The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-03
AUTO ACCIDENTS, NORTH AMI
 SOUTH,

SOUTH.
 Hardly a day passes that we do not find in the news items of the papers something about an automobile acci- dent in the North or East. Whether they are the result of carelessness. recklessness or ignorance the result is the same Every conceivable form of accident that could befall an inanimate object is experienced by these ma chimes. and rarely do we read of one which is not accompanied by the death or injury of kNman beings. Sometimes a person Is run down in the street or public highway and killed or badly hurt. Sometimes the occupants of the machine are the sufferers, but in all most every case there is more or less serious damage.
 This thing is getting to be so com mon in the North and East that we are never at all surprised when we open q newspaper and read of Another auto- mobile disaster" They are constantly occurring, but the significant feature of it all is that such happenings are exceedingly rare in any part of the South. In all the large cities these vehicles are becoming so common as to no longer be looked on as novelties. There are probably seventy-fiye in this city, while in the larger cities they are still more numerous, and in the small CT towns and villages they are finding their way They are driven along the streets and the public roads. They are managed by whites and blacks, by males and females, and sometimes we see them operated by those who are little more than children. For all this, anything like serious accident is ex- tremely rare, In fact, an accident of any kind is such an unusual occur renee as to excite surprise when heard of.
 There is never an effect without cause. and it would be interesting to investigate the reasons for this notable difference between North and South. At the risk of drawing down on us the anathemas of our brethren up North we make the claim that the difference is sectional In the North and East, especially among the very rich people of the large cities, there is a spirit of selfishness that creates an almost ut ter disregard of human life. The mill lionaires and millionairesses drive their machines at the highest rate of speed, regardless of human safety. If no one should be hurt, but those who are responsible for such conduct it would notsbe so bad, but unfortunately that is not the case, for these murderous speeders often run down innocent people of all ages and sexes who are unable to get out of the way. What is even more reprehensible is the fact that in most cases of this kind the occupants of the auto never make any stop to see what damage has been done, or to offer dSSlSldnCG, uub o"dy NiAS fleeing criminals they sometimes are.
 Such things are practically unknown in the South. and we are persuaded that it is owing to the temperament of the southern people. They lack that spirit of self-gratification that so largely pre- vails North of us, and they have more scrupulous regard for the safety and well being of others. A Southerner does not look on the qualification of his own wishes and desires as being superior to the rights and safety of others. and will not risk the destruc- tion of human life merely to gratify his own pleasure. That is not the way of southerners, and that, we contend. is the reason why auto accidents and willful enlargement of human life is almost unknown among us. In short. we lack that spirit of supreme selfish ness that takes no note of others.
 As to the remedy for the cities of the North and East that is yet to be dis covered, put we are pretty SuEo bHdk 1t will not be found in any regulations now in use. As long as the violation of the speed ordinances and regulations Is only punishable by moderate fine the evil will not be abated. There are men in New York and other large cities up there whom the fine usually assessed against speed maniacs is a matter of no consequences They could pay a fine every day and not be inconvenienced by it, or make any change in their reck- less autoing If few of them could be placed behind the bars for reckless speeding. or punished criminally for their disregard of human life 1t would have a salutary effect that cannot be gained by other methods. But what ever the remedy may be, we felicitate the people of the South that they have not learned to initiate their Northern fellow citizens in this respect, at least. ANOTHER s'DANIEL" COME TO JUDG-
 MENT.
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