The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-22
AMERICA in THE LEAD
SHE Is BOUND TO BE SUPREME IN
THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY.
M. Clement, the Well-KnOwn French
manufacturer. Says the United
States VIII he First.
Motor World.

Motor World.
Americas position an automobile pro-
ducing country, from the point of view
of two observant Frenchmen, is dwelt upon
at some length in a recent issue of lie
Figaro. One of the Frenchmen Is M
Clement, the well-known manufacturer.
whose prediction for America and things
American is most pronounced; the other is
Jules Huret, a writer on industrial sub
jects, who is now in this country collect
ing statistics for a series of articles for
LIE Figaro.
In the eyes of the whole industrial
world France has recovered part Of her
old prestige since the invention OF the auto
mobile and the scope which certain active
and enterprising Frenchmen have given the
industry, says NJ. Huret Germany, follow
ing her national policy of imitation, Is at
our heels; England and America are pre-
pairing to compete with us in this rich field.
Are We to lose a superiority clearly our
own, the development of which might
avert crisis in the iron industry of
France?
Since my arrival here I had heard so
many people claim that the Americans
have greater mechanical genius than any
of their European competitors that / was
aStonished to see on the streets OF New
York only French machines, with here and
there a heavy box of scrap iron which
was of American make. l was rather eager
to solve this problem when L learned that
one Of our most celebrated French mechani-
clans, and, at the same time one of the
most modern manufacturers in Paris, NJ.
Ciement, was staying at the Waldorf-As-
toria. could not have had a better oppor-
tunlty, for every one knows that 1t was
NJ. Clement who gave such an immense
success to the bicycle industry. Since then
he has established an automobile factory
at LevallolS-Perret, and was until very
recently chairman of the administrative
board of the firm of Panhard & Levassor.
HOME OF MACHINERY.
M. Clement of his own account satisfied
my curiosity. He is a man of forty, simple,
placid, stout, with thick beard and smil-
ing eyes. spent whole evening with him,
and never before was so interested in me-
chanics. He told me his life his boyish pas
sion for locksmithing, his travels through
France as mechanician on a high bicycle
that he had made with his own hands-a
time so free that when he left town he
would throw his cap in the air to see in
which direction the wind took it.
i've never had but one passion" he said
to me. mechanics. For me there is no
greater pleasure than to inspect fine fac
tory, well equipped and well run. / give you
my word, l like it better than the opera"
/ wish I could describe the enthusiasm
with which he added: And what splendid
Ws f n this country I've
superb, In truth. This is the home Of ma
chinery. L speak especially of Massachu-
setts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. A la
bonnie heure! There's machinery for you
There are more intelligent men in these
three States than in all the rest of the coun-
| try. 1t was there that the first firearms
were manufactured, and neucleus of work
men-artists of the first rank-one might cal
them-has remained, descending from father
| to son. But beyond Cleveland it doesnI
amount to much. and at Chicago it's SCRAP
Are they as good as that?" I asked
| somewhat astonished, none the less. "Ex
actly in what lies the superiority of theil
workmen?"
'They are wonderful. They think o
| nothing but their work, you see. They ar
| forever adapting and improving. Above all
| they specialize-that's the secret of thei
| power And each specialist, which mean
| each engineer, each foreman, each work
man, is constantly trying to make his ma
chine turn out its product better and NOR
| rapidly. That's true from the top of tn
| factory to the bottom, from the office DO,
to the manager. Each man pays attention
solely to his own work. and is held respon
sible for it. They are extremely attentive
| Their notion of duty is real and earnest
| They are paid for eight hours work, an
eight hours of actual work they give-no
| IA hours, nor yet eight hours and one min
| ute Watch them coming into the factor,
| in the morning. In a jffy they are a
| work. In France, on the contrary, we com
| in slowly as possible and swing our leg
| for ten minutes before beginning work
| Multiply ten minutes by the 1000 workmel
of a factory, and you have 10000 minutes
| 166 hours lost morning and evenings
hours a day. Reckon up the total loss TO
| lean factory not a man looks up from hi
| work. In France, when / inspect my owl
| factory, / know beforehand that it mean
. waste t of hours 0rnssD of work work g
| to the importation of French automobile
| into America except the enormous duties
In spite of these, for three or four year
more We can force our machines which ar
beyond question the best on the American
| market"
WILL FLOOD THE MARKET.
But after three or four years, what viii
| happen?'
M. Clement shook his head and said: 90
think they will succeed in simplifying on
| models. And when they understand thor
oughly the use of petroleum they will leav
| us behind, for they're better mechanician
than we are. And We'll see them foo
the market with automobiles as they fioode
| it with bicycles.
There is yet another reason for our in
| feriority- The American invests ten O
| fifteen million francs in factory where
Frenchman invests 100000 or, with difficult
one or two millions The French capitalist
| are timid, but the Americans know no,
to spend. They put 100000 francs at m
disposition to establish a factory here an
offered 100000 for every visit L woul
| make per year. But 1 preferred to use m
own funds and open French factory here
| rs there no way to fight them?''
Fighting is done with money and w
have put none at stake" replied NJ. Glenn
ent. 81 can see only one known way I
| oppose them when the time comes Tha
is by placing a heavy protective duty O
| American automobiles. At present tn
| duty is ridiculiously small, a vehicle tax q
! about 800 francs per machine. But, as
say, no more Is necessary at present"