The Washington times., 1922-10-07
SKATING GDANCER
NOT ALL FAULT
Of YOUNGSTERS
Mother Of Boy Killed in Street
Charges Autoists With
ChiIdren's Welfare.

Has the agitation against roller
skating in Washington streets fol-
lowing the death of Richard Henry
Bowling, jr.. harped too strongly on
the idea that the automobile is the
king of the highways and that the
youngsters must be always ready 20
give the monarch unobstructed pas
sage? Shouldn't every driver pear
in mind that city children will plaV N
city, thoroughfares and that auto
operation must be governed ny
full consciousness of the possible
hazard to skaters?
These are among the questions
brought to the fore by what Rich
ards mother, the real sufferer from
the tragedy, has to say of the affair
that robbed her of her boy.
Mrs. Bowling voices no Condemnn-
ton Of the yet unidentified man dllF-
ing the machine from the back OF
which the boy was hurled to tn"
concrete. fracturing his skull.
Heard Car Swerved.
Il have heard that he might have
been swerving his car to prevent
young skaters from hanging on or
10 shake off whoever might be dong
So" said Mrs. Bowling today. BC'
| do not know what the truth OF n"
case is. The man may have been *
norant of the accident.
AT the same time, the mother has
something to say of the coroner
Jury which returned verdict thal
Richard came to his death throuPh
his own carelessness.
1T seems so cold an attitude, she
commented 1T seems as II tol"
ners' juries are totally concern"
with relations of fac;s and testimony
devoid Of sympathy.
"'Warn the children of danger at
tending street skating say the au-
thorities. But that is just what every
narent with any regard for the wei
fare of a boy or girl does. And they
90 on running into danger just the
same.
Automobile drivers are nearly all
adults. / think they should always
remember their responsibility. 1t is
not they who are hurt in collisions
with pedestrians or children playing
in the streets. Their machines are
the dangerous element in the situa-
ton. and as long as youngsters will
not and cannot be made to Ceas"
sporting in the highways the drivers
should recognize the hazard AMI con
duct their operation accordingly
Asks Parents to Aid.
Commissioner James F. Oyster to-
day called upon parents in Wash
ington to keep their children from
skating in the streets.
II feel that the problem Of safe
guarding the skater from injury is
primaril for parents to deal with,
he said. "If each mother and father
will stop to realize the danger chill
dren face when they skate in the
streets they cannot help recognizing
the responsibility of keeping their
boys and girls where they will be
safe from traffic.
1T is difficult enough for a young
boy or girl to cross the street in
safety with the thousands of auto
mobiles now in use in Washington,
much less attempt to remain for
hours in the path of traffic on roller
skates.
No matter how anxious the po-
lice may be to safeguard children in
the streets. they cannot do as much
as a parent
Il am convinced, therefore, that
if every mother and father will take
this question of street skating to
heart, they will be able to do more
than the city authorities ever could
hope to do in saving the youth of
The city from injury and death"