The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-10-23

Of indictments for automobile killings.
They can hardly be said to be rated as
anything SO important as misdemean-
ors, No wonder, then, that they con-
tinue. Manslaughter by automobile is
today the safest Of all forms of crime
the term being not in the slightest
degree inappropriate where, as so often
happens, a deliberate Indifference to
putting Others in peril is accountable
for the fatality.
Foot Passengers Have Right.
Any observant individual is in DO
sition TO notice that the average driv-
er of an automobile is not accustomed
to pause in order to avoid running over
foot passengers on the street; AS a
matter of fact, at crossings, the foot
passenger has the right Of way; but
10 this the motorist pays no regard
Hc "honks' his horn and, if the uDfor-
tunate pedestrian does not get out of
the way, so much the worse for him.
Only the other day an old man in the
city Of Washington was run down and
killed in exactly this manner. He could
not move fast enough, and so he died.
Such things are constantly happen
ing.
Why should the motorist consider
that he always. and under all circum-
stances, has the right of way? 1t IS
because he possesses the force aieure
and nobody is In a position to dispute
with him. By no means let it be said
that majority of automobile drivers
are Indifferent TO the rights of others,
but certain it is that large percent
age Of them arc so, the trait being most
strlkingly exhibited by the individual
who, rs the representatives of a type
only too common, has come TO be
known as the ''road hog He cares
for nobody. If he makes an "acci,
dental' killing, his conscience does not
trouble him in the least. What busl-
ness had the idiot to be in the way'
If practicable, be runs for it., leaving
the victim to take his chances, aud
usually escapes.
Moved Down People.
Only few weeks ago, in the out.
skirts Of Manhattan borough New
York City,, couple Of men in tour.
ing car, accompanied by three or four
wor9cn. after dark in the evening, go
ing at great speed. ran through a group
of four men, knocking them down and
killing two. When u policeman, stand
ing nearby, tried TO halt them, they
kept right on. the women yelling back
with lecrs of dorisiou. OF course, they
got away, and were never caught or
punished. Drunk? Doubtless, YES. But
this is one Of the principal causes Of
automobiles for pleasure; they stop,
quite as matter of course. for drinks
The alcoholic refreshments they imbibc |
make them reckless. and, on their way
home, the feeling on board is that it |
matters pot whether school keeps or
not. But IT matters quite a good deal
to the lnckiess victims whom they run
over. This sort of thing is unques-
tionably accountable for a considerable |
percentage of the deaths from motor ac |
cideuts
Most remarkable il is however, TO oh !
serve how the sober and sane-miudnd |
everyday citizen is affected morally by |
the habit OF driving an automobile, His !
customary caution. In many instances, |
gives way TO rccklcssness altogether |
astonishing. Ordinarily most consider
grossly Indifferent to the |
rights OF his fellow beings. When his
attention is called to an obvious viola.
tiou Of such rights by himself. he
laughs, and looks upon IL us o Joke.
When ono is driving an antomobIc.
one is too busy with tho business of
getting lhero' to bother with eth I
ical obstacles.
Autoists Pay the Price.
We'll, he, pays the price himself. to |
n large extent. For every person struck |
and killed by motor ear, two automo.
biiists die. They perish in "A great va
noty Of ways-most of them through |
iIuprudcneo Of ono kind or another. !
One of these not uncommon is the prac..I
tice of crushing road crossings which |
arc more or less concealed from view. !
This saves much trouble. as well as
tme, which might be lost by slowing
up 10 see n wagon, carriage or |
another car is coming In majority of |
instances the other vehicle is not there. !
and there is SO much gained, But CIV.
cry now aud then 1t happens that the !
wagon or car arrives al Just the wrong
moment. Hnd a collision results, with a 1