Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-29
hA.A. ORGANIZED
TO AID MOTORISTS
Twenty Per Cent Increase in
Member Clubs Recorded
in Past Year.

When the first gasoline automobiles
appeared on our streets little more
than q quarter century ago. motordom
was beginning healthy infancy. Its
wants. like the infants, were few and
similarly easy to satisfy.
As motordom expanded and the
number of cars in use multiplied. II
became more apparent that its prob
lens were growing increasingly COM
pick. The question then was how
should they be solved. individually or
collectively?
The logical step in the direction OF
satisfactory solution was the organlza-
ton of motordom. and this was accom-
plished in the formation of the motor
club, according to Ernest Smith. gen.
eral manager of the American Automo-
bile Association. This was the BODY
destined to become motordom's way OF
Expressing its desire, providing Tor It's
needs. and generally protecting itself
against harmful and unfair tactics.
In seeking out automobile owners
to organize them for their mutuai
benefit and protection, the motor CLUB
was in q position to point to oen-
mite program the accomplishment OF
which would enable motorists to avoid
burdensome taxation. TO have avail
able good roads stretching throughout
the Nation. and to be enabled TO use
their cars with the assurance that their
tours would be charted. all emergencies
provided for, and various annoyanceS
eliminated which otherwise would
threaten to cast the shadow OF discom-
fort over the travels of the motor car
owner I'D and down the highways. To
this task the American Automobile
Association and its affiliated clubs have
years in which they have labored In
the interests of organized motorists.
Effects Clearly Apparent.
On every hand. the highly salutary
effects of organization as O principle
are clearly apparent. In business. in
industry, in finance-eyen in the arts
organization has brought and is con-
tinuing 10 produce results which hith-
erto were believed unattainable. Or
eanization is not a panacea. but 1t Is.
very surely and definitely. an impor--
tant milestone in the achievement OF
eficiency and general progress.
Founded In 1902, when the motor
car first was beginning to attract
measure of public attention. the
American Automobile Association from
that day to this never has left the
lists 1t entered to defend and extend
the rights and to protect the privi-
leges OF the motorist, and At the same
time 10 forward in every possible con-
structive way motordom's and the pub
lies interests. Consequently. with q
growing appreciation OF the value OF
the high-minded service rendered there
has been an Overwhelming recognition
in the form of hundreds OF thousands
Of entrants into the ranks OF organ
lied motor ownership.
BY member activity. two things are
meant. First, our clubs through the
enterprise of their membership have
participated 70 a greater degree than
ever before in matters OF civic i'm
portance, not only in matters OF safety
but also in improved trafiic regula-
tons, street improvements. street extern
sion. street widening. and many other
matters of similar character. Secondly,
as q result Of member activity in an
other direction. our clubs have been
able to render more and wider services.
The automobile has made this a
Nation of nomads and out Of this
has grown the tremendous industry
OF motor touring Commodities every
where are competing for motor tourist
business and the most successful in this
respect are those where the motor club
has been working according to modern
standards and acting as hosts TO the
visiting tourists from wherever they
may chance to come.
Last year 10000 900 tours were ham
died across the counters OF American