Page:The fastest bicycle rider in the world - 1928 - Taylor.djvu/62

 Again I quote from the Philadelphia Press—"Hon. Albert Mott, Chairman of the L. A. W. racing board and generally considered the outstanding figure among the bicycle racing officials of the country, who refereed the races, saw something in this one-mile handicap event which was not just right, but was not in a position to see who should be punished for it. Major Taylor, the colored boy whose wonderful riding made him the idol of the meet, and who caused the crowd for once to forsake Champion Bald, and applaud the efforts of a hated rival, was crowded from his position in the center of the track until he was nearly run into the press box occupied by the reporters.

"Mr. Mott demanded to know who was responsible for it, but was unable to learn, although the judges admitted that Taylor was crowded out of his course. This was one of the unfortunate events of the day, but one for which the Castle Wheelmen were in no way to blame, as the officials of the meet were carefully selected from the best known wheelmen in the country through whose mistakes Major Taylor must suffer."

As a matter of fact, my position on the track as a result of this foul was so precarious that I had to back pedal for all I was worth over the tape, whereas, were it not for the rough tactics employed against me, my pathway would have been cleared to the tape, and I would have pedalled to a well-earned victory, as is indicated by the fact that I finished in second place, despite my back pedalling.

Incidentally, the Philadelphia Press conceded that I was in the best position of the field to win up to the moment that the foul occurred.