The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1938-11-03


efforts fail at times, however.
So this week you'll read in this
paper some of the things we usually
leave to the dailies to tell you.
When there's nothing happening.
there just isn't any news.
During the past week headlines of
newspapers daily proclaim the in
creasing number of accidents on Mis-
sissippi's highways. Nearly a dozen
lives have been lost in the past four
days in this state.
And it is not the fast driver caus-
ing these accidents.
It is the careless driver
None of us can explain the sheer
carelessness of pulling out of a lane
of traffic only to plunge head
on into an oncoming vehicle.
Nor can we explain why people
drive into a highway from side
road without looking in both direc-
tons 49,
Yet the two acts cause the majority
OF fatal accidents.
We wouldn't attempt to explain
why people take their half Of the
road in the middle nor yet how they
can possibly pass on hill or curve
But thousands Of them do 1t every
day. And thousands of them are
being killed and wounded.
1t seems as though Mississippis
driving public has gone hog wild
since the majority of highways are
now paved.
The highways will be here long
time. The good concrete ones will
be good for at least 20 years.
But a lot of our drivers won't be
here that long at the rate we're CO.
ing now.
Drivers of motor vehicles will be
required to obtain a license just as
scon #as trfey urrfve at tisc srsrffrr
office.
No licenses will be issued to any
person under 15 years of age; TO
any nerson who is ar habitual drunk
ard or who is addicted to the use
OF narcotic drugs; To any person not
able because Of physical or mental
disability to operate car safely.
If person is denied license they
may appeal within go days to a cir
cult or chancery court Judge who
shall, after giving five days notice,
hear the appeal, either during court
term or in vacation. The court shall
rule as its judgment and discretion
dictates
We don't see any use in having
drivers license If 1t is not strictly
enforced and rigidly adhered TO
Some kind of test should be given
those persons seeking licenses to de-
termine their fitness for driving.
The mere fact that person has
twenty-five cents to purchase a Ii
cense doesn't mean he should be
trusted behind the steering wheel of
an automobile.
II we are going to have this driy-
er's license law it should be made to
mean something.
Only then will the traffic deaths
In Mississippi decline.
Over in the Delta the other dav
class Officers in the fourth grade
were being elected. Two or three
OF the popular members of the class
had been nominated for president when
one small lad astounded everyone bv
getting up and nominating himself
Inc teacher asked him kindly "Wvbv
Tommy. what made you nominate
yourself?' He replied, well. NV ia
ther Is president of the bank my
mother is president of the Women,s
missionary society, my big brother is
president of his class in college and
Just have to be president of some
thing"
The lengths some children are driv
en- TO at times to uphold the family
honor.
Poor Tommy probably felt he would
De an outcast in the family il he
wasn't elected. which he was
How could anyone resist a cam
paign like this.
ID