Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-15
AUT0M0BlLISTS JEALOUS OF
PRESENT CONDITIONS
Court Action Declaring Speed Law
Void Rouses Motorists to Take
Action Against Those Heed
less Of Public Safety
ny ED MORIARTY


been under constant fear of arrest for
a supposed violation Of the law. The
chug of a motorcycle to the rear of an
auto was sufficient to give n driver
heart palpitation in expectancy of be-
ing forced to accompany ofiicious pa
tromen to the police station. Count
less Instances have gone on record
where motorists were arrested without
having violated any law.
In view of the fact that the speed
ordinance has now become a thing Of
the past so far as Los Angeles Is con-
Cerned it is to be expected that some
outsiders may jump to the conclusion
that every automobile owner Will i'm
mediately drive in reckless fashion over
local thoroughfares. on the contrary,
quite the opposite should be anticipated.
AS a body Los Angeles automobiles
are careful drivers and though Rcci-
dents may happen, the fault cannot al
ways be justly attributed to the auto
ist. Plainly speaking, it is now up to
local enthusiasts to prove that unjust
conditions have hitherto hoVered about
the sport. Should the number of ac-
cidentS be not increased or perhaps les
sened the public must necessarily ar
rive at the conclusion that an uncalled
for penalty has hinged about automo'
billing in Los Angeles
Common Sense Should Govern
Common sense and cool judgment
should be guiding stars of the autoist.
Three miles an hour may at times be
criminal and then again n gait of fifty
miles could not be justly criticised.
Long since, horse owners established
rules and courtesies whereby accidents
were largely averted by complete un-
derstanding as to the rate of speed that
Ir1ioht hp t11nint a iDpd 11ndaT N1rinI1g pir-
cumstances The time is bound to ar
rive-if it has not already done So
when the autoist will be regarded in
the same light as that which has sur
rounded deVotees of the horse for count
less ages and the question of speed will
find its own balance S the machine
further becomes a necessary part of
domestic life.
No punishment should be too severe
for the 'scorcher' who drives his ma
chine at a high rate of speed under cir
cumstances that may result in danger
to human life. Such is probably the
sentiment of every motoriSt in Los An
geles. A knowledge, however, that an
exhilarating gait over an open highway
will not result in arrest and a probable
fine will do much toward bringing the
auton1obilist to a sense of the RESPONSE
bility which rests upon him in the
Elation over the recent action of
Judge James does not arise from a
sense of victory that will send thou
sands of machines whirling wildly
through Los Angeles Streets but from
a sense of justice gained.
An interesting comparison as to auto
mobile accidents would be entailed,
providing a record is kept during the
coming year and then published with
lot inc tn nf
recent court action.
Malicious offenders Hray now expect
to receive every attention that the auto
mobile public can accord them in the
way of calling police attention to their
delinquencies.
The Los Angeles Automobile Dealers
association bids fair to become
powerful organiza tion and ma
turally the absence of motor
sales. With the associa ton acting in
an effort to discourage scorching, fa-
talitieS should reach a minimum in SO
far as drivers themselves are to be
CenSured.
Automobile touring is at fever heat
just now and hundreds of cars are
speeding over Southern California roads
and along the highways which border
the Pacific between Los Angeles and
to be in the best of condition as a rule
and touring will be the ideal out-of-
door pleasure during the coming months
of warm weather.
James c. Kays and son Walter, ac-
companied by Will White and Henry
Hack, returned Sunday from run to
Santa Barbara. But ten minutes were
spent at the tourist town and the trip
resulted in perfect score for the big
Rambler machine.
Thomas Moffit of Santa Rialto passed
through Los Angeles Friday on a short
tour of Southern California in his
Rambler.
William Ruess, with an Odsmobile.
drove Joe Amestoy- Dan Larronde and
Mike Amestoy to the Amestoy ranch at
Encino last week on a dove destroying
tour which resulted in each motorist
securing the limit
Lee Jones is a late arrival from San
Francisco, having made the trip south
in his Oldsmobile.
G. Thorpe received a Rambler tour
ing machine yesterday and with a COM
plete equipment will start along the
coast next week.
A. Hammond of Riverside left on
Wednesday in his 25-horse power
Rambler for a long trip that will in
clude the Yosemite and a trial at the
Sierra Nevada grades.
Mr.. White and f. *. Taylor, who re-
turned from tour to Alameda last
week, report that the roads are in very
fair condition.
j. W. Wilcox of the Maxwell agency
left yesterday for the factory at larry
town, on the Hudson
The Maxwell agency reports that de-
posits have been placed ahead for two
carloads of machines.
The following Maxwell machines
have been sold during the past week: :
Touring car, j. A. Drihil of Oxnard; !;
tourabouts, c, j. Curtis of Los Angeles,
city water department, j. E. Liyiesy of
Santa Ana and E. r.. Braley of Pasa-
dena.
j. f.. McNaughton of the Dolson
agency is among the number who are
worrying over delayed shipments, and
although one assignment came to his
rescue last week several overdue car
loads are being eagerly anticipated.