davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-20
ny WILLIAM ULLMAN,

Looking back upon the cars OF ten
years ago. which were equipped with
none OF the modern safety devices,
one is led to an interesting specula-
ton.
Why are there not less accidents to-
day than in 1918?
A hasty conclusion is that the radi-
cal increase in registration multiplies
the individual hazards, but. upon sec
ond thought. this Is not logical. II
motor car registrations OF today rep
resented ten times the 1,225,430 cars
OF the sort that were on the streets
in 1913 the country would be overrun
with machines unsuited to modern
congestion-and there would be good
cause for a vast increase in accidents.
because it would mean multiplying by
ten the I.225,430 individual hazards OF
as many cars.
But the cars of today are '21. 80 and
% models. not 'l3s. This kills the
argument that accidents are proper
tional to the increase in registrations.
Twelve million safer cars ought to
represent a lesser hazard than a mil
lion and quarter unsafe cars.
But the results do not bear out this
assumption, which, in turn, leads to
the belief that the human element has
much to do with the failure of safety
TO keep pace with the improvements
in car design and the addition of nu-
merous protective devices.
Disadvantages of 1913 Cars.
The cars OF 1918 were unsafe COM
pared with the advantages the 1928
buyer enjoys. Gear shifting was diff
fcult-and thus confusing. Brakes
were not responsive. Power. while
abundant for the open road. lacked
f1exibility. rendering quick getaways
Inadequate compared with the reSpon-
sive power plants under the hoods of
the smallest modern cars. There
were no Stop-SignalS to prevent rear
end collisions. no fitting headlights
snd special lenses 20 minimize the
danger of glare. no courtesy lights to
Gelp the other fellow get past with
out knowing definitely how much
room he had to pass in.
Yet 1.2e5,430 drivers managed to
set along as well AS the 100000
drivers of today who enjoy all these
safety features and dozens more. 1t
is true that more cars mean moro
congestion and d greater number of
hazards for each individual driver
TO watch out for, but the radical i'm
provement in cars should normally
lake care of this, as the improve
ments have been forced into general
use through necessity. Ii is obvious
that there is hidden hazard some
where; one that is peculiar to the
more improved cars.
So it's about time the modern driver
discovered that he is this new hazard
Where the Trouble Rests.
The trouble is that the 1928 driver
has become dependent upon 1923
safety features to an extent that he
relies upon them to compensate for
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-20
r. MOTORS and MOTOR
DECREASE IN CAUTION OFFSETS
MODERN AUTO SAFETY DEVICES
Accident Toll Holds to Same Ratio as
Drivers Take Liberties When New
Equipment Lowers Risk.

his carelessneSs, in addition TO the
hazards of driving which are beyond
his control.
A very good instance of this is had
in the case of bumpers. Here is a
safety device designed to compensate
for congestion. The bumper manu-
facturers are now beginning to stress
the point that their products will
take care OF greater shocks than
formerly: one even going so far as
to show the motorist that he can ram
into a. husky object at good speed
and never damage the bumper. The
point is that these improvements are
not necessitated merely by the norma |
! complexity of modern motoring. but
mainly by increasing carelessness on
the part OF drivers.
If all the cars of today were being
operated by 1913 drivers it is safe to
say that there would be n radical
drop in the number of accidents and
collisions. The 1928 driver would
proceed as though he were still
haunted by the inadequacy Of his
brakes. his motor. his gear shift. still
unprotected by efficient bumpers. sig
mailing devices. automatic windshield
wipers. and so forth. This array Of
! improvem would. therefore. serve
as surplus Of safety To render his
driving actually safer.
View of Modern Driver
The modern driver takes a differ
ent view OF il. He thinks he is safer
at higher speeds because he can stop
| quicker: he is really not safer than
| If he drove at a more moderate speed
with 1913 brakes. The time is coming
| when higher speeds will be justified
| and when drivers will he allowed
greater leeway in the operation of
their cars But carelessness will
| never be permitted.
F'our-wheel brakes. for instance.
Will be such a marked improvemen en-
in safety that they will more than
compensate for the hazards of in
/ The Improvement in brakes at pres
ent merely makes it as safe to travel
forty miles per hour now as twenty
five in 1913. 1t does not make forty
four-wheel brakes will make forty
miles an hour safer than forty miles
an hour with two-wheel brakes. and
will. therefore. justify such speed.
The point in attaching a stop sig
nal to the rear of q car is to prevent
collision due to ordinary quick stop
ping: not to abnormal quick stopping.
The moment a driver takes the atti
tude that he is justified in stopping
as abruptly as he pleases he imme
diately consumes the surplus of
safety" afforded by the device.
The 1919 driver at the wheel to-
day would act as though he couldn't
trust his brakes. He would regard
the man behind. He wouldn't try to
pass car in n tight place because
he would not have much confidence
in his engine. Thus. there would he
stored UP in his driving a large sur
plus of safety which he would draw
upon in an emergency.
Leaves No Safety Margin.
The modern driver simply goes the
limit all the time, and the result is
that when he actually needs mar
gin of safety he finds he has provided
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-20

