Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-07-27
HELPS TO WIDEN LIFE OF Az
ERAeE WELL TO DO AMERI-
CAN FAMILY.
GETS UNTOLD THOUSANDS
AWAY FROM CITY INTO
COUNTRY.

popularity of the motor car il the
hoary old cry against progress. That
the world needed this improved sys-
tenn of quicker transportation and
was ready for It has been proved by
the immediate and well nigh uniVer-
sal response to and approval OF It.
Human ingenuity has always APP
piled itself to invention that would
save time, expedite progress, tighten
human labor and contribute alike TO
human happiness and usefulness. AS
the telephone by its virtual annihiia-
ton of time end distance has In
many substantial respects doubled
the hours Of every day for the pos
sibilities of practical achievement, 10
saw nothing of its gifts in contribu-
ton TO human comfort, so mas the
automobile greatly increased the pos
sible and even the certain chances
for every man who can employ this
great new agency nearly to double
in very many instances his day
profit, and for cities and communi-
ties to make progress never before
possible.
The automobile has helped CON
cretely to solve the problem of con
gestion in cities and to make feast
BILE better and cheaper residences in
the country In the serious menace
of the last few years of the surpris-
ing and undesirable growth Of city
population over country population
the automobile is greatly helping to
settle most important question.
Far from being against the public
welfare, It has in every respect in
vigorated and insured public pros
perity. II has added new hours OF
opportunity to every business mans
day. contributed TO the enjoyment
and happiness Of his family and by
the creation OF great new industry
furnished fresh employment to hun
dreds of thousands of workingmen
and many thousands of business men.
Instead of encouraging extravaganza
among those who are not wealthy,
II has oftener taught those who had
not the money to buy a machine TO
economic and to save to that end.
We hear no outcry from the illus
trious antagonists of the motor car
directed against the expenditure OF
hundreds of millions of dollars annu-
ally for unnecessary clothes, for to-
bacco, for intoxicating liquors aud
for other human habits. II Is obvi
Gus that here there is much room
for the exercise of relative economy
Why should rich critics deny to
those who are not rich the privilege
OF gaining the means by which they,
too, may be able, by comparative
economy at the most. to enjoy this
most remarkable invention for botn
human ned and human comfort? The
popular faith in the stories OF so
many homes being mortgaged % buy
automobiles rests most largely, IL
not entirely, on false assumption
an assumption which has doubtless
been created and fostered In large
measure by banking and deposit
companies, which naturally believe
that which is kept on deposit, either
without interest or at rate very
low.
This is not an intelligent time to
challenge or sneer at the thrift or
wisdom of the American family. ana
especially not time in this era OF
general prosperity to impugn the
sense of a large number OF typica,
American families who have found
in the automobile a chance to widen
and simplify their lives and Increase
their daily pleasure.
The world moves on Human soet.
ETY. moves with It, And one of the
finer and saner American ambitions
Is to stimulate each family in the
land to procure for itself a fuller.
higher, more enjoyable and at the
same time more useful life. One
Just criticism Of our people as a
whole has been that the average
family does not aspire to and obtain
for itself an existence holding more
OF rational and healthfuI Measure
Ihat motor car can add greatly
70 the happiness and definitely widen
une lie of any family able 10 INV
one nobody acquainted with ,ho
stimulation and diversion Of the ROAD
will deny
So with the automobile industry
risen TO fifth in rank In the line OF
American commerce, ana paying
dreds OF millions of dollars Luz =,
0,afmfa eture of maeh@ - .p nv
last analysis niret9 ner cent Of mis-
going 70 ths nay of labor. Why
should college and railroad presidents
aAd bsnkcrs and other self-eonsti
tated and perhaps not too wen in.
formed critics be unhappy over the
inevitable actisn of many thousands
of American families in finding
,h"ough his invention a legitimate
opening for larger living?
Modern civilization differs IRON
thar of former periods chi, iy by
reason Of swifter travel and con,
munica1ion. Those have changed his
tory and made the character alike
OF nations and Of individuals radio,
ally distinct from what they would
otherwise have been.
From prehistoric times the idea Of
eliminating the horse and the don,