Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-11
AUTO ANIMOS|TY
IS DISAPPEARING c
PUBLIC IS DRAWN TO THE
H0RSELESS MACHINE
President Of Chicago Automobile Club
Tells Of the Friendly Disposition
Which Now Exlsts-Drivers
Are More Careful

A few years ago animosty to auto
OWNERS was more or less rampant
among those who would not allow
themselves to open their hearts to the
innovation, and 1t has only been recent
Iy that the mobile enthusiasts have
found a friendly feeling existing from
those who are not participants in the
whlrl and dash which Is characteristic
Of the sport.
NO sign Of the times In reference to
automobillng, according to prominent
automobilistsg is more interesting than
the decrease OF hostility on the part
of the general public. 1t is declared
that the average man on the sidewalk
is more friendly now than ever before
to the man at the steering wheel, and
that the better understanding is due
largely to the fact that the public has
awakened to the realization that "sane"
automobilsts constitute 80 per cent of
the auto owners of the country and
that the l per cent of insane" auto
mobilsts are Just as obnoxious to their
brethren of the motor car as to Pc
destrians.
Conservative autumobilists every
where have Joined in determined eff
fort for months to stamp out reckless
and careless driving, and the fruits
of their efforts is seen in the result
ant friendliness of the community as a
whole.
There is no man more anxious to
stop crazy driving than the average
automobile owner himself" declared
John Farson, president of the Chicago
Automobile club last Saturday, in dis
cussing this topic.
"I think there is no question that
the public is coming to understand that
the great bulk of automobilsts is desir-
Gus in the extreme of stopping insane
automobiling, and there is no doubt
that the public is today much more
friendly to the sport of automobiling
than at any time in the past. The au-
tomobilist and the automobile are get
ting to be better understood. With the
advent of cheaper machines of good
workmanship has come feeling also
that the motor car is not merely the
vehicle of the rich, but that the man
of moderate means, the farmer, the
man on salary, can have his automo-
bile as well as the millionaire.
"The fight that has been waged in
Chicago and other cities by the sane,
conservative automobilists against
reckless driving has done the sport
much good. The public feels a good
deal more sympathy with automobile
ing when it understands, as it is doing
now in large degree, that automobile
lists join pedestrians in decrying wild
driving. The attitude of the public is
shown by the much better treatment
accorded automobiles now than
formerly, and this is noticed in tour
ing about the country, as well as in
city streets.
'Not so long ago the attitude of the
public toward the automobilist was
very much like that of the dwellers
In certain rural English town to
q fra
Fave 'arf brick at 'im,' used to be
the cry in this English hamlet when
an outsider was seen approaching.
That same attitude Of here's an auto
mobilist-heave a brick at him used to
characterize the public in considerable
measure. But those days are gone in
most places now.
IF reckless driving on the part Of
the very small proportion of automo-
bilists indulging in it could be stamped
completely out it would be no time un-
til the public would regard the auto
mobile just exactly as it regards the
horse. That time will ultimately
come. Automobiling has thus far been
done lot of harm by irresponsible,
and in some cases almost degenerate,
sons of wealthy men, who, often under
the influence of liquor, and sometimes
sober, have no regard whatever for the
safety Of the public.
"They own cars of high power and
drive them with criminal recklessness.
One of these young fellows can make
more enemies for the automobile in one
tour of the city than all the conScien-
tious and considerate drivers can over
come in months. In the past the public,
unfortunately, has judged autoists as
a class by the worst of them.
"Now, however, the truth of the sit
se lr tfNor 4
The public also has apparently be-
lieved that automobile drivers as
whole approve the actions of the reck-
less few. 1t would be as reasonable
to suppose that all bankers approve
the act of the bank president that alb
seconds with the banks funds. The
conscientious majority is doing all 1t
can with the reckless minority and 1t
will not be long before the last ves-
tige of popular clamor against the au-
tomobile will have died out entirely"