent to the Eastern office of the league for its support and $560 retained for the support of cycling interests ir California.

We sent East last year from February 1, 1896, to January 31, 1897, of money received from members $1069 25, and for money received for sanctions for race meets over the sum of $300 net.

In return for this money what do we get? The League Bulletin is really the only practical and tangible result, which to the National body is a mere nominal expense. Of course, there is the general work of the league for the improvement of roads and highways, but the effects of that branch of its work don't begin to reach to this western border, and we have not felt them. Work in those lines must be done locally, with our own legislatures, our own Board of Supervisors, and by and through our own efforts. That has been the way whatever has been done has been accomplished in the past and I see no reason to expect more efficient aid from the National body in the future.

California is a State far removed from the center of government of the league. The conditions here are vastly different from those that exist in the New England States. And yet, from our very remoteness, it has proved impossible to bring the governing body of the league to an understanding of these differences.

The whole trouble with the National organization may be summed up broadly in the words, "It has outgrown itself.” Its existing constitution was not patterned on lines fitted for the organic law of an association of State divisions as numerous, as widely separated, as diverse in needs, habits, temperament and characteristics as it now contains.

If we are ever to have a lasting and successful National organization it must take for its model our own Federal constitution - that is, lay down the broad principles of the objects of the body and the few general characteristics needed to give uniformity to the organization; but leave to the various state divisions the right to legislate upon matters of local or temporary import, upon matters dependent on local conditions and environment.

This is not the spirit of the constitution of our National organization. It is not the spirit of the majority of the members who compose its governing body. The desire seems to be to control every detail of the destiny of each State division; to legislate for localities and people they have never seen, and do not understand, and this, too, even against the expressed wish of the divisions they are seeking to control.

On the floor of the National Assembly and through the press of the United States a demonstration has been lately made to the National Assembly of the needs of the Western and Southern divisions in the matter of extension of racing privileges. Because a majority of delegates, coming from the New England States, felt that their localities would not be benefited by such an extension of racing privilege, which proposed privilege they need never have exercised, the measure that was proposed was voted down and the Southern and Western divisions were denied the privilege of local legislation on a subject, from its very nature, local.

I mention this instance merely as an example of the narrow policy that concentrates the legislative power in the National body in such a way as to impede the progress and retard the development of those State divisions where progress and aivance is most possible.

I need not mention here that I have always been in the past an earnest advocate of the league and its work (though with the feeling always that greater returns could be afforded us), and this was for the reason that I felt the necessity, if cycling was to live, of some power strong enough to control the racing side of the sport. For a time the league seemed capable of doing this - seemed to be doing it - despite the fact that the control of racing was not originally contemplated in the scheme of its organization. But at the recent meeting at Albany it became unmistakably apparent that a body composed as the governing board of the league is could not long continue to give proper attention to this branch of the pastime. The apathy, the entire lack of appreciation of the importance of racing to the general prosperity of the league, was painfully in evidence.

Even the very head of the league, Isaac C. Potter, a year ago took an open stand in opposition to racing, and, although he receded somewhat as a matter of political policy from that position during his candidacy for president this year, still it will be noted that every amendment to the constitution proposed with the idea of broadening and extending racing privileges was defeated by the following of the present administration. To any wheelman of California this will indicate sufficiently an important reason for the bringing into existence of another organization.

But this is not all. Upon the head of the National organization depends its successful conduct as a National body. If the president of the league is a man who is tricky, who has attained his position on broken pledges, by deceit and misrepresentation, I cannot bring myself to feel that he will manage league affairs for the best interests of the wheelmen and I will not serve in any capacity under the leadership of such a man.

That Mr. Potter is such a man I have absolute proof. His treachery to California on the floor of the National assembly, his Judas kiss to President Elliott prior to the election, the disreputable Massachusetts trade, which resulted in the refusal of Gideon to again accept the chairmanship of the racing board, are familiar instances of treachery to the wheelmen of America indulged in by the New York delegation from Potter up.

