New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-09-02
Gasolene- Saving Measure
Generally Observed in
New York
Newsboy's Taunt
Starts Small Riot
Stray Autoist at Battery
Gives Up Intended Trip
to Staten Island

New York City climbed aboard the
artoist's equivalent of the "water
wagon" yesterday morning and stuck
there with fair success throughout the
first "gasless Sunday" that ever dawned
On these shores since the original Adam
of all motorcraft fooled his way UP
Fifth Avenue.
Fuel Administrator Garfeld's official
request that gasolene be saved as one
more war measure apparently hit the
public conscience of the metropolis.
From the outlying regions of the city
came reports that the great motor high
ways, which on Sundays TEEN with
automobiles of all descriptions were
virtually deserted.
Where hundreds of thousands of
automobiles and motorcycles are ordi-
narily III use on Sundays, burning up
fuel now needed for airplanes and tanks
and other war craft, there were only
scores yesterday. And these scores of
motorcars carried the most unpopular
and most unhappy pleasure seekers
that were ever seen abroad in New
York City. In few cases demonstra-
tions against automobile parties verged
on riots.
Violators Jeered
All automobile parties that looked
like pleasure parties were greeted by
catcalls and boots far and wide. Even
soldiers in autos were not immune to
sarcasm from newsboys and other
youngsters, who made it their business
to enforce Fuel Administrator Gar
fields request. In few instances old
and useless eggs and tomatoes accom-
panied the remarks of Americas
youth. The motorists lot was not a
happy one.
Fifth Avenue displayed perhaps the
greatest number of taxicabs and auto
mobiles. They passed along this polite
thoroughfare with comparative i'm
munity, but not without unfriendly
starcs from persons along the sidewalk
Long Island motor highways were
practically deserted. Along these roads
only scattered few cars were seen.
while on former Sundays motors glided
back and forth by the thousand from
early morning till long after midnight.
1t was an ideal day for motoring. A
cloudless sky and cool early autumn
breeze conspired to tempt the man who
owned anything on wheels to take to
the road. But it required brave man
to venture forth in a gasolcne-driyen
vehicle.
The police hardly lifted a finger to
prod the conscience of the selfish.
They did not have to do so. That part
of the days programme was attended
to by several thousand young men in
knee breeches, bare feet and endowed
with maximum lung power and mini
mum modesty.
"Slacker!" "Hun lover!" "Kaiser-
ite!" were some of the yells which
greeted the few automobile parties
that ventured out. The newsboys.
whose patriotism lies close to the sur
face and extends all the way to the
marrow, forgot all about their papers
when they saw what appeared like a
"joy-riding" group. Down at the Bat
terry and other ferry points where
automobiles sought egress to the coun-
try the newsies enjoyed the best oppor-
tunities for batting the gasolene slack
ers.
Near Riot at Battery
At the Battery one of these demon
strations led up to dramatic climax
which threatened to end in a riot.
A newsboy named George Miller, liv-
ing at "a Washington Street, advanced
to an automobile containing several
men and women. They were bound
for St. George and were waiting for the
Continued on page fve