The Washington times., 1935-05-25

the impending one on Memorial
Day or the many minor events
which sandwich that annual
classic.
This is not particularly a pro-
test against the Indianapolis
event. which I understand is sur
rounded with all of the safety
possible to such a daring ad.
venture, but more against the
general idea of q sport which
takes such a terrific toll in hui
man life from time to time, just
to give a lot of people an al.
legged thrill and to see automo-
tive skill Guido itself.
I ask the question: els it
worth it?"
Apparently it is or so many
fine, courageous men wouldn't
have applied their hands and
hearts and heads to such a
devilish business as a means of
a livelihood, short-spanned as it
may be.
know that a comparatively
small number of racers are
killed and those who are must
be quite familiar with the risks
involved.
Fatalities Increasing
also know that from year
to year you hear of more and
more fatalities on the speed
paths as mans desire to travels
faster and faster, increases. But
what I object to is the human
sacrifice under the guise Of
sport-let them call it some.
thing else-not sport.
Competition Of any nature
seems to me to get quite beyond
the pail of sport when a human
life can be, and too frequently
is, in automobile racing, an in.
cident of the fun.
What possible pleasure is
there to be derived from seeing
a human body propelled into
oblivion in these tiny four.
wheeled rockets? Yet, such hap.
penings are not at all rare in
this deadliest Of all pastimes
and for such a reason I believe
a lot Of people who like the
game from a spectacular point
OF view would like it better if
it were conducted with a greater
Difference to life and limb.
Must Patronize Game
A balance must be struck in
automobile racing which will
meet both the tastes of decent.
minded people and the de-
mands Of manufacturers of oil
and rubber and similar ma
terialS which are under test
other than the nerves and judy
ment and skill Of a human
body. The game must be
rationalized!
Speed is a splendid thing and
has meant much in the advance
ment and progress of the world.
We're getting more of it from
year to year and in the case of
speedway contests we're losing
more and more lives. The ques-
ton arises as to when science
will be satisfied it has reached
its limit, bith in speed and
human sacrifice. I hope it will
be soon, for as a sport, 1 can't
see the CHASTITY business, not
even if it costs only one life a
year, which is only a fraction of
the cadaverous cost.
After two years of supposedly
letting the baseball fans of the
country pick the American and
National League teams who
play in the annual all-star game
for the benefit of retired needy
professional ball players, it has
been decided to let the man.
ayers of the pennant winners
of the previous year make the
choices.
This innovation is sound for
two reasons.
First, many fans are dis
gruntled because their favorites,
even though they received a
minority vote, are not picked,
such as was the case here when
Dykes was picked over Bluege
two years ago.
Second, because it is too vital
a choice to leave to sentimental
ballots when smart and exper.
fenced baseball men like club
managers are better qualified
because the evaluation of play
erS' worth is their business.