The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-02
AUTOMOBILE MEN ID TALK SAFETY FIRST ID DRIVERS OF CARS Hope to Reduce Accidents and Want Pedestrians
 to Help HUPP PRESIDENT IS
 HEAD OF COMMITTEE Various Organizations Proffer Assist ance and Movement Is Becoming Nation Wide In Scope-Deal-
 CTS to Cooperate

Few movements for the good of the general public have attained greater na- tional importance and influence than that of the safety first" movement, which has been inaugurated by various societies and organizations in the last year. The slogan, safety first" has become one of Vital human meaning and great work has been done to reduce accidents and the chance of accidents by the use of this slogan.
 One of the most important movements of this character which has been started within the last year is that of the Ma tional Automobile Chamber of Commc.xe e which comprises practically every big au- tomobile manufacturing concern in the country. In order to educate, not only automobile owners but pedestrians, as to the rights of each, President Clifton of the chamber appointed a committee to investigate the matter and make recom- mendations to the national body. This committeee, consisting of J. Walter Drake. president of the Hupp Motor Car corporation, chairman; c. W. Churchill of the Winton, and David Ludlum of the Autocar, has been Investigating the matter for the purpose of devising the best way to preach the safety first" religion to the general public.
 ASSISTANCE OFFERED
 Various organizations have offered to assist this committee in their work, such as the Chamber of Commerce or the United States, the Safety First Fedora ton of America. with headquarters in New York; the National Safety council with headquarters in Chicago; the Vol verine Motor Club at Chicago. Last week Frederick H. Elliott. secretary of the Safety First Federation of America, and Charles M. Talbert, director of streets of St. Louis, and John Gillespie, commits sioner of police of Detroit. held a con- ference with MT. Drake in Detroit. 1t was decided that the best way TOT the manufacturers to aid in the safety frst' movement would be through the thou sands of dealers throughout the country, Who could be reached through the manu- lecturers themselves by way of the Ma tioral Automobile Chamber of Commerce. Practically every automobile dealer is an influential man in his own commu- nifty. and with every dealer in each city and town working for better safety measures and aiding the recognized city authorities in their work of curbing care less pedestrians as well as owners, the movement should make great headway. The automobile committee will ask other organizations to aid them in this work, and will ask dealers in various cities to lend their assistance.
 COMMITTEES FORMING
 Practically every large city is now forming committees appointed by either the mayor or heads of the police de- partments to aid them in correcting care less driving. For instance, in Detroit the home of the automobile, commit tee of 100 on public safety in Greater Detroit has been appointed to aid the city authorities. w. D. Rockwell secretary of this organization has started some very active work in organizing various sub committees in the Detroit civic and so- ciai organizations, to work among their own members. Tn Chicago, Charles M. Hayes, president of the Chicago Motor club. and of the city public safety conn mission. Is carrying out similar plans.
 Tt is true that the advent of the au- tomobile into modern conditions of life has probably hastened the time of this tremendous movement for safety first, , said MT. Drake. "hut I do not believe that it Is responsible for 1t entirely any more than to have perhaps brought 1t on a little sooner. The automobile Is not here because we are in a hurry, but be- cause it is the greatest development and has caused the biggest revolution in mod ern and social existence of anything that has ever been produced or probably ever will be produced.
 The automobile is on trial, apparently. The manufacturer is placed as it's spon- sor, and it is around this that the ques- tiOn of safety first somewhat reVolves As unit, the automobile manufacturers are against the unlawful use of the streets. This thing calls for education and not legislation; it calls for co-opera- tion and not coercion We are not going to accomplish anything in the way of leg islation unless we can get education and cooperation