Evening star., 1922-11-05
Holds Danger Signs Are Needed
All Along Demociracy's Highway
by THOMAS r. MARSHALL.

by THOMAS n. MARSHALL.
Former Vice President of the
UniteA States.
n n ANY Americans are driv-
N ing their mental nivvers
4" over tho highways Of the
democracy much as they
drive their tin lizzies over the
physical roads Of the land. They
not only refuse to buy road maps,
but are put out II any one asks
them to examine one before they
proceed.
In tho land Of actual automobil-
ing the law Of the road is quite
definitely settled. The right of
way has been conclusively deter
mined. Yet knowledge of the law
by all drivers does not prevent COL
lisions every day. perhaps every
hour. because OF failure to obey
the law. Coroners' Investigations
may disclose that as many arc
killed who had the right Of way
as those who were trying to steal
it but 1t is poor consolation to a
widow to DO assured that her hus-
band was altogether right. The
ed with warnings and danger signs
that one wonders how an accident
ever occurs. He Is apt to question
the necessity for repeating the law.
fevising and reissuing the road
map and putting up additional dan
ger signs. But in spite Of our
sense of security. we suddenly find
ourselves in q wreck.
+ \ 4 X
It is not what men know, it is
the putting Of that knowledge to
practical use that avails in the or
dinary affairs Of life. Men know
that wood alcohol is a dangerous
intoxicant. Common sense sug-
gests that they should beware of
its consumption. yet every now
and then some man who cares more
for what he calls liberty than he
does for law or life. takes a chance.
Tho laws OF health are well de-
fined. aud DR.. Holmes opinion
that q man at forty is either a
demonstrated. By that age most
men know what and how much
they can eat, what and how much
they can drink, what and how
much exercise they should take to
remain in sound health under nor
NAL conditions. To obey the laws
Of life is the only guaranty that
we are free men in the realms Of
hygiene. Whenever We break one
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not free. but slaves to appetite.
notwithstanding this knowledge,
1t Is necessary for tho state to be
constantly enacting additional
health laws and appointing addi-
tional health ofncers to crusade
for cleanliness. moderation and So
briefly. At the best. we are chill
dren. and the moment one danger
sign becomes familiar 1t is neces-
sary to erect another to attract at
tentton. So everywhere, notwith-
standing universal knowledge, old
signs must be repainted and new
ones put up.
+ \ -
Strangely enough. no ono COM
plains about these danger signs
touching the health and safety Of
the people. No one objects to the
numerous warnings pointing out
dangerous curves and crossings.
No one demands that the health
laws shall be repealed and the
health officers removed as being
In excess of authority and in der
rogation of the inalienable right
of the individual citizen to do
pretty much as he will. The con-
census of opinion seems to be that
these things in no way interfere
with the liberty Of men. Individu-
ais agree that that which Is in
tended for the good of others is
quite likely to be good for them,
and that there is no trespassins
nnnn HHAAd0Yn yphan Hiilaa Nd enn-