for none. An accident is the result.
When stop signals can lie de-
signed to flash a warning in advance
OF the unforeseen stop then there will
lie sufficient surplus Of safety to JUS
tify the most radical kind Of quick
stopping. When engines cease to
stall and hesitate, and when drivers
can SHIFT 10 second with absolute
assurance. then-and then only-will
motorists he justified in passing
ether cars at what we now regard
as tight places. When the driver
keeps a large surplus of safety he is
not careless so long as ne does not
consume it.
Carelessness is the equivalent of
,nisusing the safety de vices To an eN-
tent where they were prevented from
representing IN actual impI oNemcGt.
in safety.
The modern driver uses the i'm
prOVCments to compensate for his
new forms Of care'essncss. The i'm
rroycmCnts. therefore. do not actually
make his driving safer Less peo1ln
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-20

would be taking chances with their
cars IL they knew that they abso-
luteiy couldn't get away with 1t.
= hey must learn to regard the
resent improvements as means of
making their normal driving safer.
and not step to n new era of freer
driving until the improvements are
50 radical as to esta blish surplus
of safety large enough to justify
such procedure.
Copyright 1923. by the UlIman Feature Service
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-20
GASOLINE is SAVED
BY PROPER PARKING

That parking has a direct bearing
on gasoline consumption will prob
o bly, be news to the automobile driver
who believes his fuel cost per mile
To lie predetermined by the car he
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-20
UNTIMELY END.

"Phawats become av Mike Raj
ferty?'
Poor felly. he mistook an auto
horn fer the noon whistle an stopped
wurruk crossing the strate"-Eew
York Railways Ma gazine
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-05-20

And here's the brass-tack proof of what
we say.
Just review the list of cars in this field, both
"fours'' and those with more than four
cylinders.
Then take ride i'm this Nash Four, and note
its surprising superiority in every phase.
First, you'll sense greater volume Of instant
power at starting.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-28
SPRAY POTATOES
Crop Increased When Pests And In-
 sects Are Destroyed

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27.-With few exceptions, large gains in yield have been obtained by spraying potatoes as a protection against insect pests and diseases, says Farmers Bulletin 1349, Increasing the Potato Crop by Spraying. just issued by the United States department of agriculture. This fact has been established by extensive experiments conducted in New York and Vermont. During a 10- year period, at different experiment stations in New York state, an aver age gain of 60 bushels an acre was obtained. At the Vermont station, during a 20-year period, which in- volved all possible seasonal varia- tions. an average gain of 150 bushels an acre. or GA per cent over the un- sprayed, resulted.
 In addition, records taken from a business point of view on series of experiments of a 9-year duration con- ducted by farmers under the direction of the New York state experiment station show large gains. The aver age cost of spraying, including ma terials labor, and wear and tear on machinery, was $4.74 an acre. The g. year average in yield due to spraying was 36 bushels an acre, making a net profit of $1443 an acre. When these eXperimnets were conducted the cost of materials was less than at the time the bulletin was written, but the in creased product warrants an in- creased expediture.
 Copies of the bulletin may be ob- tained, as long as the supply lasts, by writing to the United States De- partment of Agriculture, Washing ton, D. c.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-28

