Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-25
DECISIVE STEPS
HAVE BEEN TAKEN
PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN AUTO
ASSOCIATION ACTIVE
Recommends Uniform Laws Regarding
Speed-Interest of Motor Clubs
Responsible for Growing Sem
tlment Favoring Cars

Decisive steps are being taken by the
American Automobile association In an
effort to stop the wholesale arrests
which daily occur throughout the coun-
try because Of alleged violations Of the
speed ordinances. n
President Gorham, the recently
elected head Of the organization, is de-
termined to arrive at some method of
putting an end to the humiliation and
inconvenience which constantly come
in the way Of auto drivers.
The occasional scorcher, responsible
for much of the sentiment against the
automobile, is scored and appeal is
made to the great majority of owners
that they do all in their power to coun-
teract the effect by using influence as
regards tendency toward reasonable
speed.
Los Angeles owners and dealers are a
unit in desire to comply with the
speed laws, but the harassment with
which they have met is anything but
encouraging,
A portion OF a circular issued by the
president and secretary Of the national
association follows:
Had 1t not been for the active in
terest of automobile clubs the antagon-
ism against motor vehicles would have
unquestionably resulted In legislation
of such character as to practically
prohibit their use. That the laws of
various states and the ordinances of
municipalities are no more unreason-
able than they are at present is due
almost entirely to the activity of organ
ization of automobilists.
1.-THE laws of most states as they
presently stand do not recognize num-
bers and licenses issued under the pro-
visions of the laws Of adjoining states,
and much confusion and embarraSs-
ment have resulted from this fact. The
enactment in all the states of the Union
where automobiles are in general use
of laws uniform in their general pro-
visions, and which by their terms will
provide for the recognition in one state
of numbers of licenses issued under the
laws of the other states of the Union.
will add much to the comfort and
pleasure of tourists.
"Today the arrest of an automobilist
for the violation of any provision Of a
law is regarded as evidence of dis
position on the part of automobilists
generally to disregard and defy the
law, and this without reference to the
character of the offense. To this fact
may be attributed much of the antag-
onism against the automobile on the
part of the unthinking public, and in
the present chaotic state of the laws
regulating the use of motor vehicles
compliance with the provisions of the
vast number OF practically irreconcil-
able statutes and ordinances is a physi-
cal impossibillty.
Fast driving must absolutely be dis
countenanced, but the inadvertent vio-
lation of the provisions of law re-
quiring numbers of a certain kind.
lamps Variously located, the sounding
of horns and offenses of a similar char
acter should not be visited with severe
punishment, as the confusion now eX-
listing by reason of the conflicting pro-
visions of the laws and ordinances Of
adjoining states and municipalities
make such violations unavoidable.
"The Importance OF uniform laws is
recognized by all, and the effect upon
public sentiment of the enactment of
such laws will be astonishing. To my
mind, from the point OF view of indi-
vidual automobilists, this is the most
important subject with which organiza-
tions will have to deal, and committee
consisting OF one member of each club
in the state association and of indi-
vidual members representing every
community of the state will be APP
pointed.
THE influence which the various
ciupS ana state ASSOCIATIONS ana the A.
A. A. will be capable of exertlng in
favor of good roads should not be
underestlmated. The enactment by
congress OF a law providing for ma
tional aid, and the enactment by the
legislatures OF the various states OF laws
providing for state aid in the building
of good roads is ofVital Importance, not
only to autonlobilists but to every
American citizen"