The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-10
THE AUTOMOBILISTS.
SECRETARY OF a. A. A. on A RE.
CRUITING MISSION.
Protests TO Spare Innocent sufferers Under
Speeding Rule-A suggestion TO Police
men Purchasers Want Tom
neaus Big Enough TO Include the Dog.

Secretary Sidney s. Gorham OF the
American Automobile Association left for
Philadelphia yesterday morning and last
night went on to Wilkesbarre to act as
referee for the hill climbing contest up
Mount Despair to-day. From Wilkesbarre
he will go to Chicago and will not return
to his New York office for several weeks.
He said yesterday that special eIorts would
be made from nov on 20 enroll unattached
automobilists. as President John Farson be-
lieves that individual motorists should be
brought into the national organization, which
view wa, Endorsed b MIR. Gorham. NO
8 ort or industry in the United States Ia so
menaced by hostile legislation. State and
city. as that Of automobiling. said Mr.. Cor
ham Individual motorists are powerless
to accomplish anything tow ard checking
the enactment Of oppressive State laws or
city ordinances. Practical results must be
sought along lines which are essential to the
enjoyment Of the sport, which is by organi-
2ation, Until the end Of time there will be
persons opposed to automobiles. 1t 10 the
same spirit that encourages al individual
to get the better OF a railroad II he can. New
trolley lines. even when projected In dis
tricts where they are bound to benefit the In
habitants, always meet With opposition, and
automobiles must expect the same treatment.
At the present time. however. motorists
80 III lo olNlI ~ W
to stand up for their rights and they are sure
Of getting some sort of u hearing. They do
not very often get what they are entitled
to or what they ask for. but II 10 the best that
can be done at present. The principle Of
organization should also be carried out in
the agitation for good roads. In some Of the
farming districts OF the Western States there
Is strong opposition against improving the
highways. The farmers have probably seen
sone bad case OF reckless driving by som
irresponsible tourist who was chasing across
country. killing a few chickens or frightening
the horse driven by some farmers wife on
her way TO the crossroads store. From then
on the farmers OF that locality are 'agin'
automobiles, This feeling is 40 intense
that in some districts the farmers have ac-
~knowledged that they knew the roads were
bad. but that II they were improved more
automobilists would tour the district, and
so they refuse 10 vote for highway improve
ment. preferring the poor roads to the pres
ence Of automobilists. This feeling will die
out In time or when the farmers begin
buying automobiles and joining the A. A. A..
but in the meanwhile automobilists must
organize to get their rights"
The furnishing OF a man for violation Of the
sped law on evidence that he travelled at the
rate of, say thirty miles an hour for a sixteenth
OF n Wlile, VI u low uIi GU var US, nus caused
frequent protest, yet Chief Of Police Conlin
OF Syracuse. Is reported to have had the
various blocks measured along the avenues
frequented by automobilists and on this basis
to have figured out a time schedule showing
what Ia the legal limit in which each block
may be traversed. 80 that policemen may
time cars anywhere they happen to meet them.
This is a sample of the Syracuse System:
West Genesee street-Froin the west aide Of
North Clinton street to the east side of On
ondaga Creek, 1,i47 feet: l minute "a SEQ
onds," The objection to basing a charge on
the performance over a small fraction OF a
mile Is that often n car spurts for q short dis.
lance through no reckless or Illegal intent
on tho part Of the driver. 10 that while
IL may not do more than fifteen miles in n
full hour, it may several times in the course of
the hour cover two or three hundred Yards al
a thirty mile clip, In order to avoid entangle-
ment, or because of various tram conditions.
or through not getting the brake working
quickly enough on a down grade. The pro-
tests have been made to spare the few inno-
cent sufferers under the rule. A member Of
the New York Motor Club suggests that police
,len charging excessive speeding over a
Mort measured stretch should be compelled
the effect that the culprit had been main
could see. II is conceded by the suggestor
that this would not wholly abate the objec-
ton. but that IL might help somewhat.
Some OF those who nave got their suburban
colts ges nearly paid for and are now butting
into the game with just about enough money