Evening star., 1925-06-18
Favors Vigilantes.
Champion of Pedestrians Would
War on Cas-Steppers.
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
1 am greatly interested in the auto
slaughter question and what the
remedies are to be, particularly be-
cause I am one of that army of
healthy men and good-looking women
who rely upon shank's mare to carry
them to and from their work My
tramp covers a minimum of four miles
each dayand through Dupont, Scott and
Thomas Circles in the busiest hours
OF vehicular traffic, and it is surely
food for thought, SO 1 am Offering the
observations Of one on the firing line
and not as a long-range theoretical
,, dissertation on something never see.
1 join little bands of careful pedes-
trians who linger on the sidewalks at
the crossings and practice patience
until the last speeder is given the
right of way, and then remember that
perhaps my call is just as urgent as
the impatient joy-rider. Yes, they are
consistent lot of patient walters and
1 must confess that it is myself that
Is often the tranSgresser in stealing
through when an interval is a little
longer between the string of cars, and
1t is only on very rare occasions that
I see a pedestrian boldly and brazenly
stalk forth and take his time and
chance at a crossing.
1t is to recall the words of the old
Greek philosopher, Man, know thy
SELF" or of the later English seer,
THE noblest study for mankind is
man." for here at the street crossings
in the busy hour is to see man in
many phases. The pedestrian shows
care, patience and a desire to observe
rules and regulations. even to the
smallest child, and the vast number
of auto drivers are careful and at
tentive, but there Is an element in
the auto fraternity that is allowed to
handle murderous weapons who
should be deprived Of this means of
killing.
These individuals own the streets
and are always in an Unsuitable hurry.
No one has a right to be on cross
ing between the curbs and they feel
speed there, no matter how busy a
thoroughfare it may be to the
pedestrian.
Another class which needs the gag
is the blackguard who must get ahead
of you and, Notwithstanding the large
amount of space at your rear, he
will even mount the curb on his
wrong side or the street TO cut you
off. Cannot the authorities engender
a little of the latter you, Alfonso
spirit in some of these men, instead
Of the desire to toot their horns and
make right at you.
1 would like to join a vigilance com
mittee to report these gas-steppers,
not for the purpose of harming them
| but to put them on the black list, sc
that eventually they will meet their
| Just deserts.
Again insist that it is this careless
element that should be eliminated, and
1 am sure that the large majority OF
autoists is just as anxious to join in
the weeding-out process.
So with the united effort of con
scientious autoists, pedestrians, police
and courts, let us spot the reckless
daredevil, put him on the black list
and when his record becomes fragrant
| and unbearable, wipe him on the
license list.
There is another proposition have
to make in behalf of the unfortunate
| for it is often the case that the
father of a family, or one supporting
| dependents, or unfortunates depend
ing entirely on their daily wage, is
| stricken. Let us establish q fund like
the working mans compensation OF
| employees liability insurance and add
Isl to the yearly license fee
| thus creating a fund of about $125 900
and grade the awards on damages tc
killed and incapacitated.
l There Is T. death tou oG lnuue 1gI