The Washington herald., 1916-01-22
By Isl" GROGAN.

January is generally looked upon in th'
automobile business as the slow month OF
the year. II the first month of 1916 to
date is to De taken as a criterion, the
local dealers will not be able to secure
cars fast enough to fill orders when the
buying season really opens up. Already
some are booked up almost to March
on delivery dates. 1t behooves those who
intend making purchases when the birds
begin tossing and the trees to leave out
to place their orders now, II they would
ride when that time comes.
Bruce Emerson, of the firm of Emerson
& Orme is confined to his home with a
severe attack Of grip.
Ted Johnston. manager of the Phila
deIphia branch of the Oakland Motor
Car Company and we'll remembered by
the local automobile public as manager
of the Washington branch of the Buicl
Motor Car Company, is In the city. Ht
Ia the guest of the, Smith Trew Motor
Company, agents for the Oakland.
Unfortunately, Washington motorists
have no purely local organization by
which they can collectively present theiI
claims to the powers that be. In every
other city the size Of Washington motor
clubs look after the interests not only Ioi
their members, but Of every one who
owns or drives a motor car. In Balti
more, for instance, on next Monda.
there will be a meeting in the city hal
to complain against the regulation per
mitting motor cars to stand on the street
for longer than one hour, unless a spe
cial tax is paid. The Automobile Club
of Maryland is sending out these notices
to all motorists. asking that they be
present. They do not ask one whether
or not he is a member of the club. Be-
ing a motorist is sufficient.
In Washington, We have no such organi-
zation that can make a stand, either be-
fore the District Committee in Congress
or the police department, which is in ac-
tive charge of the local regulations, so far
as automobiles are concerned 1t is simply
a case of individual effort and, while that
is good in its way, ii does not weigh
enough. Our police and traffic regulations
were made as best suited the ends of
what might be called practical some time
ago, but not practical today.
AS an example there is a law which
prohibits glaring headlights or side lights
on motor cars. OF late, there have been
numerous apprehensions of motorists for
violating this ordinance. No absolute de-
fnition of what shall constitute q glaring
light has been given, or, at least, IL 1t
has been made. 1t has not been published
so that all would understand.
One man was warned whose lights
were frosted and whose car was, to
quote him, passed upon by one supposed
to know as being within the law. Never
theless. he was stopped and warned that
same evening as being in violation of the
law. This is but one instance where col
lective work would have It's effect. 1t
would demand an Interpretation of this
law once for all.
The motor car industry in Washington
represents an outlay of approximately
1900, but beyond what Is done indi-
yidually this amount of investment seems
to bear little weight when 1t comes to do
ing for or against the motorist 1t seems
to be the prevailing idea that those who
own motor cars will stand for most any
thing and that they should be made to
bear the tax
There Is such a thing as riding a'will-
ing car to death and those who believe
that they can do this with impugnity
should stop, look and listen. Everyone
has their rights and they should be re-
spected. even the man who owns or
drives an automobile.