The Washington times., 1939-01-11
Fairly
BULLiSh

ness in its history last month. This is taken
to indicate sustained country and small town
buying power-a big of the backbone of American
buying power.
The uptum in the last three months of 1888 pushed
General Motors earnings for the year to about $780,
00O0OO-consdered good nut for any year. though by
no record. Retail sales of the Charlottesville
division of General Motors, incidentally, hit high
for any fourth quarter in the fourth quarter of 1888
The Ford Motor Co., judging from the mysterious
gongson of President Homer Martin of the United Auto
Workers, is at least flirting with the idea of letting its
employees unionze. From our point of view, at least,
that good business sign inasmuch we believe work.
ers are contented when unrestricted in the matter
Of joining unions and tend to produce steadily
when the union is responsible that keeps its
agreements
Anyway experts are forecasting total American auto
output this year of 100000 cars as against 100000
last year. That will push registration in this country
we'll the 30,OOOOOO mark; and of the total, good
many more than 25 10000 will be pleasure cars.
Which brings to of the most urgent problems
confronting us ALL the problem Of
AUTO SAFETY
and how to keep it on the upgrade as more and
Of US drive
Total auto accident fatalities for 1888 expected
, when the figures compiled, to
FeWeT DeuLHS turn out to have been markedly
T., 80 Mu,,bo lower than the record 1887 total
" 0' 4" of about 4O4OO. What the auto
accident injuries for 1888 will add up to is anybodys
guessthough it helps in guessing when you reflect that
for several years last past this figure has flutered
around the 100000 mark
We'r IoCt Wo "o+ 10 no.
cause if the 1888 figures turn out expected 1888
will have been the first in which managed to cut
down auto accident deaths proporonatey faster than
the increase of cars in circulation.
The statistics the subject all go to show that it is
man failure rather than machine failure which causes
81 or SO per cent of all our motor accidents.
American mechani-
Man FnLLUTe Us. cally the best in the world,
Mnchino Failure and they able to keep
tn ir essential mechanical
in shape till they ready for the junkheap So
we doubt that substantial accident reduction be
achieved by periodic inspections of all prac
tced in States 1t probably helps some, where it
Is honestly conducted, but it can't solve the problem.
The main educational and disciplinary attack must go
being centered, think on the driver
There plenty of ways crusade for auto safety.
We do what can, through Mr.. Bachelors Inviting
this one.
Authority on Insurance companies often pass
Motorcycles around safety pamphlets; filling
stations ought to pass them out to
all their customers. Public school teaching of safety
to the children is good better the in
safe driving, with model actual cars, given in
schools
But the most effective agent for highway safety,
believe the big motorcycle cop brass buttons telling
to tO sid sho
licenses. He is the boy who keeps highway traffic in
line he cruises up and down. and whose remarks
remembered and pondered by every speedster or lane
crosser center-lane hog curve passer he stops.
Consequently there ought to be motorcycle
cops time goes and there ought to be en-
couragement to them to do their duty thoroughly and
without fear of reprisas from political pals of some of
the reckless drivers they nail All the States ought to
require testing and licensing of drivers and civic organ
izations do better work than carry on con-
Jr;x,o ir,C+ +iolyo fiviro