The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-06-13
THE OPEN FORUM.
In Which Readers of The Herald Express Their
Views on Current Topics.

" I'm all Uue respect 10 the HUI ShdAhP
Clark. it yet seems that the gentleman
has made serious blunder in CHASING
all those who wish to see our country's
honor upheld as limoges" There are
entirely too many of the class who would
prefer that We as a nation stand any
amount Of trouble in our foreign rela-
lions rather than take a stand in defense
of our just rights
These ultra-pa cifists, these peace-at-
anypricers are the very ones who make
light of the frequent murder and robbery
of our citizens in Mexico. They are the
ones who would hush up the deliberate
murder Of over a hundred American
citizens on the Lusitania. They would
make a second China Of this country.
and they have already SO filled the minds
of our citizens and of our diplomats with
sickly cast of fear that we no longer
speak out boldly for American rights
lest we be termed '.jingoes' by a lot of
scatterbrained theorists. IL Mr.. Clark
would like to forcibly place in the Euro
pean trenches those who advocate a due
defense of our rights as citizens and as
a nation, he could doubtless find many
who have a similar feeling for our ultra
pa cifists. Certainly some of those who
think we should submit to anything and
everything rather than fight should be
grabbed by the neck" and put in some
place where they would he forced to
show A little red blood, a little courage
and backbone without the chance to run
away. JOHN F. BOWEN.
street Traffic Regulations.
Editor Of The Washington Herald
The article headed Would Put Reckless
Autoists Behind Bars in The Herald Is
greatly appreciated However. there is
another point which must be considered.
Before drastic laws for autoists are put
into effect. would It not be desirable to
also 90 into lawmaking about pedestrians
who are careless, or persons who permit
minors lacking discretion required by
today's traffic. to use the streets? I do
favor the Imprisonment of men or wom-
en- who so handle their cars as to cause
others unnecessary worry and possible
bodily injury, but II the laws are one
sided. favoring either the drivers or
pedestrians, those who are favored are
very apt, as a class. to take advantage of
their position.
have seen so many instances where
children and old people have nearly come
to grief through carelessness. that I
feel something should be said on the
subject. Take. for instance, an actual
happening a few years ago, which can
be substantiated by court records. A
man was driving his car through one of
our residence streets. within speed limits
and using due caution. Approaching
some children playing in the street, the
horn was sounded and the children dis
persed. except one girl of S. who in her
play ran up against the rear wheel of the
car, resulting in fractured leg The
man. who Is particularly tender hearted.
took the child to the hospital. arranged
medical Of l. 10
and promised to pay the Doctors bill.
although on small salary the car serv-
ing him In his work and necessary be-
cause of partial Paralysis Of one leg)
The evidence showed the child was at
fauit. and the police eXonerated him en-
tirely: yet despite this and the mans
Willingness to assume an expense which
very evidently was not his to pay, the
parents brought suit for damages The
case was decided in the defendants ia
Nor. of course, but he was required to
pay his lawyer the usual fee. an expense
he could i'll afford.
Now. evidence showed the child at
fault: the court decided that after get
ing the evidence of witnesses, vet
through fault of others this man was
put 10 an unnecessary anxiety and ex-
pense. There was probably also the
notoriety OF the accident to add TO the
man discomfort, for most people are
interested in who are involved in an
accident. but few record the fact that
the man was later acquitted of wrong.
Look over the records of accidents and
md how many OF the drivers have been
acquitted Yet there are many who prob
AMY have lost their positions. despite
ac''Iittal. simply because they did figure
In an accident. There /. always the pos-
sibility that they were at fault. Does il
not seem right to make laws recurring
pedestrians to cross at street corners
only. to show due diligence in getting
across and not loiter ,as many actually
do' and make law requiring children
OF tender years to be ACCOMPANIED by
adults when on the streets. to prevent
accidents due to carelessness on their
part? have seen my husband stop his
car TO put e-year-old child on the side
walk. who had stopped in the middle of
the street. bewildered. and there was no
sign or a caretaker. Another time NV
husband stopped his car so rapidly that
damage was done to the gears because
little 3-year-old child ran out in front
AT the same time. I sincerely hope tina
stringent rules will govern driving
through our city. The average driver