Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-08-25
AUTO INTERESTS HIT
'HURTFUL HOWL|NG'
Strike Back at What Is
Termed Propaganda Against
b Use of Automobiles.

Condemning the exaggeration of
the so-called traffic problem as prop
uganda spread by anti-automobile in
terests and branding the work of
many safety advocates" as rank
camohage. the Washington Auto
motive Trade Association will call
upon local motorists to demand that
more accommodations be made for
the use of their cars.
In a statement issued today, Paul
B. Lum. president Of the Washington
Automotive Trade Association, said:
THE automobile is here to stay. It's
value to business and health has been
proven, and progressive minded citi-
zens should not tolerate its restric-
ton in favor of special interests. If
there isn't room for everybody's cars
we've got to make room for them.
The w. A. T. A. believes that there
have been too many rules and regula-
tons put through that are unneces-
sarily detrimental to motoring and
that IL many so-called safety cam
pafgns were forced to a shovel down
they would be found to be clever
propaganda to encourage motorists
to leave their cars in the garage.
Hit .HurtfuI Howling..
"Hurtful howling-that expresses
our view of the damaging influence
to which the automobile and its driver
are being subjected.
This propaganda may as well be
checked now as later. The car owner
has been the target since he first
started driving. but there is limit.
He has stood for excessive taxation
because he felt that a certain amount
of it would be returned to him in the
form of good roads, but there is no
Raf ri
and he knows it. There is no reason
why he should invest in motor trans
portation and then turn about and
swell the Golfers of the street car and
taxi companies, who stand to profit
by restricting the use of the auto
mobile.
Motor interests have at all times
attempted to cooperate with other
transportation interests and some
of the more progressive trans
portation work in the country today
is being developed along such lines.
But the motor interests, including
the individual car owner, have been
too considerable, too willing to sacri-
flee in the interests of safety and con-
Venience. They have been, and are
being, imposed upon. Unless each
community strips the excess verbiaSe
from these wailings against auto
nODllo COHuIllOIS WHICH really uO Ho /
exist the country will be slipping
backward instead of speeding to new
goals.
Urge Provision for Future.
''Who does all the wailing about
parking? Who spreads the stories
about traffic congestion? Why are
accidents always labeled automobile
accidents when they involved, or are
perhaps caused by pedestrians, street
railway. greed, bad liquor or ridicu-
lous laws? These are questions which
Washington motorists may well at
ford to consider
1.-The Washington Automotive Trade
Association already has the cooper
alton of foresighted motorists and
believes that the tide has turned.
1.-The automobile is the modern
means of transportation and soon
every family will own one or more
cars This fact might as we'll be
recognized early as late and room
made for these cars. Automobiles
are rapidly coming within the reach
of every person and they are also
becoming easier to handle. which
means that they are becoming less
dangerous In Washington, as in
other progressive cities, plans must
be made to care for a growing num-
Der of cars and less time wasted in
trying to chase them off the streets,
or sweeping back the sea, as it
WERE"