Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-23
Automobilism in New York.

From the New York Times.
Is it possible that the men in this city
who can afford to own automobiles are
as a class so stupid that they do not see
that the law should be obeyed. and that
the rights Of their fellow-citizens. which
the law is framed to protect. should be
respected even If there were no law? On
Sunday last it was found necessary to put
practically in disguise the bicycle police
men of four precincts in order that they
might overtake violators of the law against
unsafe speed of automobiles; but for this
device the drivers of the machines would
have recognized the policemen and rushed
away from them. The need Of such pre-
caution had been amply shown In the ex-
perience of the police.
This is the relation between the ponce
and the law-breakers which obtains in
"Hells Kitchen" or among the members
of the "Gas House Gang" 1t is the recog-
milton Of the natural enmity of ignorant
rough. tough semi-crtminals for the ohcers
of the law. and while 1T is lamentable 1t is
Ineligible. The hoodlun has. literally
mo use'' for the police He has no property
to be protected. and he regards himself as
quite able to protect his person against all
corners. He is "ferae naturae," with the
vices Of q state Of nature. He is looked on
by the community as danger, and all the
powers of the government are employed to
restrain or suppress him. Yet his rule Of
conduct does not differ from that Of the
automobilists who run their costly ma
chimes to suit themselves. and when they
see policeman in uniform put on speed
and defy him. 1t is when the two classes
Of offenders reach the police courts that a
radical difference is seen. The hoodlum
cannot as a rule get ball. and is sent to
Jail to await trial. The man rich enough
to own an automobile Is also rich enough
to secure ball. Also he is rich enough to
pay without feeling 1t the fine that, SO far,
is the derisory penalty affixed to his offense
The disgrace of arrest ought to be suf-
fcient to AFFECT the minds of this class. APP
parently it is not. They regard 1t with
either indignation or amusement In real
not be punished as they deserve. It Is a
serious misfortune for the community and
for them that they cannot be imprisoned,
cannot be subjected to a humiliation they
would feel and one that their associates
would understand. And they ought to see
that this is what the public will sooner or
later demand unless the automobiles re-
form their ways. Failing that, there may
be cases where victims of the outrageous
recklessness OF the automobi1ist take the
law into their own hands and avenge what
the law does not prevent. In such a case
do these respectable gentlemen realize that
the sentiment Of the great body of the pub
pistol and not with him who fell by the
bullet?
If there is any sense of self-respect in
the automobilfst class, extreme measures
will not be needed. Surely they ought not
to be. Men with some property, with some
education, with an interest in the main
tenance of order and in the secure and
sire continually to set an example of law
lessness and OF defiance of the rights of
others. Infatuated as they are with their
new pleasure and unable for the present to