New-York tribune., 1902-07-07
REToLTs AGAINST ROAD RACING

hkFOLIS AOAIA6T hOAD hACtNb.
The latest demonstration of opposition to the
excessive speeding of automobile vehicles on
public highways is significant and may prove
efectual II is organized and promoted by the
very people who might be supposed TO be most
in sympathy with the users of automobiles, or
at any rate least likely to join in any indis-
criminate campaign against them-tn fact, by
people who themselves are largely devoted to
the use of the horseless carriage, The auto
mobile, at least the machine of the high power
racing type such as does most mischief on the
roads, is essentially a rich mans vehicle. Con-
sequently the protests against the abuse of 1t,
when made by persons of moderate means-tO
wit, by the great majority of the public-have
to some appeared though incorrectly, TO SAVIOR
of class against class conflict. Such was the
case not long ago when mob or tenement
house dwelers made violent attack IN the
street upon a rich mans automobile and It's
occupants. Such an Interpretation of even that
deplorabe incident was, however, unwarranted,
and the last vestiee of reason for thus regard
ing the revolt against road racing with engines
disappears before the latest and present feat
ure of the campaign.
Nobody will accuse the wealthy and fashion
able residents of Newport of organizing an in
sensate fight against their own social class.
Nobody will venture TO intimate that the own
ers of the fine estates along Broadway, in Dobbs
Ferry, Irvington and Tarrytown, are catering
to the prejudices of the moh.' as some scorch-
ing sHtomobilists have been pleased to charac-
teriZe those who object TO their defiance of law
and decency. These people are persons of fort
une and of fashion. Many of them own and
use expensive automobiles. Yet they are to-
day foremost in opposing the speeding Of such
vehicles on public streets, and in seeking re-
lentlessly 10 enforce the penalty of the law
against all offenders. In Newport the names
of some of the best known social leaders are
conspicuously signed to a demand for the rigid
enforcement OF the law. In the Hudson River
villages which we have named the wealthy
owners of some of the finest estates have
erected along the highway conspicuous signs 10
he read by all paSsersby, TO the effect that "the
speed law is strictly enforced in this village"
or that "such and such penalty is strictly Inn
''posed in this village upon all exceeding such
"a rate of speed; and "AutOmobists take no
tiee!" is displayed upon each sign in large
letters.
Such action, taken by such people, means
something. 1t means that the rich owner of a
$4,000 automobile is as much awake TO the
evils of "scorching" as is the poor owner Of a
$50 horse or the pedestrian too poor to own any
horse at all. II shows that as we have hitherto
argued many automobile owners are lawabid
ing persons, and that the abuse Of such We
hicles. with the consequent suspicion and re-
proach brought upon all, is the work of per-
verse and pernicious few. II is strange thing
that anywhere in this country II should be
necessary to placard the highways with an-
nouncements that the laws are enforced in
certain community. But it is apparently neces-
sary, and since It is So those villages are
honored In having those announcements thus
made. Those big signs along Broadway are
not ornamental. They are better than that In
ordinary circumstances they should be objected
to as disfguring lovely scenery. In present cir
cumstances they are TO be commended as tend
ing efectually to safeguard the public in rational
enjoyment Of that scenery and in use Of the
public highways. If they shall do that, and
shall serve to rid the land of the begoggled
abomination Of the seorcher, they will be as
precious as tablets of fine gold.