Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1911-12-22


mobile Association, which numbers
around $50.
Accidents are incI easing according
to the figures given out, and while they
may not be increasing in the same ratio
as the machines themselves, there is
none the less a serious menace in the
fact that the limited number of in
dividuals involved are of the essentially
reckless or joy-rider type.
at is strange but nevertheless true
fact that the standard of care demand
ed on the part of the pedestrian is very
high in comparison to that of the driver
of an automobile. When the driver of
car has blown his horn in warning of
approach, it is assumed that the road
should be cleared and that any lapse as
to care taken must necessarily fall upon
the pedestrian. This is an attitude that
needs immediate correction.
''Let me illustrate how the situation
stands at the present moment, when a
person comes to railroad crossing he
is careless and death results, big cor
poration is taken to task, the State be-
comes active and we now have millions
being spent in the elimination of grade
crossings all over the State.
81 ask you seriously, are not those
cross-walks the grade crossings of road
locomotives? And yet the superlative
degree of care must be shown by a
pedestrian in every instance before
lack of care becomes at all plain on the
part of the driver of the road locomo-
tive"
Mr.. Pillsbury pointed out the need of
a more rigid enforcement of the Jail
penalty, saying:
eve are here to fight and fight hard.
Moral suasion has been tried by other
organizations and has failed. 1t is now
time to do something and do it effect
lively. Imprisonment for these obvious
cases of recklessness and joy riding will
put an end to this sort of work quicker
than anything else.
Excessive speed under the given
conditions is the cause of SO out of every
100 accidents that occur these days, de-
spite the denial of the autoists and the
authorities. Every automobile should
be run at such a speed that an accident
cannot occur. That speed will vary, of
course, with the conditions and place of
driving.
1.-The fact that more severe punish
ment has not been melted out where
many would have normally expected it
places the responsibility in many cases
upon the judge himself"
The beginning of the end of the muir
dering and injuring of thousands of vic
Tins, many of them children, all of them
using the walks and highways absolutely
essential to the duties of their lives, and
built by the money of all, for the use of
all, and should never be occupied or used
by any privileged class, at the safety or
jeopardy of the rights of others, has
come
The automobile itself, rightly gov
erned, may become vehicle of value,
but the sacrifice of the peoples high
ways for the pleasure or emolument of
comparatively few who ought to know
better, will have to stop.
All such use of the highways or cross
ings, which are made for the use of and
belong to the whole people, is crime
that we think most of those who have
thoughtlessly been lead into, will of
their own accord abandon, remember
ing the rights of others, and remember
ing the commandment thou shalt not
kill, or that other do unto others as
you would have them do by you. We re-
fer here to the fundamental principles of
existence, which it is always best for
all to obey, because we have wondered
again and again to see those who have
professed belief in the laws of God. de-
liberately, in this matter, throw them
to the winds, and for their pleasure do
that which cannot be done without
both directly interfering with the pleas
ure and rights of their neighbors, which
is bad enough; but are also sure very
occasionally to result in their death or
very serious injury.
We can assure our brethren at the
Hub, that there are hundreds of thous-
ands, yes millions of the citizens of this
country, who sympathize with their
efforts, and when necessary will be
found ready to assist
We recognize that the league en-
braces numerous stalwart names of
New England's great City, that has
always been at the front at the cry of
danger, and never wavers until the
danger is over.
And we notice this clause, which is
absolutely sound, in their platform