The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-08-16
way. One Of these writes us this

letter:
Salt Lako City. Aug. 10, 1906.
Editor Tribunc:-Will you kindly grant mo
space in your paper 10 reply 90 an article
appearing in Tho Tribun's columns. August
II, in regard TO tho chauYeurs OF this city.
II may not be generally known by the public
Tint the minority of automobiles, and espo-
cially tho larger and better ones. are cared
for and operated by a class OF mon employed
solely for that purpose, who take thia means
OF earning o livelihood ms much ms tho driver
OF team OF horses, and on their skill and
depends their retaining these positions.
Much has been Baid OF late in regard 10 rock.
less driving and chauffeurs' disregard of
speed ordinances II the public would con-
slider the other side OF tho question somo-
what VIC would not har much of the
howl against tho automobile and drivera and
thoir so-called lawlesaness. Iu no other city
in the country conditions the Samo for
tho chauGours as iu Salt Lake. Pedestrians
ramblc to and fro aoroSs tho streets, gather
in locks on the crossings. visiting or wait
ing for cars, apparently oblivious Of all pass.
ing vehicles. Teamsters drive hero and
there, across, up and down the street on
either side, whichever happens to bo most
convenient, bicycle riders scurTy around,
gazing anywhere except IN tho direction they
arc riding, yet the automobile drivers must
look out for all these md tho safoty OF his
passengers aa we'll.
Tho accidents which havo occurred nre TO
bo deplorcd, but they can not bo traced 10
oarelessness on the part OF any ono Of this
body OF chhufcurs Of this city. but to the
desire on tho part Of an inexperienced man
10 make m exhibition Of his lack Of skill.
THOMAS.
Now, there ls not the least objection
to tho chauffeurs of this city earning
their living by driving the machines
which they are employed to drive. Nor
is there the slightest objection to the
use Of the streets with automobiles;
that use is just as lawful and right as
any other use. But what is objected
to is the assumption that something
special or privileged attaches to the
use Of the streets with automobiles.
The writer of the letter above quoted
voices this idea of privileged use when
he sneers at teamsters "driving here
and there" apparently TO the annoy
ance OF the chaulfeurs, forgetting that
the teamsters have the right to drive
as their business calls them and as the
necessary. And when "Thomas COM
plains Of the bicycle riders he appa-
rently forgets that they are under the
same obligation to avoid or prevent ac-
cidents that the chauffeurs are; and
that each is too promo to forget the
D,,t
ramble to and fro across the streets
and "gather In focks on the cross
ings," it must be held in mind by
teamsters, chauffeurs and bicyclists
alike that these pedestrians have pre-
cisely as much right in the streets and
on the crosswalks as any chauffeur, BIZ
cyclist or teamster; they are not
obliged to give way for anybody, nor
to scuttle for protection or shelter for
anybody or for anybody's horn. The
equal and safe right Of every one to
the use Of the public streets Is fully
guaranteed by law. If one chooses to
exercise that use as pedestrian, it is
his privilege; but he is not entitled to
jostle any one out Of his way, to run
any one down, nor to kick any one else
out of his course. And likewise the
automobilist or the bicyclist has per-
feet right to use the streets, under the
same limitations; he must use them
without infringing on anybody else s
right Of use, and in way to prevent
accidents, not to promote them. No
one, bicyclist, chauffeur, tcamster,
horseback rider, or any one using any
form of transportation, has the right
to arrogate to himself any privilege in
the streets that interferes with every
body else's equal right. And that Is
the gist Of the whole matter. Whom
this is fully recognized and acted upon
there will be neither opposition nor
complaint.