The Washington times., 1915-04-03
AUTOMOBILE CLUB
INTEREST GROWING
Prominent Motorists Join in
Movement to Establish Dis
trict Organization.
BY WILLIAM P. ROSE.

Good afternoon, Mr.. Motorlst. nave
you Joined the American Automobile
Associations District of Columbia
Club?
If not, then you are missing out on
one of the good things for motorists,
because a local club. whose aims OBJ
jects. and benefits arc of paramount inn
portance to every automobile owner. is
In process of formation and many of
, the National Capitals prominent mo-
torists have filed their applications.
The proper name Of the new organi-
zajon is given above. 1t is a long one,
and for conversational purposes should
be shortened. Here's how the automo-
bile editor of Tho Times figures it,:
When Binks asks Jinks IL he has joined
the now club, he probably will say:
~ say. links. have you Joined the
three AS d. c. club?"
There you are, Mr.. Motorist! Sounds
pretty good. doesn't it?
At any rate. whatever 1t is to be
called, according to information given
out at the national Headquarters OF the
A.. A. A. in the Riggs building, the es-
tically assured.
Since the announcement in The Times
three weeks ago that plans had beer
made for the Organization Of local
announcement that the plans wer'
meeting with success, many motorist
have called at this office seeking in
formation concerning the proposed
ton. For the benefit of these and
motor car owners generally, The Times
obtained the following statement from
William Ullman. of the American Au-
tomobile Associa ton, who is taking the
active interest in the matter:
THE American Automobile Associa-
tion Is the national organization OF
motor car users. 1t was organized in
&c 10 tut 5nI t,.t1
more than 500 State and local clubs.
It's main objects. briefly stated are:
ITO unite in one body all the au-
tomobile clubs and individual mo-
torists of the country to secure rea-
sonable and just legislation.
To aid in proper enforcement Of
automobile laws and ordinances; to
advocate and obtain State and Fed
eral aid in the construction and
maintenance Of good roads.
To encourage touring, and to
secure. prepare and disseminate in
formation relative thereto. and to
support sportsmanlike contests and
other movements that will advance
motoring interests
:, From our Washington headquarters
the Good Roads Board is carrying on
vast work in the interest of improved
roads everywhere, contending for a
{ highways progress. Through our leg
islative board we arc striving for uni
form motoring laws in all States, and
in Congress we are behind a measure
permitting a motor car owner having
secured an identification number in his
nome state to go anywhere, otherwise
unmarked. for unlimited periods.
We are opposed to double taxation of
motor cars, and we have carried to the
United states Supreme Court a test
based upon this unconstitutional dis.
elimination against motorists. Recent
~, here in Washington, we protested Ia
[ 4 t..,A
cepting some $50 100000 Of the war tax
measure. Our efforts met with success
and the automobile and its fuel were
both withdrawn from the measure.
In union there is strength is q
saving that is truer today than evcl
before. A motorist joining the Dis.
trlct club also joins the ma,
tionai body. He not only gains many
visible benefits but adds his strength
to the great army of motorists whose
length and breadth covers the entire
United States.
The membership dues are $50
and national dues. Upon joining, tn,
member is given an A. A. A. card which
insures him Il welcome at any and al
OF the 500 auto clubs affiliated with thi.
association. He is also given a radiator
emblem for his car and his choice o
five of the many touring maps compiled
hy the association together with a sub
scription to the American Motorist, Of
"a. A,
Members can always obtain exac
and detailed information from the tour
ing bureau. and also from the 500 loca
clubs. in many Of which they have gues
privilege. The touring bureau keeps 8
list OF hotels and garages which give au
tomobilists fair treatment, and has theil
rates on file for reference. Member:
who contemplate touring abroad are in
troduced to the foreign associations will
which tho a. A. A. Is affiliated, whcr.
Information and assistance Is availabl,
when they require it. Members of tn,
local club would have q big adyantag r,
IN the matter of securing Information
While members of other clubs mus
send here for much information, tn,
Washington autoist would have imme
diate access to it.
Locally 1t Is proposed as one of tn,
new organizations first official acts. I,
signpost the highways leading into an,
out of the District, and to devise mean
10 hasten the completion of the Wash
ington- Richmond highway
As the See America First novemen
gains ground, Washington autoists viii
have friends from other sections of tn
country visit them. and with an ar
rangement of having a local A. A. A
club, their friends could be supple'
with all the motoring knowledge the
naturally would ask for and local mo
torists would be welcomed and 'helpe,
along wherever they might wander, be
cause of the fact that they hailed fron
the District of Columbia, a communit
that had provided for visiting motor
lists"
Mr.. Ullman stated that when enoug
applications are in, an advisory boar
will be appointed, and the regular func
tions Of an automobile club taken up.