The seventy anniversary ofS the Studebaker corporation was ob- served at South Bend. Ind, Saturday afternoon, September 29, with enter tainment during the afternoon and evening at Springbrook Park to which the families of 12,000 Studebaker em- ployes in South Bend had been in- vited.
 During the afternoon President A. R. Erskine presented medals to em- ployes for continuous, loyal service to the corporation for periods of five, ten, fifteen or twenty years. More than HOO employees received bEonze medals for five or ten years service; medals for 15 years, and 220 had gold medals pinned upon them for more than 20 years employment by the House of Studebaker. The last group included those employees who have been with the corporation from 20 to 60 years. They were given lively ap- plause by their fellow workers as they received the honors.
 For Seventy-one years the name Studebaker has been linked, not only with every improvement in trans portation, but with American indus trial development as well. Since it's inception in 1852 as cross roads blacksmithing and wagon building shop, Studebaker has expanded to one of the, greatest manufacturing institutions in the world, with S90.- 900, 900 of actual net assets, includ- ing $45000,000 of plant facilities and a production capacity of 10000 cars annually. Studebaker has 5000 branches and dealers in the United States and is widely represented in all foreign countries.
 Service medals for members of Studebaker's Detroit plants will be awarded there shortly.
 high-class vaudeville program Curing the afternoon and a man.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-28
FOR RECKLESS DRIVERS
Detroits Convicted Speeders Com
 peIIed To Study Traffic Laws.

Detroit's Convicted Speeders Com peIIed To Study Traffic Laws. Detroit the motor car center of the world from a manufacturing stand
 point, is undoubtedly ahead of her
 sister cities in trying out various schemes and enacting laws whereby deaths caused by reckless drivers can be kept to @ minimum.
 The country at large has within the last two or three years regarded with astonishment the severity with which the traffic judges of Detroit have handed out fines and jail terms to traffic violators. Reckless drivers have been compelled to visit morgues and view the dead bodies of their victims.
 Social standing, sex or wealth of the speeder has no effect. Reckless drivers all look alike to the judge. l To Judge Harry B. Keidan goes the distinction of ipaugurating the latest method of making the. streets of the city safer, by opening a night school with motorists who are on probation as the pupils.
 The initial session was held a few nights ago. and it was well attended; the number of pupils" being beyond the 200 mark.
 Courtesy and Common Sense" was the motto that the violators looked up to when theysentered the court room.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-28
PREDICTS MAN BACK IN
 CLASS WITH MONKEYS
Educator Warns Against Practice
 Of Transposing Glands

BUENOS AIRES, Oct. 27.-(By As- soclated Press.)-The. practice of monkey gland operations, should it be extended and carried down the generations, may change man back into the monkey from which he evolved, warns Prof. Clement Onelli, director of the Buenos Aires Zoologi- cal garden, l., an article published in the Bulletin of the Sarmiento So- ciety for the protection of animals. Moreover, removing these glands from, monkeys Is cruelty to animals.
 Professor Onelli appeals to the local society to call an international congress of organizations for the protection of animals not only to take steps to stop this new form of scientific cruelty" but to avoid the alteration of the natural laws of human society with It's consequent danger to modern civilization"
 "In the desire to postpone as long as possible the decreptitude of age" Professor Onelli writes, ''the time may come when the substitution of the secretions of such inferior animals as monkeys will become more widely practiced, and so many monkey--men. produced that, after a few generations, the characteristics of the human species would show variations. The forehead might be- come flattened, and should the scientists succeed in combining the secretions of the orangoutang with the chimpanzee, for substitution in man, genus of satyr might result"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-28
WHAT'S IN A NAMER

Mrs. James had just moved into the neighborhood and it was her first meeting with the local sewing circle. As the conversation turned on the ab- sent men, one of the women said to Mrs. James, What does your husband do?"
 "Oh" said Mrs. James. "He is man- ager of a pail factory"
 Pail factory?" said the other. 'Why. didn't know we had such a factory in town. Where is it located?'
 Well" replied Mrs. James, "hus- band calls it a bucket shop, but think pail factory sounds much better"-FOrbes Magazine
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-28

