Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-10
NEW OFFICERS
ASSUME CONTROL
MEMBERS PLEASED WITH RE-
SUITS OF ELECTION
LOCAL AUToISTS PREPARE FOR
BUSY SEASON
Membership of Dealers Association
viii Be Greatly Enlarged in
the Near Future, Say
Officers
BY L. GEORGE THOMPSON

the retiring officers has allowed the
affairs of the association to retrograde
and the task that the new officials
now have before them is made all the
harder because of the fact that the
actions and the inaction of the past
years officials have been a serious
handicap against the advancement of
the association.
William E. Bush, the newly elected
president has proved acceptable to the
majority of the dealers who belong to
the association, and on the strength of
his election there seems to be good
prospect for the enlargement of the
membership list.
Ralph Hamlin, the vice president, is
also we'll liked and highly respected by
the members of the association, while
Harry Harrison has all the requisite
snap and push to carry out the ideas
of the executive officers in q manner
that will meet with the approval of the
entire membership.
All three men have been successful
in handling their own business, and
Captain II, D. Ryus expressed the SEN
fiment of the members at the election
of the officers when Bush was chosen
for president. when he said: IF you
will handle the affairs of the associa-
ton as well and successfully as you
have your own business. then it is as
sured that the association will have
banner year"
Probably no other man could have
been chosen who would have met with
such instant approval as William e.
Bush for president. He handles only
one make Of car, and that is conceded
to be one of the highest grade on the
market. He never knocks, but tries
only to show that his car has SO many
good points that it is the one to buy.
Less jealousy Than Usual
For the reason that he is in COMPETE
ton with a few who handle as high
priced cars as he does there is less
jealousy over his election than there
would probably be if any other man
was chosen. He also has the stamina
that is necessary for the office, and
will undoubtedly fill the position to
the entire satisfaction of the member
ship.
While no plans have been discussed
SO far, it is known that something will
be done by the association in the very
near future to stimulate business.
The idea of a touring trip that was
proposed by the former officials for the
early summer will probably be carried
out with some changes
Five days of almost constant riding
is more likely to tire the average mo-
torist, and certainly the average pros
pective customer, and it is quite likely
that the route of the trip will be
changed to make the mileage less as
we'll as the time of travelling.
A race meet is favored by Mr.. Bush
and there is already quite little talk
of holding a tWenty-four hour race
within the next two or three weeks.
The agitation of thai subject is, how
ever, being done Independently of the
association.
Bring Direct Results
While the touring trip would un-
doubtedly bring more direct results in
the way of sales to the dealers, there
are many things in favor of the race,
as by that means it is possible to get
together a larger body of people at
one time and place who are interested
in motor cars than i'll any other way.
If the idea of the race meet is carried
out it will probably start on a Satur-
day afternoon about o'clock and end
at the same hour on Sunday. In that
way it would have the advantage of
attracting three different crowds, and
from financial standpoint would un-
doubtedly pay expenses if handled III a
cooperative manner by good bust
ness manager.
Several of the dealers have expressed
their willingness to enter cars if the
event is pulled off, and the number of
entries will only be limited by the ca
pacity of the track.
Outside of the contests for motor cars
there is a great deal of work that the
association could easily accomplish, if
it set at it, on behalf of good roads.
There is no other one thing that equals
in Importance the matter of good
roads. In ia it is vital to the con-
timed Gurpps If the motor car indus.
try.
Influence Strong
In cooperation with the Automobile
club of Southern California the influ-
ence toward the attainment of good
roads Tor Southern California would
be very strong indeed.
There is enough money available at
present TO have better roads if the
funds were only administered in a bus
iness-lil-e way and the work done
were ACCOMPLISHED in a satisfactory
manner.
1t is not that the efforts are not put
forth, but thai they are poorly di-
rected. AS an example of the waste
of money the stretch of road between
the short line crossing and Eastlake
park on the Pasadena boulevard could
be cited. Several men and teams put
in a number of days in putting gravel
on the stretch of adobe, that was a
menace to every motor when it rained
Enough time was spent to put The
road in first class shape and afford a
permanent Improvement, but already
the surface is SO rough that it is hard
to keep a machine in the road, and
the comfort of passengers over that
particular stretch is far from q reality.
i Other counties are getting good roads
gradually, while Los Angeles has to
put up with road conditions that, in
most cases. are little better than they
were ten years ago, while some of them
are worse.
When the road funds of the county
are used to benefit the people instead
of to furnish fat picking for politicians
favoriteS then there will be some better
chance for the further advancement Of
all business interests and those of au-
tomobile dealers in particular. by the
of good roads. BY eXerting
some pressure on the road supervisors
The dealers association and the auto
mobile club could better the conditions
by having the administration of The
road funds in the hands of competent
road builders. The move that has been
made by the dealers and the club.
tending towara preventing the substi-
tuition of persecution for prosecution
at the hands of the local motorcycle
police, is a good move and bids fair to
prove successful.
Some of the members of the motor
cvcle police force are held in very low
esteem by their brother officers, and it