Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-20
DEALERS STAND
FOR OPEN FIELD
GREAT VICTORY FOR FAIR
DEAL ON AUTO ROW
CHADWICK CAR WINS FIGHT
WITH MINORITY
Sanction by Three AS Is Considered
Great Step Forward in the
Interest of Good
Racing

heartily Joined, witnessed the declara-
ton, often repeated, that the last OBJ
stacle to a record breaking event
week from next Saturday had been re-
moved. BY the admission of the w. d.
Howard and the Watson-Fiat entries
another mooted point-it is believed
a contest is assured which will take
high rank on the roll of motor events
which have made the coast famous in
auto circles the country over.
To facilitate the enforcement of the
rigid rules of the "Three AS associa-
ton, the chairman has appointed A. N.
Young of Bireley & Young as COM
mittee of one. The requirements of the
national body will be followed strictly
and with an intelligent application to
the conditions at Santa Monica.
Santa Monicans Pleased
Nowhere was the reconsideration of
the former vote against the "Three
AS" hailed with more approval than
at Santa Monica. where the municipal
ity has entered into a three years con-
tract with the dealers association for
the running of the annual classic.
Ever since April 20 the question has
been acute in the ranks of the dealers
association, and since June s, when the
first adverse vote was recorded, with
a bare quorum present. the suburban
officials have feared that serious set
back would be given their yearly en-
terprise if the strongest national body
in the realm of automobiling should
be rejected as, a standard of authority.
The meeting of the dealers last
Wednesday afternoon at Hamlin's was
replete with humorous features and
with good humored interchanges of
argument between the members. Sew
eral times the debate threatened undue
warmth, but at every symptom of pos
sible bitterness Chairman Shelter in
the chair for the "antis' or Floor
tingent turned the tide of battle in the
direction of harmony-a harmony which
meant, as the outcome showed, an over
whelming victory for the Conwell
forces.
Dealers Who Were Present
Representatives of the following
automobile dealers were present at the
meeting: Western Motor Car company,
Lee Motor Car company, Standard
Motor Car company, Fl. o. Harrison
company, Woodill Automobile company,
Greer-Robbins company, Durocar MAN.
ufacturing company, w. e. Bush, Max
well-Bristoe-Los Angeles company,
Lord Motor Car company, Stoddard-
Motor Car company, William r. Ruess
Automobile company, Los Angeles Mo-
tor Car company, Howard Automobile
company, Schwae ebe-Atkinson company,
H. T. Brown Motor Car company,
Bireley & Young, Renton Motor Car
company, Vail Motor Car company and
Leon T. Shelter company.
Many Speakers on Floor
The two points, which concerned the
admission of the Howard & Watson
entries in the race and the reconsidera-
ton of the former vote against allow
ing the American Automobile associa-
ton to referee and officer the course,
were elaborated on at length by a num-
ber of speakers. The strongest point
made was the advantage of allowing
the Automobile club of Southern Cali
fornia the local body affiliated with
the ''Three AS" and the representative
organization of car owners in Los An
gels. to have full charge of the officer
ing of the race.
The only argument urged against
this plan was the insinuation, rather
than direct plea, that such a move
would make the automobile dealers
subservient to the owners organiza-
ton, and this was literally laughed out
of court Even those members of the
Motorists Protective association who
seemed to see things in this light ad
mitted, many of them, after the meet
ing that the fears which had been
raised in their minds were wholly and
ludicrously groundless.
Conwell summarizes Case
An excellent summary of the reasons
for favoring a reconsideration was pre-
sented by Mr. Conwell of the Maxwell
Briseoe-Los Angeles company. He
said, in part:
Fairly put, this is not a case of
body reversing itself, for the dealers
association. as such, has in reality
never acted A bare majority of one
in a total vote of eleven out of a scant
quorum of sixteen took the adverse ac-
ton June s. 1t is the privilege of wise
men to change their minds The A. A.
A. is not suing for the privilege of
sanctioning the Santa Monica race
Nor is the Automobile Club of South
ern California raising a finger to in
huence your action. / simply urge you
to open the field to all qualified en-
trants and to assure the fair conduct
of the contest by asking the control
of the only organization in American
automobile circles which, by expert
ence and standing. is qualified to ref
cree such an event
WIN lIl6 a n. a. III CollliOi, our
records are official. Without it, they
are worthless for purposes of national
comparison. The drivers themselves
are demanding this sanction for their
own protection. Many of you dealers
represent houses which are themselves
strong supporters of the A. A. A. If
you turn down the latter you are vet-
ing against your own people.
Can't Be Narrow
1--WE cannot run this race as South
ern California affair in any narrow
sense. 1t has assumed a national char
acter and interest Eastern officials
have taken notice of our little fight
right here, and more depends on our
decision in the way of future prestige
for the Pacific coast than any of us
can estimate. The Automobile Club Of
Southern California might be ordered
to outlaw every driver who ran in this
race if we extended this gratuitous slap
a second time to it's parent body.
FINALLY, gentlemen, by opening the
way for a Three AS sanction you
will ca eo1arI q RIGHT of apneal in case