Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-01-24
Motors and Motorists.

Our readers know that this paper has
not taken position of hostility to the
automobile, or to Automobiles, as a
body, though it has not hestated to
speak its mind freely regarding the So
called "road-hog," a specimen of reck-
less driving autoists for whom the sta
tutes of neither God or man seem to have
any terrors.
The Boston Herald very pointedly re-
marks:
THE report of the Safe Roads Auto
mobile Association doubly justifies the
existence of the organization. The kill
ing of 40 people and the serious injury of
AGA Others on the highways of the State,
within six months, is terrible toll to de-
mand of the community. Revocation of
licenses is not sufficient penalty to
prevent indulgence in overspeeding.
The exercise of the power of the civil
and criminal courts to the limit needs to
be invoked to impress upon reckless
drivers their responsibility to the law
and due regard for the rights of others
on the highways"
Commenting on this report the Boston
Journal ironically remarks:
THE report on the number of persons
killed and injured by automobiles in
Massachusetts last year has prompted the
suggestion that chauffeurs should make
more liberal allowances for the stupidity
of pedestrians. Which reminds us of
the proposition made by Partisan pa
per a few years ago, that people accus-
toned to walk should carry certificates
of sanity to offset the common claim of
the cabman that his victim was crazy
and deliberately threw himself in front
of the horse.
1--WE think the automobilists who take
this view-that pedestrians are a clod-
pated lot who barely know enough to
get in out Of the welfare a bit impa-
tient. The walking public will mend its
ways in time. There is still an old
| fashioned blue law on the books giving
pedestrians the right of way but it is
not 80 much this obsolescent statute as
the antique habit of acting like pro-
prietor that bothers the pedestrian and
make him seem 30 scattered Drained, 30
careless of the power and progress repre-
sented by the fur-swathed folks in the
honking automobile. The fact that the
great majority of people walk warrants
the prediction that it will take some time
to remove the evils of pedestrianism.
We suppose some stubborn dolts will al
ways walk"
Here is another phase of the subject
worthy of notice.
Our esteemed contemporary the Amer
lean Sportsman, says:
at is reported that an attempt will be
made at the 1908 session of the Ohio
Legislature to pass law which out-does
every other bill ever up for passage in
favoring the owner and manufacturer of
the automobile. 1t proposes to regulate
in way the speed of automobiles. One
section provides that mo city, township
or village shall have power to make any
ordinance, bylaw or resolution respect
ing the speed of motor vehicles, and no
ordinance, bylaws or resolution hereto
fore or hereafter made by any city,
township or village in respect to motor
vehicles shall have any force or effect"
1t seems incredible that such steps as
this would be taken by body of intelli-
gent men, and still we must assume that
If such move is being made in Ohio,
1t is backed by men of substance and
standing, else it would be laughed out of
court.
Automobiles have been altogether too
free in expressing by action if not by
| speech, their contempt of public opinion,
but this public opinion is very danger.
GUS thing to fool with, and if this slum-
bering giant is awakened from his torpor
ne Is liable to make things mighty un-
pleasant for all autoists, good, bad and
Indifferent, This is democratic coun.
try, and votes count, and the ballot. box
influence of the autoIsts, compared with
the people, as whole, is very insignifi-
cant. From the murmurings and NUT
terings that are being heard on all sides.
it should be plain to the intelligent class
of automobi lists, that unless "a halt is
called upon the reckless drivers they are
all in imminent danger of being without
highway upon which to drive their
machines, except such as may be pro-
yided by private capital.
Horse Breeder.