The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-04-08
JAIL THE SPEEDERS.

" i
q result OF being struck by speeding auto
mobile viii hearten the city authorities ii de-
termination 10 see that the traffic laws are
strictly enforced hereafter and that those who
disregard them be brought to prompt punish
nent.
Ii has for years been growing steadily more
dangerous for pedestrians TO cross the streets
1 Of KeoEuk- argas-eyed watchfulness and high
degree Of agIlity being generally required The
notion coming TO be held by many drivers that
the streets belong 70 the machine and tilst the
pedestrian who CROSSES At intersections does so
At MS proper peril, Is largely responsible for
this That theory IS untenable- The streets be-
long 10 the people, and persons foot are en-
titled To cross them IN safety. No man, woman
Tor child can be compelled TO run or Jump IN
order 70 keep from being manned or killed 4
.eItlzen a. q crossing or at corner has perfect
right 10 cross the street as slowly he natur-
ally moves along the sidewalk. He is not
bound to do all the waiting, lodging, jumping
that Is done. He is within his rights IN crossing
"a street deliberately ahead Of coming automo-
bile. The vehicle has not right of way super
Tor to his Reasonableness Is as incumbent on
the driver Of the automobile as on the person
afoot. All drivers do not admit this, but they
can be taught. If the man who was crossing the
street had pistol In his hand, or if patrol
.ulan who knew his duty was watching the pro-
ceedings, the automobile would slow down or
come to stop within its length. It is only
through the failure Of citizens to assert their
rights and the failure Of the authorities to en-
force the laws that these rights are so generally
disregarded as they are
Patrolmen should be instructed that no driv-
Ter Of an automobile has any right to pass an in
~.
permissible in the middle of block. A move
Iment of the drivers foot can bring an auto
mobile to safer speed, and this should be ex-
pected Of him, demanded of him. He has no
ght to rush across an intersecting street as an
express train thunders across country highway
| Yet there are drivers in Keokuk who do not
abate their speed Il am coming; wait till |
pass; get out OF the way or go to the devil - Is
what such driving says if put In words. At
points on streets where people have right to
cross, vehicles should be under such control
that they can be brought to a stop within their
length People who delight In rushing along
at dizzy speed can have that pleasure in tho
proper place. But the city streets are not the
proper place for it, nor for racing, rifle practice
and many other activities and sports. The pa I
trolmen should do their duty without fear or
favor and should be upheld by the courts. The
Judgment Of an officer as to the speed of We
ncle should prevail with the magistrate in de /
FAULT of overwhelming proof that he is wrong. /
It is better now that the courts should be too
strict than to be too lax, for thus only can the
Evil of long laxity in this city be overcome. The
dea Of many drivers has been to run at the !
jghest speed they could get by with and escape
arrest. They should now be taught that this as
a working theory is exceedingly inexpedient
and unsafe.
Give the automobile speeder the jail treat J,
nent. IF the first dose does not cure, double it
Eventually it will get results.