"If every motor car driver will con- scientioUsly consider these two things when he is at the wheel there will be no need for a school such as you violators are attending" Captain Gill; breath of the police department said.
 "The man or woman who takes chances by violating the traffic laws of city is gambler, and the stakes in many instances-are death."
 The school in future will not be for the probationers alone, but open to all drivers who wish to attend.-Detroit Letter to the Boston Globe.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-28

President Eskne awards medals 470 who
  Studebaker o of 
  he are a and Detro
   Fourth rowAn early model
  the business A R. Erskins president
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-28

mouth fire works display in the eve- ming. feature of which was an H. luminated replica of a Studebaker Light-Six, furnished entertainment for the thousand of employees and their families.
 O O O Remarkable Growth.
 Although the automobile industry IS the largest of the nation, it is so young that traditions are not gen. erally associated with it. The Stude- baker corporation is a notable excep- ton. Certainly no company in the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-28
THE PROBLEM

willie-Pa. teacher says we are here to help others.
 Pa-Yes, that's so.
 Willie-Well, what are the others here for?-London Weekly Telegraph,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-28
EXPERT ADVICE

At local concert young woman began song, "The autumn days have come. Ten thousand leaves are falling" But she began too high. Ten Thousand" she screeched, and stopped. Start her at five thou sand" cried an auctioneer present. Yorkshire Post
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-28
so TO SPEAK

AAinirer-If you quarrel with the manager, will the other girls stand by you?
 Leading Lady-Oh, they've already offered to take my part!-Passing Show, London.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-28

industry-and few companies in any industry-are as rich in tradition as Studebaker.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-28
THH LUCKY ONES

THH LUCKY ONES North--Banks Is only Yobbing Peter to Day Paul.
 Couth-That's all right, I'm Paul. New York Sun and Globe.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-15
Logic is Logic


In the wake of the wheat bloc
| there were bound to come other
blocs. The battle hymn of one such
| movement we have received and
print below. Primitive in form and
direct of speech, it presents a pathos
anh logic that are unforgettable.
! Where is the Magnus Johnson of
| the East who will respond to these
desperate souls and lead them to VIC
tory? Thus runs the appeal:
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: | manufacture pants, and the
market at tie present time is glut-
ted with pants. | want an extra
session of Congress called at once to
pass laws directing the government
to finance our overSuppy. We can
not sell at the present time except
at loss.
Senator elect Magnus Johnson and
Senator Brookhart favor the govern
ment financing the wheat crop and
the calling OF an extra session, and
even our Senator Copeland in a
speech stated that the farmers of the
/ West should receive government aid.
Pants are Just as much a necessity
as wheat. You can go hungry for a
while, but you can't go without your
pants.
Now, If the government helps the
I farmer with his surplus wheat and
doesn't help me, l am going to sell
out, buy a wheat farm, and then
won't have to worry if | get over
| stocked and the price drops. Yours,
desperately, PANTS.
What is a government for if not
to aid in a case like this? Whether
Congress should direct Mr.. Coolidge
! to buN I'D the entire OVerS1pDlV in
bulk and hold it against winter, or
whether the price OF such garments
should he pegged, is matter of detail.
No doubt the railroads are largely
to blame and government ownership
and operation of the transportation
systems are probably indicated. But
action and relief are inevitable. 1t
is a privilege to sound the first notes
of this clarion call.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-15
BERGDoLL's PREDIcAMENT

Grover Cleveland Bregdoll is in
somewhat of a fix, it would seem.
He has killed one who tried to kid
nap him. From the viewpoint of
self defense this was not an I'M
natural deed but it is likely to re-
clear of the law he will not get
clear of the desperate characters who
are apparently bent on getting Berg
doll out of Germany.
His old mother is supposed to be in
Switzerland for the purpose of in
ducing Grover to return to this
country and save to the family, by
serving his term IN prison, the mil
lion dollars in property on which the
hand of the United States Govern
ment now rests and which is likely to
pass into its possession unless the
deserter decides that a five year
term in prison is more to his ad-
vantage than losing the property.
In short it may be doubted whether
the draft evader is really enjoying
his present predicament This, how
ever, is not likely to impair the
capacity for enjoyment among those
who felt shamed for their country
to have an ins0lent son of a German
brewer put his thumb to his nose in
farewell to the land where he was
born.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-15
GAS PRICES, ETC

