The Saint Paul globe., 1897-06-08
THEoR1zING AND rYRANNIzING.


THEORIZING AND TYRANNIZING.
The distinguished mental athlete who
occupies the, mayors office has modl-
ned his views as to bicycling some
what since he discovered the outburst
OF Indignation over the action of his po-
lice force. He is understood to have
SAID. some time ago. that the bicycle
ought to be prohibited from the streets
altogether. He has developed since
then tender side toward the wheel
men, remembering that they have
votes; and wants nothing worse now
tnan to have them run in by the score
On windy nights, In the course of his
remarks. Mayor Doran, letting it be
UNDERSTOOD that he had talked with
member Of the L. A. w. on the sub
Ject, took occasion to repeat his belief
IN the necessity Of compelling wheel
men to use lanterns, and his objection
TO the Albrecht ordinance
We know that Mayor Doran thinks
that way, and that even a few wheel
men can be found to agree with him;
having With him that one trait in COM
mon, that they must insist upon hav-
ing other people do things their way.
1hey are not satisfied with permission
10 do things their. own way themselves.
letting other people do the same.
but, having laid hold of a fixed idea.
they think that the salvation of ev
erythlng and everybody depends upon
forcing it on others. That this is a
fair description Of the demand that all
bicycles should carry lanterns at night
is proved by the facts. If this had
always been in force and it were pro-
posed now to make a change then
those who could not foresees exactly
what would happen might be filled with
apprehension. As it is, the assumption
that riding at night without a Ian
tern IS menace to. the public safety
IS proved, by ample experience, to be
a DIT OF mere theorizing
These gentlemen seem to forget that.
until a month ago, nobody in ST Pan,
had ever been compelled to carry
lantern except while riding on the side
walk. They ignore the pertinent fact
that, under that regime, existing ever
since the wheel began to be used, there
has not been single serious accident
on record owing to the absence of Ian
terms. The only one even apparently
q hi TO-
less scorching by two riders on the
same side Of the cycle path at night
and would have happened had each
wheel been covered with locomotive
headlights. Another bit aefr experience
goes for nothing with these gentle
men who are anxious to compel others
to follow their instruction, Just for
the qualification of It. Minneapolis Is
not so far distant that we cannot
learn something from her. There
are more wheels in use in that CITY
than in this, but there is no such de-
spotic and unreasonable ordinance. The
great majority Of bicyclists use Ian
terms by preference, just as they al
ways did here, and those who do not
wish to do so ride without. There
are no accidents from that cause, and
everybody is satisfied. In the face of
our own experience and that Of other
communities, this talk about the need
of lanterns for the public safety when
the wheel is on the roadway and not
on the sidewalk is sheer nonsense, and
has been proved So The Albrecht or
dinance ought to become law, to the
great relief of riders Of the wheel. That
the safety that the public now enjoys
is established by the facts.