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Show THE AUTOMOBILE PROBLEM. ' ! The great increase in the number of persons, chiefly women and children, run down by automobiles auto-mobiles has alarmed the public, and it will not be surprising if drastic measures, are suggested for regulating automobile traffic within the city limits. The reckless drivers who have made the streets so perilous to pedestrians are doing everything every-thing possible to bring odium on-the use of the automobile, to limit the legitimate privileges of sensible drivers and owners and to injure the automobile auto-mobile industry. ' The owners and makers of automobiles auto-mobiles should combine to discipline employes who take chances in the city streets, and a severer penalty pen-alty than a fine should be inflicted on all drivers caught overspeeding. The formation of , a National -Highway Protective Protec-tive association, which has just been announced, is a welcome step toward vindicating the right of the public to the use of the streets. Thaff association associa-tion will employ detectives to lodge complaints against lawbreakers and counsel to prosecute them. Drivers exceeding the speed limit will be brought to account, whether they run down some victim or not. Legislation will be sought defining . more strictly the responsibility for accidents and public sentiment will be organized to demand complete and thorough enforcement of the highway laws. Doubtless the police department will also be spurred to greater vigilance. Automobiles are a neces'sity of modern life, and their general use ought to be encouraged, but there is no reason why they should not be used with due regard to the rights of non-users, non-users, who are an overwhelming majority of the public. Those who have at heart the progress of automobiling as an industry, a sport or a means of transportation will find it to their interest to suppress sup-press the many reckless drivers who bring their own occupation into disrepute. New York Tribune. |