New-York tribune., 1902-06-29
pPEJTDJCE AGAINST AUTOMOBILES.

Mobbing woman is discreditable work We
! cannot conceive a provocation which would
/ Justify it Done by Yahoos in savage land,
! we should say it chara acteristic of the
! place. Done by reputedly civilized people In
! the streets Of York, it is disgrace to the
community, which it is pleasant to see resented
| and which might be not unfttingly treated to
something sharper than mere resentment. Yet
| It has been done several times of late In the
streets Of New-York, in circumstances which
have to some seemed almost to afford degree
of palliation. 1t cannot be conceded that those
or any circumstances could afford anything like
justification. But at least such incidents sug-
gest the existence of an abnormal state of popu-
lar mind. the origin and responsibility Of which
may proftably be considered "by all whom it
may concern
There can be no doubt that automobiling, in
its Illegal and defiant FORMS has 'got upon the
nerves. Of the public There was time when
bicycling was similarly regarded Wheelmen-
some of them-habitually and defantly violated
the law. to the terror. peril and actual injury Of
the lawabdng part OF the community 1t was no
wonder that people came to regard the "scorch-
ing" wheelman as a public enemy, to be set
upon with violence whenever and wherever
found. That state of mind has passed away,
with the passing reformation Of its provok-
ing cause. But now certain automobile drivers
are arousing 1t again. directed toward them
selves. They arouse 1t by their persistent and
defiant violation Of the law and by their con-
temptuous attitude toward the law and toward
their victims. When admonished by police
man that they are going too fast they put on
still more speed to escape being arrested by
him: and then. after mile minute race.
when they are finally brought to book, they de-
clare that they were not conscious of going
faster than the law permits. When pedestrians
or other vehicles in the road they do not
try to avoid them, nor do they give them their
due share of the road, but instead keep right
along in the middle of the road. merely clang-
order for everybody else to ''get off the earth
or take the consequence. When they do run
into or over anybody. Instead of decently
stopping to see what harm has been done and
to render assistance. If possible. they put on
full speed and hasten away to avoid recognition.
If ever they are brought into court and fined
for Iawhreaking. they pay the fine. either as
joke or with an intimation that they regard 1t
as blackmail charge II TO the inevitable profit
and loss Of the sport, and go their way 70 re-
peat their Illegal performances.
As we have said many times before. there
are only q few automobilists who do such
things In proportion to the whole number yet
there are enough Of them to create an intoler-
able nuisance in city and country. and so TO
exasperate the public mind to lead to such
outbreaks as those which have been deplor-
ing. People have come 10 look upon the scorch-
ing automobilist as public enemy and when
ever he commits any mischief they are ready
to take the law into their own hands and In
fict summary punishment upon him. It is not
right for them to do IT Is disgracefu for
them to do so when a woman is involved In the
case But the best way to stop them from do
ing 1t is to suppress the cause. for that is
itself as unlawful its deplorahe effect.