New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-01-04
N. M. p. L. Growing
AT Rate Of $4,000
Members a Year
6 Months Record Reviewed
by President CASTOR;
Good Performance of Pre-
ventive Work in Traffic
By Harry ". Gastoss
Precedent National MotoristS Pro
tectfvs League

Six months ago the National Motor
lists Protective League was organized.
The first three months Of the leagues
existence its purposes were SO entirely
new and foreign to those Of any other
organization that the public was slow
poses. In the last three months. al
though the motoring season was on
the wane, the growth has been at
the rate Of $4,000 members = year,
which means that by the first Of July,
one year from the date the organiza-
ton was born, the membership no
doubt will have reached the $4,000
mark.
Many Of my acquaintance and I'M
frequently insisted that there must
be = selfish motive behind this move
ment. They could not understand why
Z man would devote capital, time and
energy to the promotion of an organl-
xation committed to the propositions
that it would not engage in business
on its own account or seek to promote
the business of others, that it would
be non-political and that no officer
feel that the time has arrived to admit
that g selfish motive prompted me
from the outset.
AS set forth explicitly in the
original announcement Of June 20 last,
had for the last fifteen years particl-
pated in the automobile industry,
largely in the sales end. During those
year4 had silently watched the
growing menace Of reckless driving, /
had seen good drivers lose ali pleasure
in operating motor vehicles because
the Bolshevink Of the boulevard, the
radical Of the road, or, as he was
originally designated, the Hun Of the
highway, had steadily added to the
dangers growing out of the operation
OF motor vehicles, especially In the
more congested districts.
As an automobile dealer, whose
future was inextricably identified with
and otherwise, must of necessity be
affected by the growing evils referred
to, came inevitably to the conclusion
that tho time had como when some man
or group Of men must take the lead in
promoting caution among car oper-
ators. Automobile manufacturers and
dealers who have their fingers upon
the pulse Of the situation must realize
that the industry in all Of its branches
has been retarded and will be more
seriously injured in future unless this
A canvass made by the league re-
Gently among owners Of gasoline sta
tions disclosed that there was less Sun
day driving in 1919 than there was in
1918, although in 1918 there were many
restrictions upon the use Of gasoline
and there were not so many cars in
service. Owners Of these gasoline sta
tons have made inquiries among
motorists, many Of whom have stated
frankly that they had ceased to derive
pleasure from motoring on Sunday
owing to the growing dangers incident
thereto.
Clubs, associations and organizations
OF various kinds, committed largely to
disseminating touring data, and espe-
cially to the promotion Of good roads,
had been Organized from time to time,
but one and all seemed to feel that
making these good roads safe for
motorists. was Of secondary Importance.
The league and these behind it hold
to the theory that safety on the high
ways is Of first Importance.
The American Red Cross, one Of the
most splendid organizations in exist
enca, has done more, perhaps, to allevi-
ate suffering than any other, yet 1t
must be admitted that the Red Cross
devotes its energies to binding up the
wounded and burying tho dead. On
the other hand, the National Motorists"
Protective League Is seeking in every
possible way to prevent injuries and
deaths. By propaganda, educational
and otherwise, It will be possible to
bring about marked reduction in the
number Of accidents that result in
death, injury and damage to property.
1t Is pleasing to note that since the
League announced It's existence and pur-
poser public officials and other organ
izations have manifested = greater in
teYest along these lines. Following
closely upon orr original announce
ment and outline Of our plan Of opera
tion-that ID, using reports from In
dividual naembsra - basis for In
John A. Haxriss, Special Deputy Police
Commissioners Of tie City Of New York,
invited the police reserves TO report to
him infrsctaons Of the. highway lawn
that came under their observation.
Later We announced that we would
shortly inaugurats In the schools of
the state, with the cooperation Of DR..
John n. Finley, Commissioner Of Edu-
cation Of Now York, an educational
course Ia caution. Some time after
that Secretary Of State Hugo and Po-
lice Commissioner Enright announced
that early In January a meeting would
be held At the Capitol Theatsr, in New
York City, to discuss plans for SINH
Lar educational campaign among the
children Of the state.
The State Automobile Association.
some months after the league was
founded, called upon its members to
exercise vigilance on the highways and
furnish reports Of any fragrant In
stances Of reckless driving.
All these things show that the public
conscience has been aWhkcuad and ~
must be true that during the next hva
years motorists will devote far more
thought TO ways and means Of enforc-
ing caution, which Il the leagues
watchword, as distinguished from
safety. caution, e. rying with 1t tho
idea that II IL exercised in behalf Of
the motor vehicle operator % well az
in behalf Of every ono else, whereas
the word safety has selfish signifi-
canoe In that It harks back to the In
dfyidual operator and his own welfare.
The league would like to point out
that public officials como and 20. but
m organization such Is this one goes
on forever. A secretary Of state and .
chief Of police may be enthusiastic ad-
veeates OF such a plan as ours, and yet
their successors might be interested
Coupe Is Lcade,
xszn x@w9au