Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-25
THE AUTOMOBILE MENACE.

requirements, growing lnQlHSreQc6 10
human safety, and total defiance of the
municipal ordinances has brought the
automobile in Rock Island to the point
where it has become a menace. This
does not apply to every automobile
owner or driver, but to a large per-
centage Of them, and people in many
sections of the city have reached that
state Of desperation where, unless the
city becomes more active, they may be
provoked TO take matters into their own
hands. The Argus does not counter
ance overt acts under any circum-
stances, and would deplore any demon
strauon on the part Of the people in
the absence Of proper police regula-
ton of the street trafic.
The sum and substance of the
whole situation is that the police are
not doing their duty. Commissioner
Harris announced purpose to see tina:
the law is respected in Rock. Island, as
is the case in adjoining cities, was but
a puff of air. For few days vigilance
was exercised which everybody ap-
proved. A number of arrests. we're
made and fines imposed.
But nothing like that any more.
There is now a notable laXity in the
control of the peoples thoroughfares
and as result automobiles and motor.
cycles are racing through the streets,
the main streets, as well as those in
other parts of the city, as of old. On
Second avenue they run into people
alighting from or waiting for street
cars. They pay no attention to men,
women or children. Get out of the
way" is the signal, cor take your
chances" 1t is doubtful if there is a
city in the land where the automobiles
run as they please as they do in Rock
Island, and it is a crying shame and
an outrage. Is it any wonder the peo-
pie are up in arms?
Last evening two citizens emerged
/ from the New Harper to enter an east
bound car, which was unloading in
front Of the hosiery. The citizens
were obliged to stand in the street un
til they could get on the car. An auto
mobile ran up from the west The
! citizens observed it, and supposed, Of
course, it would stop. But did it? Not
| on your life. II came right along The
citizens watched the driver, but seeing
that he evinced no disposition to stop
they jumped aside barely in time tc
escape being run over, and the auto
mobile sped on. But for the fact tina
the man in charge was accompanied
by ladies he would have been yankeC
out of his seat and turned over to tn,
nearest policeman.
A few evenings ago, a business mai
stepped out from the curb at Ffftl
avenue and Twenty-third street t
enter a car. Just at that instant a re-
automobile came rushing down tn
avenue at full speed. 1t was comm
so fast that the driver had but tw
alternatives-run into the street ca
or run down the citizen. He did no
want to take chances on damaging hi
machine and injuring himself by hit
ting the street car, so he went at tn
pedestrian. Some one screamed an
the business man leaped only in tn
nick of time. A crowd gathered an
people yelled threats at the flying ms
chine. The driver. after running neal
ly a block beyond the scene of tn
near collision, finally brought his ms
chine to a stop and returned. He apo
ogi;ed to the citizen whom he came S
near killing. He explained that hi
brakes were not working and that wa
the cause IF that is the case, whs
right have you in running your aut'
mobile at all. much less at the rat
OF 40 miles an hour?" replied the il
dignant citizen. The auto owner r
piled that there was something TO ths
and went his way.
One afternoon last week, two littl
girls crossing Third avenue were sa'
ed by an alert citizen who ran out an
grabbed them from the path of one {
these manufacturer machines. NJ
long ago an old lady was thrown dow
and injured while aDghting from
street car on Second avenue. Sevent
avenue east of Elm street these day
. and evenings is race track and not
ing less. The railroad trains thre
blocks north do not move faster tina
: many OF the automobiles and motto
cycles that speed over that course.
is as much as a mans life is worth
attempt TO cross the avenue anywher
, A few special policemen stations
: along that thoroughfare from Elm
, Forty-second would in time bring son
semblance OF order.
Commissioner Hart is not living
: to his promises. He is putting the ci
: in the position OF criminal neglect
the average citizen, and unless
? awakens to the fact that constant wi
: lance, not mere spasmodic efforts, W
win the respect for the law in Ro'
Island that is shown in Davenport al
Moline, something may happen tn
, everybody will regret.
Public patience is about exhausted,