The Detroit times., 1910-01-17
BY BENJAMIN 6RiscoE,
President Manufacturers Contest
Assoc iation.

President Manufacturers Contest
Association.
In view OF the recommendation
made by an Official of the American
Automobile association. relative to
discarding the famous Glidden trophy
and returning IL TO its donor. Charles
J. Glidden. take this opportunity to
protest any such action by the Con
test Board or the A. \. A.
/ | protest not only for the Maxwell
concern. but for many other concerns
, holding membership In the Manufac-
turers' Contest association. and who
have competed for this trophy since
! its presentation 10 the \. A. A.
To discard this classic touring tro-
ply Of the country at this time. after
IL has accomplished so much good for
the industry. is. in my opinion. an
extraordinary action and one which
would be regretted not only by motor
car makers but by the public as well.
Surely no automobile trophy ever
com peted for In this country has done
so much toward the progression or the
motor car industry; not excepting
even the Vanderbilt cup.
| Donated In the early days when the
automobile was looked upon as the
rich mans toy, IL created enthusiasm
throughout the territories through
which the Glidden Tour was ruin; IL
showed the public In general that the
motor car could accomplish all that
was claimed for IL; II demonstrated
that the 'horseless carriage" had be-
come permanent fixture In social
and business life: II has done more
than anything else TO sound the death
knell OF the horse and its relegation
to the farm il has given manufac'
turers a superior opportunity TO learn
the strong and weak points OF their
cars, which could not have been
learned under general touring condi'
lions. This, in brief. Is what the Gid
den Trophy has done for the industry
sport and pastime, and II Is this same
famous classic trophy that certain IN
terests would now bury In the his
toric archives of motordom
The Glidden Tour is we'll known by
the public at large. from Boston on
the east 10 the Golden Gate on the
west. and from the Gulf OF Mexico TO
the Great Lakes. IL Is the pubic
! barometer "a TO what the various cars
can do in endurance. mountain climb
ing. plunging through sand or gumbo
or speeding over macadam roads. The
Glidden Tour has taken the automo-
biles through country hardly passable
by horse vehicles. and has fully dem
onstrated that the motor car can &C
complish what no other form OF trans
portation can.
None OF these would have been
learned so rapidly IL not for Mr. Gid
denis generous offer In donating the
famous trophy which bears his name
AS a pioneer, he certainly Is entitled
to any credit which may be his. Per-
sonally | believe that too much credit
cannot be given him for his foresight
and keen intuition OF the benefits to
be derived from an annual contest
such as the Glidden Tour has devel
oped into. doubt IL Mr.. Glidden him
self. even dreamed what wonderful
beneficial results would be accom-
plished for the motor car when he
first donated the trophy.
To me, IL sounds inconsistent for
this A. A. A. official to recommend
the withdrawal Of the Glidden Trophy
and offer certificates I'm its place
when In the same statement he says:
AT this time suitable resolution
should be offered expressing the ap-
preciation OF our association to the
generous donor OF the Glidden Tro-
ply. and a committee appointed TO
present such resolution to Mr. Gid
den. with power to arrange with him
az to tho disposition OF this trophy.
Too much credit cannot be given Mr..