The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-01
In Reply to Mr.. Copper.

To the Editor of The Journal.
Permit a few words in response to
the article by Mr.. E. J. Copper, pub
lished in Mondays paper; in which l
am spoken of as having forgotten my
self and written a letter for publica |
tion that is evidently unfair and utterly
biased, and as having made such refer
ence to the driver of the automobile
as would only add to his grief and
"utterly failing to realize that to such
man the shock must have been ter
rible.' In my former article I care
fully avoided calling Mr.. Blythin s
name, or saying whether or not | re-
garded him as guilty of any reckless
ness or blame. The article was not
written for the purpose of reaching
Mr.. Blythin at all-had it been, I
should have addressed it to him per-
sonally-but for the sole purpose of
uttering what I regarded a much-need-
ed word of warning. All reports of
Mr.. Blythin that have reached me from
those who know him best are ardent1y
in his favor. | have every reason to
believe that he is an excellent gentle
man, and l. have already expressed, in
public address and In personal comnu-
nication, my deepest sympathy for him
In this unhappy event. / can readily
understand, with Mr.. Copper, that his
state may be that Of even greater sor-
row, if possible, than that of Professor
Painter and family.
MY objection to having sympathy
manufactured for automobiles was
based solely upon the only newspaper
article that had appeared up to the
time when | dictated what was pub
: llshed in Til ournal. knew at
first hand that this was not a baby
girl OF years, but an intelligent, alert
: lOIyear-old girl: I also knew that she
r was not standing about popcorn
stand in the street, but was on the reg
ular crossing; that she did not belong
r to that unfortunate class who are left
to run the streets without parental care
\ but was at the moment of the accident
, IN the charge and company of care
), Iul and competent aunt and her maid
r and that no responsibility for the event
. could possibly be attached to them, o.
4 TO lack OF wit upon the part of tn.
f chlld. She has been for years a mem
: Der OF my congregation and an init
mate n trend OF my children, and he
death was a shock only second to tina
n OF losing one of my own children; s.
(, That, II anyone outside of her imme
e date family had right to speak. tina
privilege might be accorded her pastor
The automobile craze, if such phras
y may be used. is just now at its acme
II seven or eight years ago in this cit
n we had constant accidents by bicycle:
n for the simple reason that thousands O
is them were being used by people who re-
l. garded 1t sport rather than a neces
is slty, and racing was common. Now !
3 is matter of business to employ the1
It and accidents seldom occur. We are q
ID the sporting stage in automobiling. Opi
yesterday, while the services for Louis
r. PAINTER We're being conducted at til
ID church. bicyclist was run down only
block and hic rb ao1 -
v by an automobile. Last evening. dri,
I'd ing home from my church, passed j
st q very short distance five automobile
i'll tnree OF them were running within
ue close to the legal limit, two of the
Iar exceeded it. In our very love fl
MT. Blythin, and our anxiety for 9th,
I men who might be subject to kindre
zen should use his utmost endeavor
stop every abuse of automobile dri
ing.
If it be true, as Mr.. Copper suggest
r that car 8goine not to exceed s
o. miles, and probably four miles, /;
ur hour cannot be brought to an insta
nd stop, but will run down and destro
nd ana requires SO great distance
mt bring it under control, then automob
ey ing IS more dangerous than any Of
by have imagined. I had myself labor
RI under. the impression that an automobi
me was the most tractable of all maehin,
re- and at the rate suggested, could
to- brought instantly to a standstill. B
Of am not q chauffeur, and have depend
- entirely. in all statements made. up
IN the words Of eye-witnesses of the eve,
nd Professor Painter. before leaving I
it Ohio. expressed the deepest sympat
lal, for the unfortunate author of this eve
ed but said: IF Minneapolis automot
md lists do not take the subject Of dang
her to citizens from this event as wa
ex- ing ana cnange their methods, 1T wol
bile seem tnat my child mas persisted
iv- vain. Ny most ardent desire is tt
ing good should come out of this eve
.di- and the public profit by it,
not a5 Is. Riley