Connecticut western news., 1907-08-29
PUBLIC SENTIMENT AROUSED

The appalling increase of late in the number of automobile accidents, caused in the majority of cases by reckless running, has inspired articles from newspaper writers in all sections of the country, condemning this recklessness and scathingly. arraigning those who participate in it. Nearly every article referes to the foolhardy attempt which 0. J. Root made to beat a train over 8 crossing near Ashley Falls, the fatal re suits of which the reader is familiar with.
 The speed mania with which the autoists have become afflicted IS a mysterious something which is beyond human comprehension. In multitude of cases all thoughts of the preservation of self or of others seem to be made sub- servient to the mad desire to tear across the country, up hill. down hill, on the level around sharp corners and through narrow .defles, at greater speed than IS maintained by the average passenger train.
 And even in view of the long list of fatalities which have occurred this year the automobile owners who indulge ID this death defying practice is constantly increasing in number ard it does not ap, pear that any effort has been made by the authorities in northwestern Litch- field county to compel men of this crazy, daredevil type, to cease the dangerous habit or practice, call it what you will.
 The time has come when the fact that a horse is fearless of the machines does not insure safety to the man and his family who start on a pleasure drive. Autos come rapidly around curves with out sounding warning notes with the horns or other equipment on each machine, they dash along narrow roads and crowd teams into ditches or down banks, in fact it may be said that they monopolize the highways to the exclu- sion of many people who feel that they endanger their lives whenever they ven- ture out with their teams.
 That the newspapers should, in behalf of the public, arise in indignation be- cause of this dangerous, unlawful, en- tirely uncalled for and inexcusable prac- tioe, is not surprising. The surprising part of it is that they have not done so before and it is to be hoped that the re- suit will be the arousing of public sen timent to that point where the authori- ties in every community will no longer dare to ignore the general feeling in the matter and will take steps to suppress this serious encroachment on the rights of individuals.
 What we have said does not apply to all men who run automobiles. There are some who operate the machines in a sensible, rational, safe, moderate and careful manner but unfortunately they appear to be in the minority in this sec- ton this season. These men do not ex- pect to be commended for being con- siderate and careful for the reason that they realize they are simply run ming the machines as they should be run. When they meet a horse that is afraid they decrease their speed, stop their machines or even alight and assist in getting the horse by, not so with the owners or drivers of some of the 40, 50 or 60 horse power touring cars that come bowling along at 40 miles per hour. If there is man who has ever seen one of %h fo11oxrro ct0 %O ran6nr we have yet to hear of him in this sec- sion.
 The Springfield Republican remarks as follows on the matter
 "How long is this criminal foolishness to be indulged by autoists and tolerated by the public? Great as may be the in dustrial or useful possibilities of the automobile we shall simply be forced to consider drastic measures for its sup. pression along the public highways ii this growing abuse of the privilege is not stopped There rests upon auto mobile associations and individual auto ists an increasing responsibility for the tolerable use of the new vehicle''
 The Republican is right. If reckless autoists persist in slaughtering and maiming humanity the public will arise in it's might and demand legislation that will insure protection to the driving public and will also demand vigorous enforcement of the laws.
 If you have taken careful note of tht few failures of large concerns during the past few weeks, you have noticed that in almost every instance the asset were much in excess of the liabilities and that the appointment of receiver was simply an act of self-protection ol the part of the companies until sucl time as they could obtain necessar. money. Calamity howlers are claiming that these failures have a sinister signif