Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-27
HELP TO BUILD
AUTO BUSINESS
A. |. A. M. ALWAYS HEADED BY
STRONG MEN
BELIEVE MOTOR GAR SYMBOL OF
PROGRESS
General Managers of Association
of Manufacturers Stand for lntes-
rty and Progress in the
New Trade

NEW YORK, June 26.--There is no
doubt whatever that the thought OF
the human race has been on motor ve-
hicles for road purposes ever since
there was q dream of power. Six nuns
dred years ago Roger Bacon prophe-
sled in the plainest way the use of
power vehicles on land, in the water
and in the air. As the art of enginery
developed every man who made a
motor thought of it's application to
road vehicle. In the '3Os of the last
century there were steam vehicles on
the road. The gas engine was in
definitely old at this time. Finally
there came a time when it was seen
that the engine had to be blended into
a road motor vehicle in such a, way as
to leave the vehicle free for its or
binary uses and that nothing could be
done until the right sort of engine Tor
such purpose was found. Thenceforth
the many -centuries-long dream of the
best speculative, scientific and me-
chanical minds of history became
practical reality.
Just as the problem attracted for
ages the attention of high-class men,
so the commercialization of the road
locomotion idea has, since the begin
ming of the industry something over
ten years ago, drawn to its sphere
many of the most able and public
spirited men of our country These
men feel instinctively that the auto
mobile is a symbol of progress, a leav-
ener and developer of civilization haV-
ing utility function Co-eXtensiVe with
civilization itself. They have not failed
to see or shirked the burden conse-
quent ON the great amount of labor
necessary to the upbuilding of the IN
dustry, work on broad lines, often
against the opposition of deep-rooted
prejudice, always against the tremen-
dous force of inertia for leaving things
as they are. They have stood for in
tegrity in business methods. They
have frightened the humdrum of COM
mon life in many ways, as in the
beautiful custom of giving automobile
outings to orphans and afflicted chill
dren.
AS examples of the type of men in
the automobile industry we may take
the general managers of the Associa-
ton of Licensed Automobile Manufac-
turers, of whom there have been four.
George II. Day, who largely deserves
the credit for the organization of the
A. L. A. NJ, was it's first general man
ager. He was a born diplomat, whose
untimely death deprived the automo-
bile industry of one of it's most able
and forceful elements He was af-
fable, dignified and endowed with an
admirable personality and a charm
ing manner. Joined with such unusual
business tnni+v as to leave a life work
of enduri 4a-t- such as high
ly success .u-ara n along many
lines an automobile
manufac f hanical stand
ards of au struction.
Mr. d. ue jt.uHtly assisted by
Marcus Brook. HeM manager of the
E. r. Thouas NlflU Cab company,
who lef ha car rofession of the
law to affairs several
years sa Is consistently
democrl 1 believer in his
fellow 1n lie future of the
motor car, of wnIrn-the is faithful
and keen-sighted student.
Elihu II. Cutler, who succeeded Mr..
Day, was also a man of large business
experience, having been identified
with the development of the automo-
bile industry from many advantageous
executive points. In early life he was
successful in the grain and milling
business. He then went into the cleo
eric elevator business also with
marked success. He is of a mechani-
cal turn of mind, and has had much
experience in patent matters.
The third general manager of the A.
L. A M. was Milton j. Budlong, now
president of the Packard Motor Car
company of New York. He is one of
the best known men in the trade, and
a man of great native ability. whose
experience in the automobile field
dates from its inception. For a num-
ber of years he was president of the
Electric Vehicle company, succeeding
George H. Day in that position.
f. P. Chalfant, who has just retired
as general manager of the A. L. A. NJ,
has won fame as a driving business
man and incidentally as a sportsman.
and has a strong personal following.
He has now become associated in an
executive capacity with the Packard
Motor Car company of Detroit, his am
bition being along manufacturing and
selling lines. He was originally in the
insurance business. from which he went
into the bicycle field, having been a
well-known bicycle racer.
For time he was engaged in the
management of electric railroads. He
entered the new empire of motordom
some years ago. His work with the
licensed association deservedly won him
many friends, and he leaves the associ-
alton after accomplishing much good
work for the association, the industry
and the sport.