New-York tribune., 1909-01-18

Howard E Coffin, chairman Of the committee on
tests Of the Association of Licensed Automobile
Manufacturers speaking Of the American engineer
and tariff. says:
IN the interchange Of ideas lies the true source
Of progress and the American engineer (and with
him the American carr is as sure TO excel the
European as that the day Will follow the night
Nor Is this time IN the distant future II the de-
veIopment within the industry for the last ten
years IN France, Germany Italy. England and the
States be represented by curves, It will be found
that the crossing of the lines has been reached
Yankee genius may he depended upon to see TO it
that the curve Of American progress Is never re-
crossed.
I'VE see much in the press particularly the for
eign press covering the doings Of the Automobile
Club OF Franco and the Royal Automobile Club OF
England. have the assurance of those who are
familiar with the proceedings Of these bodies that
the American engineer has in fraternaI joint WoFh
accomplished more, and viii accomplish more than
has been viii be possible to his Continental
brother hemmed III by centuries Of usages and
traditions from which he cannot hope 10 emerge.
In Paris, year ESQ., the bsardless chief engineer
of American factory, the product Of which com
mands a leading place in the American market ana
the respect Of even the foreign maker, excited
great comment. Concerning him. had said TO
You Americans put so much confidence IN
young meni Why, would not think or making
a man a chief engineer. matter how much he
knew until he was such and such an age, etc
1.-The necessity behind the present attack upon
our customs tariff is clear as day to any one
familiar with this situation. Our present tariff pro-
tects the automobile well other similar IN
dustries of the United States from the unfair com
petition Of European labor, whose recompense is
based upon conditions Of life such as no American
workman would tolerate and which, God willing
may never be forced upon him by removal OF
ample tariff protection
Even our present tariff rate would not DO sufi-
cient were American business and manufacturing
abroad. The machine tools or
the United States ara conceded TO be easily the
finest in the world, but ali advantage IN this re-
spect IS lost through the almost complete equip
nent Of every foreign factory with the very latest
OF this product of American brains.
In England where little no protection is al
forded by tariff and where the conditions of iv.
ing the self-respect and intelligence Of the LABOR
element, more nearly approximate the similar con-
ditions In America 1t has been fully realized that
If the motor car industry is TO survive there must
be enacted at just such protective measures
against Continental overproduct!on and price cut
ting as now exist in the United States.
1T is tnconceiyable how there can be any sentl-
rnent among American manufacturers. VINO. ih
worse than utter ignorance of the situation, can
come forward with the proposition that our pro-
lection is unnecessarily high. only relatively
few automobile makers import even sGnaA part
of their materials from Europe. and this material
IS not brought in because it can be done cheaply'
therefore the further proposition to Increase the
tariff rate upon motor materials would seem
tn in1pose a hardship upon the trade without any
shprecia bic benefit either the labor interests OF
the country the revenues of the government