The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-25

existence every day OF our lives. and which are5
fraught with such serious and dangerous con-
SEQUENCES s 7 not properly and judicionsly man
Is wonderful and there are inventions. the
utility OF which facilitates greater work and
There are also inventions, that appeal to the
emotional sensbiities Of our nature, the
Of which affords us recreation ana pleasure. yet,
they all have their attendant dangers. II not
cautiously and rightly used. We wish to give
emphasis to the logical fact that 1t il not alone.
the use OF the thing itself. the danger Of which
we so often apprehend that SO vitality concerns
us, does the proper management OF It. As
a forcible demonstration OF the verify Of this
logic, which Is irrefutable. we shall say, for
example, that man. who IL q chauffeur for
an automobile, who Is running an en-
CINE, or who is pilot for a ship. or guiding an
OF machine or any thing for which he alone
Is responsible for its proper use-suppose such
toxicating drink. has his sensibilities Inn
paired by the Of any narcotic, or Is In
stion to which he has been assigned-would you
wonder at the final results or consequences?
we know not. Statistics think. Will cor
roborate the awful and solemn fact that in a
great many instances Of the cases Of Academia
accompanied by their usual fatalities we will dis
cover. upon investigation that they proceeded
the Indulgence Of the nectareous and intoxicat-
ing. effectual drink, made use OF by those, who
are seemingly Indifferent as to the conse-
quences. Upon contemplation Of the state
ment Of such facts before US. shudder. and
aBK. what Is the remedy for such state OF ar
fairs. Firstly to permit the existence Of
thing. through the fundamentally of which.
we are brought face to face with such condi-
tons, that, without due cognzance and recogni-
ton OF the fact II not prudently and wisely used.
involves the jeopardy for our lives? Upon this
devolves much of a solution of the problem as
to how shall control. to some extent, both
cause and effect and thereby help to estab-
fish better and more desirable conditions. You
will hear those who seek to defend themselves,
proclaim that such accident unavoidable
Who is to decide that most important question?
How are we to know for certainty. that 1t was
unavoidable 1t seems to us thai this a mat
ter to be settled most satisfactorily upon the
testimony of some reliable disnterested wit
ness. IL there be any. and by a further and thor
ough examination into the details OF the at
fair. Having come to that point where the
stringent and rigid application OF the law
shall have a restraining influence for the regu-
lation of all such affairs pertain to accidents.
we should first see that such a statute shall be
enacted. commensurate with the nature Of the
offense and which may subserve the principle
for which that law exists. The crying need of
the inauguration Of system of laws, founded
upon Jurisprudence, the efficiency of which
shall reach far and wide into that domain of
such achievements may create and establish
conditions that shall insure more peaceful en-
vironments, and consequently better and hap
pier homes. Again having advocated. primarily,
the absolute Importance of q law that shall en-
body the elementary proposition that 1t should
be one, consistent and uniform with and be
governed by common sense or logic for the ex-
ercse OF Just and equitable application of that
law-it follows that to successfully carry out its
IL
and most rgidly enforced. The ruling fund
amental principle upon which just laws OF our
country are based is sufficient of itself. to de-
mand the utmost respect and attention, and a
system of laws laid down the result Of a
judicous legislation. as guide In our judiciary
assembly, should be maintained and honored
with the very highest regard otherwise It Is
dangerous and tends to retrogression and de-
cay. We strongly advocate the enforcement of
laws In general, and deplore the laXity of those
of this country. that should be recognized and
respected and executed. but the question we
sincerely endeavoring to argue is, that
every law should be. first of all. founded upon
Justice and equity, then put men behind that
law who shall dare to enforce 1t without fear
favor discrimination. summary account
of the awful increase Of the various kinds OF
accidents, according to a bulletin recently is
showing also, increase In the death list for
the months of July. August and September,
of 1912 the corresponding period OF the
year 1911. is such that should engage at
tention, and demand most thorough and COM
plete investigation shall elicit therefrom the
Importance of fnstituting some means through
which we may lessen, II possible. the number OF
those accidents that avoidable. We shall
not forget to bear in mind. that in commenting
upon the possibilities of such accidents that are
comfortable. there also in existence those
that unavoidable, OF which glad to
say there comparatively few. Suffice to say
1t has been aim to deal at present with
those Of the former coming under the do
J RANDOLPH BELCHER
Petersburg, Va