Page:The fastest bicycle rider in the world - 1928 - Taylor.djvu/43

 and only white riders are allowed to compete in professional races. This is a violation of good sense, but if the L. A. W. permits Major Taylor to start in professional races, it should certainly protect him.

"The L. A. W. must keep the dirty professionals off the track. During the National Circuit Races here it was commented that in every professional race that Major Taylor entered he had more than his share of trouble. There appeared to be a deliberate effort by certain riders to throw him. He was tossed once successfully, and the man who did the job was loudly hissed, and Major Taylor was roundly cheered in front of the grand stand. He was very badly scraped and bruised. The same dirty tactics have followed the plucky little colored rider all around the circuit, and it is to the everlasting discredit of the men who are in on the schemes.

"It does not appear to be the big riders so much as the cheap riders who are out for a fraction of the purses that they can steal from the big riders who may have an off day now and then. If a referee now and then saw these offenses and ruled off a rider it would add much to the interest of the sport. Major Taylor's last episode at Newark, when he had won the one-mile open in a great finish was openly threatened. He asked to be excused in the next race, but the referee compelled him to get up and take the chances. He did, but kept out of the bunch and did not try for a place.

"Attention was recently called in the New York Sun to the fact that Major Taylor in all his big races is in deadly fear of his racing companions. He was recently thrown at Worcester and badly injured, and it was charged that the accident was the result of a conspiracy.

"At the Circuit meet at Waverly, N. J., on September 20, Taylor captured the one-mile open event handily, and qualified for his heat in the mile handicap, but when the final race of the latter event was called, Taylor did not show up, and investigation by the referee disclosed that Taylor had been threatened and was afraid to start. The referee refused to excuse Taylor and the colored boy started reluctantly but made no effort to win.

"The situation calls for prompt action on the part of the Racing Board. Major Taylor now ranks with the fastest men in this country, but the racing men are envious of the success, and prejudiced against his color, and aim to injure him whenever he competes. This conduct robs Major Taylor of many chances to secure many large purses and endangers his life besides."

About this same time the New York Journal carried this article: "Fears of Major Taylor. Much talk is going the rounds about the unfairness on the part of the other riders toward Major Taylor, the colored boy, and he is said to be in fear of bodily danger