The Washington times., 1912-07-21
MOTOR FEDERATION
TO STOP PRACTICE
OF TANK RIDING
Machines Built for One to Be
Restricted to Single
Rider.
BY HARRY WARD.

The practice commonly known as
tank riding"-a method by which
some motorcyclists carry two passen-
gers on a motorcycle built for only one
passenger-is going to be discouraged
and stamped out, IL possible. by the
Federation Of American Motorcyclists
now in session ct Columbus, Ohio.
g. II. Hamilton. president of the F.
A. M. has during the past year, taken
decided stand against speeding, the
open munler and tank riding" but
with the increasing number of riders
and the return OF the summer season,
he has again turned his attention to
the tank riders.
IF motorcycle is built for two
passengers" says President Hamilton,
then 1t is perfectly proper for two
passengers to ride Ii. There are two
| every provision for the comfort Of both
passengers. No one can object to this
| any more than they could object to
| senger automobile.
| But. II motorcycle Is built only
for one passenger, by all means II
should carry but one.
1t is dangerous both 10 the riders
and the pub.ic--and whers the second
Passenger is a woman, IL Is often i'm
| mOdest-wheu two passengers ride a
one passenger motorcycle.
1t Is both dangerous and immodest
And II reflects to the discredit of the
great army OF motorcyclists who are
using and not abusing their machines
The Federation stands for the use OF
motorcycles-not for their abuse. II
opposes speeding, the open muffler, and
tank riding. 1t endeavors to have its
members take an interest in the appear
ance OF their machines and persons. I;
stands for courtesy, gentlemanly con-
| duct-and all things that should natur.
ally be part of the most enjoyable OF
all sports or recreations-motoreyeling
Everything that the F. A. M. can dc
will be done to stop the abuses OF
motorcycling. and to this end 1t calls
upon all OF It's members to lend Their
assistance. with a tandem machine Il
is quite proper S,n to carry ,,,,t second Ess; s
purpose. But. II It is a one-passengeI
motorcycle, and equipped for only one
passenger. It should never, under any
circumstances carry two riders"
The Commercial Automobile and Sup
baker EMF "5O'' cars to Charles 4
Georgia Robertson. T. Scott Mayes, M
J. Keane, and NJ. +. Fussell, and .
Flanders delivery wagon to Jasper N
Beall.
The Essenkay Sales Company ha
opened a branch at Sl4 Seventeenth
street northwest, with w. G. Fairbanl
as manager. The company is market
ing a tire filler that has a wide sal
throughout the country.
Mr.. and Mrs. z. s. NARROW are ON Al
automobile tour to Atlantic City in
Cadillac car. They will be away som
time.
The Marion Motor Car Company re
ports the sale and delivery of Mario
''Bobcat' roadster to George Chand
lee and a Marion touring car to H
NJ. Baker.
while watching the great cars Il
around the course at almost hghtnin
speed, in the recent 50O-mile inter
national Sweepstakes race at Indian
apolis on Decoration Day, one was i'm
! pressed with the truth that things ar
not as they used to be- said B. c. Spitz
Icy, assistant general manager or De
troit motor comanpy.
''In looking back over a brief perto
of sixteen years we find that 1t was a
late as 1896 when England repealed IN
famous locomotive act, passed In lSt
by the enemies of the road locomotive
and which caused almost utter stagna
tion In motor car building until its re
peal. Among other things this act pre-
scribed that the number OF persons re
ouired to drive the locomotive should
Increased to three; that a man shoul
3 nrecede with a red flag; that the max
. mum limit should be reduced to fou
miles an hour, and that they should b
the public mind underwent a sudde
change as to what was considere
proper safety and speed is evidenced b
the fact that in just ten years, on Jan
\ nary 26 1906 to be accurate, at Ormon
Rasch' Fla, one mile was travelled b
Marriott in 2S 1-5 seconds. In six NOR
I wears we find the winner of the lndiaI
I'apolis meet making an average or ~
naIIes an hour for a distance of 81
miles. These incidents are indubitabl
nroof that the world moves"