The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-05-27
PUBLICITY GIVEN
TO SPEED TRAPS
Automobile Clubs Revolt
Against Unfairness of
Present System.
BY HARRY WARD.

II Is noteworthy that the usual spring
activity in speed traps and similar de
vices has finally led 10 the adoption Of
methods for giving the greatest possible
publicity 10 these aHnoyers of motorists.
Many prominent automobile clubs. as
well as individuals, are devOtinE time
TO the publication Of full information
about places where the speed laws and
other provisions are Endorsed with what
appears to be needless strictness. Nat
urally, this is annoying TO those re-
sponible for the setting OF traps. They
take the illogical ground that these
traps shOuld not be given publicity,
thereby leaving it 20 be inferred that
they would much rather have motorists
break the law than otherwise
What the average motorist objects
TO about these speed traps is that they
are almost invariably part Of a scheme
Of graft Coupled with this is the
knowledge that even when the graft
element is eliminated, and a community
undertakes TO prevent undue speeding
and the commission Of other offenses.
they still go TO extremes. Few motor
lists have any sympathy with the reck-
less driver who goes tearing along at
high speed. TO the danger OF other users
and punished summarily they would re-
5oice heartily. But the trouble is that
he Is the very man who escapes, simply
because he is harder TO catch than The
ordinary driver, and the workers OF
traps much prefer 10 devote their time
70 easier game. The resJlt is that the
guilty driver goes free, while every mo-
torist who drives considerably Is annoy
ed and deprived OF the pleasure OF his
ride without any compromising advan-
tages.
Miss Blanche Scott, who is driving an
Overland car from New York to San
Francisco, Is now we'll along on her
Is So far the trip has been uneventfui.
save for the enthusiastic receptions ac-
corded Miss Scott by motorists along
the route. She is taking the. long tour
by easy stages and is not trying to
make a record of speed or endurance.
Commenting on the success Of The
Times soCiablllty run, one Of the best
known dealers in the city said. The
average man who has the motor car
fever could not hello being convinced
ticipated in last Tuesdays sociabilitv
run. When he sees his friends driving
their own cars and winning prizes he
naturally argues that he can do the
same. Aside from the manifest pleas
urable features OF the sOCia bilitv run II
has an undoubted trade and advertis-
Ing value
The consistent performance OF the
Stearns car in the recent tWenty-four-
hour race is the talk OF the auto world, -
said c. Cassard Schroth. the Stearls
agent Owned by a private individual
and entered without any request for
assistance from the factory. this car
performed consistently from start 10
finish, and although il was a 1907 model
81 finished IN second place with a total
mileage OF LID miles"
A recent visitor 10 the Apperson plant
in kokOmo. Ind. was an European mo-
tor car expert Of note. He was shown
through the factory and made the com
naent that conditions ard methods in the
factory more nearly approached those
IN the leading factories in Europe than
any other factory he rad seen in this
country
The board Of governors Of the Auto
mobile club Of washington held 2
meeting last night, and after eIectfne
several new members. discussed al
length a number Of propositions Of vita
interest 70 the club President ". 8
Duvsl presided at the meeting.