It has seemed plain to me, therefore, that the league division here has reached the limit of its usefulness. It only remains to be shown that a cycling organization can be formed in California that could do more for the wheelmen of the State than is done by the league. I believe that it is perfectly feasible for the California Associated Cycling Clubs to so extend its scope as to assume all the functions of the Northern California division. The Associated Clubs have met with uniform success in everything they have undertaken. They have established amicable relations between the several clubs of the State, and to-day constitute the authorized body for the expression of the opinion of the organized wheelmen upon any subject. They have taken roading into their charge, and have done for that branch of cycling all that the league has done for racing on the track.

What, then, is to prevent the California Associated Cycling Clubs from absorbing and taking advantage of the energy that in the past has made this division of the league what it is?

Potentially, California is one of the greatest cycling States of the Union. In no city of the Eastern States is there greater enthusiasm, greater energy in all branches of wheeling work than right here in California. And it is safe to say that in no State is the number of riders greater in proportion to the population. Our road-racing events are unexcelled. We have established more records on the track during the past two seasons than any other State. The good fellowship and fraternal feeling that exists among wheelmen here has been the frequent subject of comment from visitors from without our borders. During the past year we have initiated and encouraged an agitation for the improvement of highways that culminated in the passage by the present Legislature of a bill appropriating more than $600,000 for the purpose. We have secured the passage of the bicycle baggage bill. Surely it is beyond question that we have in this State material for the formation of a local organization that can do more for California than is possible for any hampered branch of a National body.

I am aware that with some of the members of the California Associated Cycling Clubs it might be a matter of hesitancy to engrait [engrait?] upon that body the numerous functions now performed by the League Division. But in this connection it must be borne in mind that no radical changes in its organic law would be necessitated, and to its present corps of efficient workers could be added those who have heretofore devoted themselves to the advancement of the league.

To establish a system of hotels and local consuls, to afford legal protection to its members, to facilitate touring, to furnish information concerning roads and stopping places, to continue the agitation for the betterment of highways, to secure needed legislation from our Legislatures and Boards of Supervisors - this is the work before us. All this has been done by the League Division. But, let me ask you, has it not been done by the efforts of the wheelmen of our State? What aid has been afforded by the National organization ? Indeed, the matter seems simple, the course is plain. It has become the duty of the California Associated Cycling Clubs to step into the breach and save cycling for us here.

I have gone thus fully into my reasons for this resignation that there may be no misunderstanding as to what has induced it. I am well aware of the tendency on the part of people to ascribe an action of this kind to personal pique or disappointment. But I believe a reading of this letter will convince anyone that no such element has entered into the present result. I have but to recall the manner in which we humiliated not ourselves, but the wheelmen of California before those who had succeeded by the means indicated in getting into control when we went to New York after the National Assembly had adjourned and strove in every way to effect some compromise with Potter, and were even denied a hearing.

I cannot close this communication without taking occasion to thank Frank W. Fuller for his able and energetic assistance to us in the National Assembly. Mr. Fuller left his business at New York, went to Albany and remained there throughout the session, all at his own expense, and did splendid work for us. He certainly deserves the gratitude of every California wheelman.

I also wish to thank the members of our local board of officers, and of the committees, both of the present year and the past, or the earnest work they have done and the results they have accomplished, and to express the hope that they will devote to the organization which will take the place of the league division here the same energy and enthusiasm. Yours very respectfully,

FRANK H. KERRIGAN. 

Vice-Consul Henry H. Wynne will take Judge Kerrigan's place as consul as long as the division exists, which is not expected to be a great while, inasmuch as a majority of the members will withdraw when the time expires.

It is expected that not more than 500 out of the 1600 members now in the division will remain at the end of ninety days. Others will withdraw as their memberships run out, and within six months there will not be enough members left to support the division.

A meeting of the board of governors of the Californian Associated Cycling Clubs is to be held at the Bay City Wheelmen's headquarters on April 3, and at this gathering the new organization that is expected to do so much for California cycling interests, will be launched.