New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-04
The PRESIDENTS ACCIDENT,

YESTERDAYS accident 10 the President, slight
IS il proved 10 be, had Yet enough OF tragic
suggestion about il TO set the pubiics nerves
a-1utter Coming within three days OF the
first anniversary of Czolgoszs fatal pistol
shot at Buffalo. the news of President Roose-
veIt's face-to-face encounter with death III the
Berkshire collision could not hut evoke SIMS
TEL. memories of the calamity under which the
nations head and heart We're bowed year
ago Happily fate had no such second blow IN
store. But the hairbreadth character OF the
Presidents escape from injury in crash IN
which the carriage he rode in was literally
torn 10 pieces naturally stirred again the
SOLDERING chords in national feeling set vibrat-
ing BY last September's tragedy at Buffalo
II is gratifying to feel that in the peril which
threatened the President yesterday the malice
of criminal intention was wholly absent. Neg
lect and recklessness appear TO have played
their usual role in the accident of which the
President and his party were the ill-chosen
victims. But till railroad and trolley road
Grade crossings are abolished. or motormen
attain a prudence and caution far beyond the
faIlihle human limit, such disasters will con
1inue 10 take their toll of life and excite their
yoIune of impatient but unavailing protest
Responsibility for the Berkshire collision will
we hope be promptly determined. and the
proper penalties exacted for the sacrifice OF
one lite-or perhaps two-to some ones IN
capacitv or laundering careleSsness Yet IN
the main the country's feeling a out yester-
DAYS regrettable mshap viii he one of sin
cere consratulation that whatever danger the
President was threatened with came as one
Of those inevitable exposures to moving ac-
cidentS by food and field" which are only
part and parcel OF the common human lot.
President Roosevelts lucky escape Will prob
ably revive discussion OF the vexed problem OF
safeguarding the head of the nation against
accidents and assaults Congress has struggled
with the question. and bill has passed both
houses and is now in conference which aims TO
throw a greater degree Of protection about our
Presidents than they now enjoy. The Senate
voted 10 authorize the creation Of a military
bodvcuard But the House vetoed this suggeS-
ton. thinking il better 10 throw responsibility
for the Chief Magistrates personal safety on
the shoulders OF the Treasury Secret Service,
where II has rested-more through custom
than through legislative warrant-for many
wears. President Roosevelt has taken q high
" coulmendable step in dropping. far as
! possihle the custom OF promiscuous hand
I shaking But his genuinely democratic tastes
! incline him 10 covet liberal measure Of indl-
vidual freedom in his outdoor life. In his
contact with the public he mas lnduigeu, lheTe-
/ fore. in many friendly informalities not in
! compatible with the dignity Of his official
station The mean he has followed has been
a golden one. however, for the vigilance Of the
protection thrown around him by the Secret
Service agents has been on several occasions
signaIly disclosed. Yesterdays accident re-
fleets in no way on that vigilance. It en-
phasizes rather that liability TO unexpected
dangers which no forethought can neutralize
and from which no life, however guarded, can
be wholly exempt.