The Detroit times., 1911-06-10
PEOPLE WHO WALK
FIRST TO Be
CONSIDERED
~. l.. HUDSON
Their Safety and Comfort Of Much
More Importance Than Little
Inconvenience To Motorists,
Declares Merchant.
Canned Kicks on Auto Ordinance
Come From D. A. D. A., But There
Are No Coroner's Calls.

Members of the common council,
from the expressions heard around
the city hall, do not appear to be
greatly impressed with the walls that
have gone up from portion Of the
motor car driving public against the
new vehicle ordinance, and against
Section 20 In particular.
The aldermen ave not lost sight
OF the fact that the people who walk
and who are obliged to depend on
street cars or horses and bug6ies Tor
their transportation are overwhelm-
ingly in the majority. and they are
disposed TO go slowly In the matter
or amending an ordinance which, In
the short time IL has been In effect,
has demonstrated Its absolute success
as a safety measure.
In the two weeks that elapsed since
the ordinance became law not a
serious automobile accident has oc-
CURED In the streets. There have
been two deaths as result of injur.
les received from automobiles, but in
each instance, the accident occurred
before the ordinance became effective
The ordinance Is making all the
drivers more careful, and they no
longer shoot by standing street cars,
which are discharging or taking on
passengers, with the reckless aban-
don Of former days. They realize that
any citizen can make a complaint
against them for failing to stop, and,
while they do not always bring their
machines to a complete standstiH,
they slow up almost invariably,
checking the motors down to sped
where the car can be stopped &itEln
half its length II need be.
IL is also noticeable that many au-
toists have deserted Woodward-avc
for John R., Cass and Second-sts.,
during the busy hours and are making
better time than formerly by keep
ing away from the street cars
IL is a rather signi scatnt fact that
the letters OF protest that have been
submitted to the council, through the
city clerks office, are all alike, With
but very few exceptions. a, printed
form has been used, showing that the
letters come from a common source,
presumably the Detroit Automobile
Dealers association. There are about
1000 Of these in ALL but II looks as
though lot OF good postage were
being wasted.
The autoists will back up their let
ters by appearing in person before
tire ordinance committee next Mon
day morning, but .he rlan who walks
will also have representation and his
Interest," will Ic well-looked after be-
fore the comm.t.ce
]. l.. Hudson himself heavily iE-
terested In the oi tomobllU industry
and who chGmpioncG the I.'ttlereld
provisit Of tn. ordinance. requiring
autoists to stop for street cars, before
the committee. previous TO the pass
age Of The measure, liz still firr1 in tho
belief that this clause should remain
unchanged.
Il think that the people who walk
and the people who ride In street
cars should be considered In prefer
ence to the automobile owners and
drivers" said Mr.. Hudson, Saturday.
THAT provision compelling motorists
to stop on approaching standing street
cars Is wise one and should not
only be left In the ordinance but al
SO enforced to the letter. Some or
the motorists think IL Is a hardship,
but II Is not nearly as bad as they
hardship we, who drive automobiles,
ought to consider those who do not.
Their safety and comfort are of first
importance. l haven't heard anyone
talk against the ordinance except
those affected by this provision. SO
I take II that 1t must meet the ap-
proval of the majority OF the peo-
pie"
William LaMeasure, of LaMeasure
Bros laundry, declares himself en-
tirely satisfied with the ordinance.
The firm operates two automobiles.
and the drivers are instructed to obey