Evening star., 1913-06-24

Is becoming a nationwide motto, it
seems. and it is believed that within
few years a strong sentiment will pre-
vail against needless accidents.
Wilmington, Del, has just put into ef
feet ordinances governing the operation
of automobiles, and, according to recent
reports from Annapolis, Md, that city
also is preparing to regulate traffic more
rigidly. Reports are coming daily from
the larger cities as to the starting of
street safety movements.
The Bismarck Tribune of Bismarck, n.
D., has just made plea for traffic regu-
lations in that town in an editorial ap-
pearing in one Of its most recent issues.
Text of the Appeal.
The editorial, after describing a near
serious accident, says:
with the utter disregard of the rules
of the road in Bismarck it seems time
that the commission passed an ordinance,
such as Fargo, Grand Forks and other
cities Of the state now have, establishing
rules for vehicles on the highways. In
Fargo q large element Of danger, both to
the occupants of vehicles and to pedestri-
ans, has been removed by the stringent
rules laid down for street traffic. and
while at first the ordinance provoked con-
siderable opposition from those who look
ed upon them as restricting personal lib
accepted as a wise provision for public
safety.
Grand Forks has recently added an
other restriction to her street ordinance,
which requires all vehicles in the close
vicinity of street car to stop while the
car is stopped, this provision having
lessened about 80 per cent in cities hav-
ing it. the danger to persons getting on
or of cars.
Regulations Imperatively Needed.
THE coming of the silent automobile
makes road regulations Imperative, and
in cities Of any pretention a person driv-
ing vehicle on the wrong side of the
street. or cutting the street corners, or
leaving his vehicle headed the wrong way
at the curb. is promptly arrested, for the
fact that the vehicle Is headed the wrong
way is prima facie evidence that the
party has violated the law and travelled
that far on the wrong side of the street.
But such an ordinance is worthless
unless the authorities enforce 1t Impair
TALLY. In Fargo the first one arrested
under the new ordinance was the man
who did most to secure Its passage, and
the next two were members Of the city
council which enacted the law.
Just Like Ordinary Mortals.
But the authorities and police magis-
trate were obdurate and those who sat
in high places were brought to book and
fined just like ordinary mortals. And it
is not the poor man who violates the rule
Of the road the most. One need only
look about the streets Of Bismarck any
day and see the leading people of the
town rushing about in their automobiles
regardless of we'll established custom and
Of the speed limit.
Bismarck should not fall behind her
sister cities of the state in so important
q matter as protecting her people from
street vehicles. The rule should be rec
ognized that the man on foot has equal
rights in the highway with the man in a
vehicle. But civic pride ought also to be
q moving spirit in such a matter, SO that
1t cannot longer be said that the streets
of Bismarck are a free-for-all and go
as-you-please proposition for any one
possessing vehicle to rl1e in"