The Washington herald., 1908-08-17
Automobile NuiSances.

Edi-or TIE Waslliu--au Herald:
In the newspaper field Of Washington.
you are the pioneer champion Of the
public against automobile nuisances- In
editorially pointing out the wrongs Of
automobiIe practice. you safeguard street
Iocomotion. particularly Of pedestrians in
their right OF way.
on July p YOU took editorial lead in
automobile Nuissnoes." IN which you
so definitely epitouized and accurately
described one class OF automobile uuis-
ance that IN fits entirety Il has been nade
part OF protest 70 the Commissioners
Of the District against automobile un-
lawful practices al Fourteenth and Cliff
ton streets On August 10 you followed
v-ith The Modest Scorcher."- defending
pedestrians and effectively ridiculing the
attitude OF a weIl-known automobile
publication claiming automobile right
Of precedence while denying % pedes-
trians their tirne-houored right OF way
On August Il. in Making Motorists Be
have" IN your specifying cancellation Of
license as a remedy for automobile
wrongs. you hft the nail squarely on the
head You clearly showed the value OF
cancellation Of license over fine as a pun
tive measure Cancellation Of license IS
better than imprisonment. because now
adays a prisoner Oftentirnes comes forth
I a martyr and hero in the eyes Of the
many who lack sense and worship money.
Automobiles Of themselves are harm
/ less Automobile nuisanCes are Of the
making Of automobile engineers prinar-
I ily. OF automobile owners. secoudarily.
and thirdly. Of the laxity OF the officers
/ OF the law Automobile use IS so general
/ and their wrongful practice so extensive
( that they are a public nuisance and dan
ger And their use VIII many fold In
! crease In time automobiles viii be so
numerous that our streets win swarm
with them and pedestrians, with present
| practices prevailing. VIII simply have 70
stand by and look at the automobile pro-
| Cession- II is SO at times now Every
| day the press records many killed and
| crippled BY automobiles. Il IS perhaps
I true that automobiles XII and cripple
I more than railroads. and railroads carry
/ right Of way Naturally. we look for 6
/ remedy. It is IN the hands Of The motor
| lists Il Is the reformation OF the reck-
/ less chauffeur and owner. Self-reforma-
/ ti0n is best. Reformation must be. The
/ reckless attitude Of the motorist with
/ contempt Of human life, disregarding
/ law and order, reacts against all who use
/ automobiles. Automobile engineers and
I
itv 70 the public II they DO not one OF
two things viii be-either automobile
| speed must be safe and surservient &c
I law and pedestrians right Of way OF
/ automobiles will be denied the use Of the
! streets. Reform the notOrfst. both Chauf-
/ feur and owner The press IS TIE prac-
1 teal agent for his reformation tt car
bring him to a moral sense Of response
bility by putting him in the light Of pub
| Mcfty. He Is naturally a coward, and
l likes not exposure. He is as shame-faCeC
as auv other in moral turpitude
The Washington Herald IS the first tC
| essay the role Of correcting automobile
| nuisances. and to date is sinEle-handed
If motorists hesrken 20 the voice Of ths
/ press IL VIII be a common sense act
A word is sufficient unto the wise Thai
| IS biblical and as true as the Gospel
There is one class Of automobile nuis-
| ances which, more than any other. per.
haps. Inconvenience and wrongs pedes
TRANS. especially women Il Is the prac
tice OF the square-away honkinE, fast
/ approaching automobile, causing fear ant
| uncertainty IN people in crossing streets
| with loss Of time IN standing a Ions
/ while awaiting the passage OF the ma
chine often closely followed by anothe1
in like disregard Of the rights and 20 tbs
hindrance of the many A carriage viii
fast-trotting horses would not deter pc
destrians-even a runaway would not re
ceive the notice OF some-but the auto
mobile seems a risk TO all. and the fast
running one is a nuisance There is n,
necessity for the square-away honk. un
less in an uncomfortable runaway ma
chine. The machine should be kept II
hand and a quarter-scuare-away hOnk 8
an ample safety distance signal. Pedes
trians have the right Of way, which mus
not be ignored by motorists. whether OF
business bent or on pleasure, fun-makini
outing. Automobiles should be in ham
even in ten-foot space. Pedestrians hav
the right of way Let ali who read re
member that pedestrians have the righ
Of way. ANDREW JORDAN GREEN.
August 8, laS