Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-24
Want a Ride? Can't Have It!

Gall River NeWS)
Many folks who complain that rev
Automobiles ever offer to give them
a lift apparently do not understand
that many automobilists would ike
| to do So but do not dare.
Pick up a newspaper almost any
| morning or evening, and you will
| read Of holdups Of automobilists on
| lonely roads as well as on some roads
and city streets that are not so lone
! ly. Gangsters frequently stop cars
and as they request "a quart Of gas
| to get me to the next gasoline sta
ton" or ask for "a ride to the next
town." another gangster approaches
the car from behind a tree and COM
mands "Stick 'em up" Then both
Ego through" the occupant or occu-
pants of the car, and if no heads are
cracked or no one is shot the folks
, who were held up consider them
selves lucky.
This is the reason so many auto
mobilists "step on it," when they see
any person who apparently intends
to ask them to stop. AS one motorist
said the other day: I'D like to give
lot of people a lift in my machine,
and frequently as l motor along the
road am tempted to invite pedes-
trian to hop in. But honestly, I'm
afraid to do so. have never been
held up, but l firmly believe that il
had stopped every time I've been
hailed, particularly at night, I would
have been. l hate to be hoggish. and
almost always there is plenty of
room in my car for two or three
more, and most OF the time I'd like
company. particularly on long rides.
But you've got to be mighty careful
nowadays, or you may get murdered.
or at least robbed and maybe cracked
over the head to boot"
That's the worst of 1.-THE lawless
ones spoil things for many an honest
person.
1t is easy to see that the automo-
bilist who refuses to stop on the road,
even to answer a question of another
motorist Is simply playing it safe"
And many an autoist who shakes his
head as he drives past a pedestrian
who asks Give me a lift, will your"
is wondering. as that bird a robber,
or poor, tired devil who needs
ride?"
But he doesn't dare give the weary
plodder the benefit of the doubt.
Experimenting With Our Ships
IN. Y. Tribune)
The Shipping Board announces
elimination of the private operators
of it's vessels on five routes to the
United Kingdom and the consolida-
ton of these services into one under
direct control by the government.
This marks the inauguration of a
new policy by the board. The first
step is an experiment and Is to be
extended to other routes when the
practical results of the initial at
tempt are available.
The best that can be said for the
new system is that it is an expert
ment. The Shipping Board IL
launching upon a plan that has
never succeeded, and there are grave
doubts that it ever will succeed.
Canada and Australia have tried it
for four years and are now seeking
to relieve their governments of the
burden. There is no evidence to
show that the United States can
obtain more favorable outcome.
The Shipping Board has failed to
sell it's vessels because depression in
ocean transportation and economic
handicaps under American registry
make it impossible in most instances
for American companies to operate
profitably in overseas trade. For the
same reasons the board Mas lost
money under the system Of operation
through private agencies, which Is
now to be superseded.
Will direct operation by the gov
eminent cut down these losses? All
past experiences point otherwise.
Shipping services come in keen COM
petition with the fleets OF every other
nation and require freedom for init