Evening star., 1924-11-23
BY WILLIAM ULLMAN.

Motorists the country over are
breathing a sigh OF relief
After shouldering the blame for
years for everything that wasn't just
right in motordom, they are fast
reaching new territory, where mat
ters are not all one-sided, where
pedestrians no longer escape their
blame, nor manufacturers theirs, nor
city officials theirs.
AT any rate, this is the interpreta-
tion generally given to recent and
important developments in some Of
Uncle Sans leading cities. The opin-
ion seems to be that the pendulum
of criticism has swung so far in the
direction of the motorist that it is
very likely to swing far into the
ranks Of those who have not previ-
ously been identified with the respon-
sibility of solving motor problems.
The idea is also being advanced
that the present complications in mo-
tordom are the result Of leaving too
much to the motorist and of overlook
ing the roles played by the other in
terests.
Pedestrian LegislatIoa LogicaI.
With this belief gaining headway
it is not surprising to find cities like
New York and washington looking
to ways and means of making the
pedestrian cooperate in the enforce
ment of traffic regulations. Nor is
it surprising to find the National Au-
tomobile Dealers Association con-
defining the National Automobile
Chamber of Comme cree for advocating
what the former believes to be a RI
diculous piece of legislation. Nor is
1t strange that the American Auto
mobile Association should conduct a
nationwide investigation to reveal
to the police authorities Of the Ma
tlonal Capital that in employing plain
clothes men to apprehend motor law
violators they are but patterning
after an antiQuated system employed
by a minority of cities.
The motorist is watching all this
with keen interest, and in many in
stances with a clear understanding
of what it means to the Nation In
general. He is satisfied that the
general upheaval means, not discord.
but the groundwork for type of CO.
operation which has been conspicuous
by its absence.
Attorneys who are delving into
legislation seem 10 be reaching the
conclusion that the pedestrian may
be lawfully regulated, but thus far
all attempts to regulate pedestrians
have failed wherever they have been
maQe. IniS Is creating WHAT appears
to be high pressure discord between
pedestrians and officials, whereas it
is mainly the foundation for work
able plan.
Traffic experts say that police off,
cials fail to appreciate the fact that
the pedestrian is not as yet sufficient
| ly motor wise, and that as soon as he
| has acquired an instinct for obedi-
ence to traf1ic regulations through
| his acquaintance with such matters
! in the role OF auto driver when he is
not walking. he will be ready TO talk
business. These same students of
conditions point out that pedestrians
who have already acquired a motor
instinct are now endeavoring to edu-
cate officials to a recognition OF the
+, importance of granting pedestrians
| equal rights with other traffic units.
Many motorists know tnat the
| pedestrian does not get square deal,
and that. granted a square deal, he
! would be in a far better position to
make driving easier for them. That
is why the wise motorist is not salts
| fed TO let the pedestrians, manufac-