Mucn rejoicing in the fall of gaso-
line prices. Much comment on the
extortion, which it is assumed has
been practiccd. Much need is ap-
parent, if the public would be set
right, in getting at the facts. This
the Government in lapse of time may
do but the result need not be that
the cost of gasoline will become a
mere bagatelle to the car user. Nor
Will 1T be wise to expect the price to
remain at the low level unless we
arc seeking disappointment. 1t would
be best before paying homage to
those who set the drop in motion to
consider few features already re-
vcalcd in the situation. 1t is claimed
the small producer cannot produce
the gasoline at the low price. 1t is
noticeable that small producers arc
the ones calling for an investiga ton
They say the low price will bank
rupt them. If the truth be in them
it is possible those who have brought
about the drop in gasoline have had
motives other than altruism. 1t
would be we'll to wait awhile before
concluding that we have arrived at
the gas millennium. Who really
started the drive on gas prices, any
how?
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-15
She Says

The girl in the pretty blue dotted
muslin sat down and famed her
flushed face as she spake thus:
Once l heard that celebrities are
just human folks. Now l believe it.
| got fooled at Island Park, Monday
evening. \ man, medium height,
somewhat bald and wearing glasses
with much black ribbon asked me to
dance l refused. He said, "Oh,
come on So l went on. He was a
good dancer. I had to admit that.
| had no intuition which we women
folks brag about. Nothing told me
that this man was a star bright
shining moving picture star, who is
summering down the lake.
But such I found out afterwards.
Much was my surprise. Much was
my chargin. In fact he is a we'll
known star. Has appeared on Au-
susta screens many times. Oh, we'll,
how was l to know? But if 1 had
known, wouldn't | have done my
stuff? And who knows, Hollywood
has perhaps lost a star in me?
But speaking of jokes and such.
Here is one on an Augusta lawyer,
man of dignity. Walking along
Water street. 'tother day, he saw a
young lady, standing back to. He
quickly recognized her as friend
of the family. So as he passed
along. he playfully, or as playfully as
dignitied lawyers can be, tugged at
the hem of her trim jacquette. She
turned around. Business of being
much frustrated upon part of lawyer.
1t. was strange young lady. But
bright light shining through. She
smiled. And the case was thrown
out of court, as you might say.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-15
THERE MUST BE UNITED
EEEORI

None who read the daily news may
escape the frightfulness of the toll
of human life in automobile acct
dents. 1t is indeed frightful, much
of it due to the grossest disregard
of all rules of safety. 1t should not
be tolerated. Those who drive with
out license, those who grant licenses
to the unfit, those who yell for
more rum and wider road" should
be weeded out. Licenses should be
revoked where often it now is not
done, Jail sentences should be i'm
posed where now the erring ones
are let off with az fine. The public
should insist on this, especially the
motoring public, otherwise it will not
be long before one might as we'll join
a suicide club as to venture forth on
the highways.
When one considers the number
of vehicles swarming the highways
and byways, and thousands moving
to and fro under high power at
speed which would have made our
forbears gasp in establishment he
marvels that not more are killed or
manned. 1t would seem that a
special providence is guarding the
race from extinction. If we continue
as reckless of consequences as we
now are, the special providence may
conclude that the race deserves ex-
tinction and withdraw support
Even the sellers of automobiles
should do their utmost to safeguard
, the public that they are equipping
; with these engines of destruction or
! Observation-Disclosures as they are
handled-otherwise in self defense
that public will be compelled to
! lcgislate restrictions, and these are
sure to be uncomfortable if not I'M
wise. Indeed the more far seeing
among car manufacturers and dealers
are lending their effort to the cause
| of safety. There should be coopera-
ton among all decent folks, there
must be if we are to live and enjoy
| life in reasonable safety.