New-York tribune., 1919-10-19


". CASTOR. president of the organiza-
ton, says:
q: take it for granted that readers
of The Tribune are more or less IA
miliar with the scope and purposes of
the League for Motorists Protection,
as the organization has heretofore
beer frequently mentioned in its col
umns. At all events, our primary pur
pose has been to cope with the evil Of
reckless driving and to uphold the
hands of the duly accredited author-
ties for highway law enforcement. In
other words, to meet what Chief City
Magistrate McAdoo in a recent COM
munlcation to the league described as
the horrors of the present situation
"Observat!on has taught me that
women, for that matter-who cannot
be reached by threats and punishment
whos viii sometimes yield readily to
pegspasion. The league enterprise is
nothing more nor less than movement
within motordom calculated to reach
drivers without depressing the vast
maJplity o. careful and CONSCIENTIOUS
operators.
1T must be understood that in p!ac-
ing a badge of the League for Motor
ISIS Protection on his motor vehicle
end becoming member Of the organi-
zation motorist pledges himself to
observe caution and IN return TO de-
mand caution IRON Others. The aver
age man lees the moral restraint of
thlss pledge and realizes as one OF our
nenueis expressed 1t, that he Is under
c-oSer watch than the man whose car
does not carry The badge. Tins mighI
at a glance seem to pace an undue
hardship upon the mem.er, out IN my
juo. .ment tne time will come--if the
principles o. this organization are re-
hgiousiy adhered to-When those who
do hot belong to the league will be
divided into three c.asscs: Those who
can,.oG afford to pay the membership p
fee, those who are not in favor of the
observance OF caution on the h ghways
and .t.ose VINO. because Of their repu-
tat.Sn for rcck .esness and vicious
ness, are denied membership.
ITO fully grasp the Importance OF
this movement 1t must be borne Ia
mind that there has not been any ap
precab.e increase in the number of
miles o. highways in the last ten
years, yet the number of motor We
hiciSs mas increased tenfold, hence
the increasing menace OF recHless auu
careless operation of motor vehicles.
1t shou d ue remembered, further, that
the Officers charged with the respon-
~ sibilty Of en.orcing the highway laws
have not increased in proportion. to
follows that the operation OF a motor
vehitle is Il much more hazardous un-
derteking than it was ten years ago
and suulc some movement within mo-
tordcm is fostered on a gigantic scat
the slime will come very soon when
peope Will remain at home rather
than venture upon the highways, and
may say from the reports received
that some motorists have already beer
restrained at this time.
"The league would like to have il
clearly understood, Furthermore, that
this organization is not designed sole
ly To protect the interests of motor
ists.t 1t has more unse fish object
namely, to protect the pedestrians ane
operators Of horse drawn vehic.es ane
others through campaign of educa
tion, and otherwise, but at the same
time the organization of the league
demands that pedestrians and other.
observe caution in order that they ma.
be in position to demand it, Every
notorst knows that one Of the chic
hazards of the road to-day grows ou
of the carelessness of pedestrians
This is the lesson we hope to brinl
home to pedestrians to- day.
"rhe opportunity to present TO th'
public through the &C. umns of The
Tribune our various activities from
time TO time in our efforts along these
and other lines is intensely pleasing
to us."