Evening star., 1922-11-28
Member Of the Associated Press.
Force vs.. Weakness.

Force vs.. Weakness.
Safety first week already has done
wonders. Pedestrian and automobilist
alike have been benefited. The good
influence being engendered this week
should continue so that Safety week
will be enlarged into Safety year. The
greatest benefit is that people are set
III thinking about something. and
when tire people start thinking abuses
generally e.d.
II is true tina, nucil feeling, prob
ably often covered. exists between
people Who run automobiles and those
Who walk. 1t is only natural that this
should be SO. Both sides to the con-
troversy. il 1, might be called that.
have their proper points to make. and
each has much to learn from the
ether. Through such endeavors as
Safety week" r.ade permanent. this
vague feeling that the population is
divided into two camps should be
ended. and In its stead ultimately
should reign the correct attitude
of mind. which is simply that we
ere all living here together. and must
le!p each other. Practically all fami-
.:cs realize this: soon all cities will
i4zve this common consciousness:
perhaps some day the entire world
may come 10 the same realization.
As Heroert Spencer pointed out. in
every opinion generally held there is
practically always some germ Of real
ruth. If. therefore. many pedes-
;.ians feel that the automobilist is
really to blame for the increase in
street accidents. probably there is
some truth to the charge. And if. on
the other hand, the autonlobilists de-
clare that foolish pedestrians cause
most OF the accidents the car drivers
probably are right to some degree.
To take this whole question out CT
the realm Of feeling and sentiment.
where it does not belong. and tn put
II into the category of reason. its
rishtful place. it Is only necessary 10
consider the highway from the stand
point Of physics.
A city street, looked at abstracrly.
is medium for the display Of force.
Since chariots ran along the Appian
way. drawn by real horse power, to
tl1e present, when fine automobiles
lash along modern boulevards. pro-
pe!led by engines generating the
mower Of many horses. highwa:- has
heen an avenue for the display of
force.
The average automobilist, as he
makes his way down the street, is
thinking about almost anything ex-
cept force AID energy. He nay Re-
sard himself as an uncoilnnenly fine
display. bat not nf force. The preju
diced pedestrian may regard him as
Il lad display Of driving. but not OF
energy.
Both, therefore. overlook ths funda-
mental thing. On the roadway the
automobile represents force, while the
pedestrian represents weakness. The
one is an embodiment Of sixty horse
power while the Other IL merely one
i:anpowel'. The cne can run Over the
ether without hurt. while the latter
can sustain scarcely u bump without
danger of great injury to himself.
II is steel against flesh, force versus
weakness. When this is once clearly
recognized by those who venture upon
the street, whether in u motor car OF
;asoot. the safety first consciousness
will be universal. and Safety first
week will have heightened into safe
~ first the year round. This common
consciousness will make for chivalry
on the part of the moror;st, and STU
preme consideration on the part Of the
pedestrian. \ man driving 4 car.
"rce conscious Of his knightIy equi-
page, would no more run down an un-
:rnlored knight than would Lance,ot.
Noc will the knight lacking equipage
do SO foolish a thing as to attempt
10 contend the passage. This con-
sciousness must come, and j: Will
come. for Americans are at heart the