The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1931-10-02

and relatives had detoured to es-
cape the wreck which had plnlon-
ed them, without enough human
impulse to even ask concerning
the fate Of hapless persons in that
triple crash. But suddenly, what
had been a social embarrassment,
became a family tragedy. The
horror became real, only because
Il was personal. If strangers a
been killed and manned, the sub
ject would have been taboo. This
is the way we are thinking and
acting. 1t f1atters neither our in
telligence nor morals.
What a be said, what can be
done, to awaken the people of the
United States to this continuing
crime against nature and the God
in whose image we are made?
This very day we know that some
80 persons, men and women,
young and old, boys and girls in
the pink Of health, ~automobilists
and pedestrians, have in the
twinkling of an eye been hurled
to death in street and road acct
dents within the borders of the
United States, and that some 5000
more have been more or less SER
hurt. We know that this
average existed yesterday and
that it will be maintained tomor-
row and every following day in
this year of our Lord. Surely it
is a CHASTITY prospect! What are
you going to do about it, some
thing or nothing? Do not content
Yourself with the absurd notion
hat accidents are bound to hap
ben, as the saying goes. When
abroad disasters were so common
n this country as to be a scandal
n the whole world, same 20 years
there were shallowminded
who thought nothing could
'e done about it. To them it was
tut in memorable decree of fate.
But we have as many or more
rains running today, at as high
+ higher speed, and railroad acct
ents have become rare. Why?
something was done
bout it. SAFETY FIRST" be-
anne the slogan of the railroad
len and very form of accident
-as studied and science was ap-
lied to minimize the human
-aste. Safety first on railroads is
magnificent success. In some
countries automobiles are
perated almost as commonly as
ere, but nowhere else is there
0mparable risk either for the
l%tomobilist or pedestrian. Why
this? Are we the most reckless
ace of the world?
Automobile accidents can be
1T down by half or more in a
ngle year if the people who
rive automobiles and walk the
reefs accept in principle and
ct the good railroad slogan of
first" Indeed, in the in
ance of school children, the acct
9nt rate has been considerably
by efficient police meas
e. Reckless drivers must learn
at there is sure personal punish ]
ent for violations of road laws.
Hing and manning must be
ade expensive. Speed must be {
gulated by law, with enforce
ent which means business. State i
d city governments must be a.
used to the peril of the people t
d proceed to regulate traffic
tn an iron hand. The inspection 7
vehicles must be frequent, 7
gular and rigid and a lot of
ngerous tin junk that is now |
rmitted to whirl along roads at I
miles an hour must be ruled
D.. The competency of drivers S
lst be demonstrated beyond
ubt in most severe driving tests
fore licenses are granted. Many
ties have worked wonders In /
dening and Strengthening roads, a
d this must continue, but driv- a
: must be made safe on good v
ads now often used as speed g
US. The number of accidents &c
.ich occur on three ribbon high C
-ys easily understandable, will a
time condemn them. The safe t
I'd where traffic is heavy has S
If channels. Trucks must be S
lited in size and road-hog driv- r
must be brought under con- i
n