Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-08-11
THE AUTO IN POLITICS.

The Orange county Democratic con
vention is the first, we believe, to rec
ognize the entry of a new issue tina
demands attention from law makers
Its platform asks for legislation Il
protect the public from danger caused
by automobiles.
This declaration may be met by ,
sneer in some quarters. metropolitan
newspapers may poke fun at the pro.
vincialism that such pronouncement
exhibits. Restrictive enaetments a:
TO the use of automobiles will be rid
iculed, doubtless, as futile attempts tc
stay the wheels of progress, or even
Interpreted as an exhibition of petty
spite and jealousy.
Yet the subject is very real, and OF
importance fully justifying attention
by political parties. In many, if not
most, parts Of Vermont the danger
from automobiles forms a topic OF
serious consideration by the people.
1t is certain that the coming legisla-
tive session will have the matter
brought before it in the effort to fur
Their safeguard the public.
Vermont already has a law regu-
lating the speed of automobiles ON the
public highways and prescribing the
course they shall follow when teams
are met, in order to prevent the fright
ening OF horses and consequent acct
dents. While these rules are consid-
erately observed by some AUTOMOBILE
lists and all steps taken that prudence
can suggest to avoid accidents from
runaways, it is notorious that other
machine owners speed along the high
ways and approach teams with a SEEM
ing recklessness and disregard of con-
sequences that has earned the resent
ment of great number of people.
And this feeling, unfortunately en-
gendered by the acts of some auto
mohilists, has come to be directed
against practically the whole class and
the machine itself There is no deny
ing the fact that if they could have
their way many persons would abso-
lutely forbid the use OF all Vermont
to the automobile. Serious,
and in some cases fatal, accidents
have occurred in various parts OF the
state as the direct result of the advent
of the auto. These incidents are
viewed by the public with more or
less evaporation.
At the present time the common
view of the automobile is that it is a
very expensive toy, the enjoyment of
which is limited to the rich alone. AS
a means Of locomotion or Transports
ton, it cannot supplant the car, or the
team, or even the bicycle. Adapted
only for good roads in the summer
time and not fitted for indiscriminate
steep hill climbing, the auto cannot
hope to become a permanent and val
liable addition to the vehicles OF CON-
mon traffic. Until materially changed
in construction and cheapened in cost
of purchase and operation, it will
remain only attainable by the well-to-
do whose tastes lead to its ownership.
That of itself is no argument against
the auto. If the only things to be said
against it were that its price placed it
beyond the reach of the poor, and that
it was but useless toy the law could
never deign to notice it. The person
of wealth has perfect right to spend
his money for whatever he pleases,
autos or anything else, and to use his
purchase as he pleases-providing
land here is where the law comes in)
that be does not interfere with other
peoples rights or security. When,
however, the automobile in operation
becomes a public menace it is entirely
proper that steps should be taken to
prevent by law the use that constitutes
the danger. And then the fact that
the auto is not a necessity, but a lux
ury. and that the limitation OF its use,
if deemed necessary to safeguard the
public. would be no particular hard
ship to the owners has weight and
bearing in determining how far restric-
tons should be applied.
The present enactments relating to
do not accomplish their
purpose. Accidents and runaways
grow in frequency. Horses do not, as