NEWS OF THE CYCLISTS. - Maj. Taylor Will Probably Cause the League Trouble. - St. Louis Globe-Democrat, 11 Mar 1898

Major Taylor causes L. A. W. dilemma; he is a black professional, one must register, one can't. 11 Mar 1898, Fri St. Louis Globe-Democrat (St. Louis, Missouri) Newspapers.com

The hatred of the writer is in evidence, here. Major Taylor deserved much more respect than this. That the writer calls Taylor a "New Yorker" is a great disrespect, as he was from Indianapolis, Indiana, a midwestern city not far from St. Louis. The writer fails to recognize Taylor as one of his own.

The conundrum expressed in this article is fascinating. The League of American Wheelmen had recently outlawed Sunday racing, established support for professional riders, and required professionals to register with the League, and banned Black cyclists from joining the League. Taylor, famously, for his own religious reasons, did not race Sundays, and left much income on the table by refusing to compete on Sundays. (Before organized labor, many people worked six or seven days a week. The only day a worker might have the freedom to see a sports event, like a bicycle track race would have been on a Sunday.) 

Whether he intended it or not, Taylor was effectively advocating for Black rights, Black inclusion in the sport of cycling, which was at its apogee in 1898, in the US and worldwide. 

NEWS OF THE CYCLISTS.

Maj. Taylor Will Probably Cause the League Trouble. 

Major Taylor, the little colored New Yorker who has managed to keep his name before the public through his many escapades during the past two years, is once more on deck. He has started the season of 1898 by being chased out of Savannah, and now he is about to give the powers of the League of American Wheelman a difficult question to wrestle with.

Re Taylor being chased out of Georgia, this is what the writer is referring to:

Mister Taylor,

If you don't leave here before 48 hours are up, you will be sorry. We mean business. Clear out if you value your life.

White Riders

Major Taylor, by Andrew Ritchie, on Podiumcafe

At the last meeting of the national assembly it was decided to make all professional wheelmen register with Chairman Mott, for which they will be taxed $2 each. Taylor is a professional rider and a very good one, as many of the champions found out last season. In accordance with the decision of the assembly, Taylor will register and pay Chairman Mott $2 if his application is accepted. It Taylor is allowed to register the L. A. W. will be practically recognizing colored wheelmen, and this is a line that the organization has closely drawn for several years.

Should the chairman decline to accept the application of Taylor he will be barring the rider from making a living, as no professional wheelman can ride at an L. A. W. track unless registered. Lawyers say Taylor will have good grounds for a proceeding at law. At any rate, the L. A. W. is going to have trouble, for the colored wheelmen can join the Canadian association, which does not draw the line.

The League of American Wheelmen and the Canadian association have an agreement whereby the wheelmen who are members are entitled to all privileges. Should Taylor join the Canadian association, he would be entitled to recognition from the L. A. W.