Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-20
PARSON FIGHTS ROAD HOGS
Rev. George M. Royce Calls Autos
Great Modern Menace.
CLASS FEELING UPHELD BY THEM
New Crusader Makes Appearance in
England and starts Magazine
Against Motor Car
Given support.

I've uUUoEN |
LONDON, Dec. 19.-(special)-A new
crusader has made his first appearance
In England. He is a well-known Aneri-
can citizen. whose mother is a grand
niece OF President Monroe, at present
working as a parson In the North Lon
don parish, said to be the resort of the
most select body Of thieves and burglars
In the world. The Rev. George Monroe
Royce differs from most previous cru
saders in that he Is leading an attack
OF the many against the few-of the nine
hundred and ninety-nine against the one,
III we accept the estimate of Frederick
Harrison, the posltivist philosopher, who
Is in full sympathy with Royce's cru
sade. The American parson, I'm fact, as
editor Of the Non-Motorist, whose first
number is soon to be issued, stands forth
as the champion in his country Of all
who do not possess motor cars against
the common enemy of man and beast"
and In particular, the road hog.
Increases Glass Prejudice.
1 found Mr.. Royce at st. Mary's vicar
age, HoXton, brlmful of enthusiasm for
his cause and confident in the future of
the Non-Motorist, which will commence
life as a monthly magazine, but hopes
to become a weekly if IL attracts public
interest. The editor has been much en-
couraged by the promises of support
from the Highways Protection league, of
which the leading spirit Is Lord
Wiloughby de Broke, who has declared
that nothing sets the poor against the
rich so much as motoring" and has witt
ten that he will do everything IN his
power to support the Non-Motorist from
the Road union. which was formed ex-
pressly to combat the motor car, under
the guidance of DIR. Shadwell, the we'll
known Times writer and author OF the
book on Industrial America" and from
Lord Halsbury, ex-lord chancellor of
England, whose words, I'VE are living
In an actual reign of terror" appear in
the place of honor on the cover of the
Non-Motorist
Here is Lord Halsbury's letter to me
when 1 wrote asking him IL l might use
the sentence as our motto" said Mr..
Royce. 1t reads:
Dear. Sir: You are heartily welcome
to make use of any words that l have
spoken urbi ct orb, and | hope your
publication will tend to abate a very
H~ALSBURY.
Plans Public Demonstration.
w want to have a public demonstration
this winter continued Mr.. Royce, with
Lord Halsbury in the chair, and supported
by the Highway Protection league and the
Road union, which are I'm cordial co-opera-
tion with one another. DR.. Shadwell has
written TO me that the two societies will
further cooperate to support my venture.
The Road union, you know, this year pro-
NOTED a memorial to the prime minister,
which was signed by more than 21O district
councils in England. calling attention to
the intolerable state of things produced by
the increasing number, size, weight and
speed of motor vehicles. Why, according to
Lord Montague of Beaulieu, there are g, 1000
automobiles on the roads In this country.
At the present rate of increase we shall
soon have 100000. and what shall we see
then? Already 60 per cent OF the upkeep
OF the road goes to repairing the damage
done by motor cars, especially by those
chains which they have round their wheels.
"The abuse In England is worse than in
other lands, owing to the small size of the
country. The county of Kent is already
ruined by the cars, and when you have
tho o 5000 It will be the same all over. |
am speaking OF what l know by personal
experience, for l have Travelled for five
years up and down England. taking min
~isterial duties here and there.
Perhaps the name 'Non-Motorist' may
not strike you as being so appropriate as
Anti-Motorist,' for instance. But we make
our appeal TO everyone who does not own
or ride a motor car. Stlll, we are frankly
hostile to the automobile. The position Is
this: The motor car is the attacking power.
We ordinary people are living in a perpet-
ual condition OF fear and danger as great.
II not greater. than an actual state of war.
The motorists themselves invite the use OF
L. -VA-l ...- ~
to meet the legal checks on excessive speed,
and for what are scouts used except as pre-
cautions against an enemy? The motorist
Is a foe. deliberately setting at defiance
the laws OF his country-an outlaw. There
fore the war against him must he unre-
lenting. We must carry It on without
quarter and exterminate the car, whose ex-
%istence threatens our lives. health and prop
erty."
Auto Modern Outrage.
Mr.. Royce waxed warmer. and he moved
restlessly about his small study in the
Hoxton vicarage, speaking rapidly and in
cisively. why. the motorists must be
dreaming II they think they can monopo-
lie the roads,. bringing death to men,
women and children-especially children
and spelling the whole countryside. Tho
automobile is the greatest outrage upon
civilization within the memory OF man. Let
ters have appeared in the press from all
classes of people. presenting the outrage
In all its phases. II is simply amazing. ar
ter reading those letters, TO think that we
have put up so long with the common
enemy of man and beast las the car has
so well been called which disflgures the
town. defaces the country. menaces all
other modes of motion. imperils life and
limb. and is everywhere and under all
conditions n dread and danger to society. -
And have you never ridden IN an au-
tomobiIe or n motor-omnibus. yourself.