The Washington herald., 1910-08-07

Leading automobile manufacturers are
giving a great deal Of attention 10 the
increase in the automobile business, and
are Analysing the situation with regard
to the future.
R. D. Chaplin, president OF the Hudson
Motor Car Company. which will occupy
on October 1 a factory costing S50o,OOO.
says that, in his opinion, the future Of
the automobile industry was never more
promising than at present, although he
realizes that sellers OF automobiles must
be prepared for new conditions IL they
desire 70 succeed.
The growth Of the automobile bust
ness" says Mr.. Chaplin. has been the
! most rapid growth OF any industry in
the history OF the world. The production
OF cars has increased tremendously. In
the future. however. there viii be a re-
striction Of production. due TO the fact
that manufacturers who have little ex-
perienee or capital and dealers handling
unreliable or unknown cars will drop out.
oaly progressive dealers, who handle
good lines. will succeed.
I'VE could have covered every inch Of
territory in this country months ago
with agencies II we had so desired. but
inasmueh as our campaign IS based on
permanently. we have held open many OF
/ our territories until we could secure the
( right kind OF dealer The future viii
offer a golden opportunity TO real auto
mobile salesmen-men who have selling
ability. There have been Tar too few Of
such kind in the automobile industry IN
the past. The coming age Of the auto
mobile industry is 10 be one in which
modern and aggressive salesmanship viii
score heavily"
When asked who would be the motor
car buyers OF the future, Mr. Chaplin
replied that he believed the farmers
would more and more use automobiles.
and that next season they would prob
| ably absorb 50 per cent Of all the cars
produced.
I believe also" he added. that the
I medium-price class Of motor car viii
make the bisgest appeal 20 the American
/ public from now on"
President Thomas Has Views.
/ E. R. Thomas. president OF the E. R.
Thomas Motor Company. has been giving
careful attention 10 the outlook OF the
automobile business
There must be great conservatism in
the automobile field" he says, as ap-
piled TO older and weIl-established, high
class indusrials. The automobile man
Ufacturer OF the future must be satisfied
with a reasonable business, carrying
with II reasonable proht. The foolish,
nonprOductve expense must be eliminat-
ed. and business must be conducted on
normal and safe lines Machines must
be constructed with an idea TO their
durability and safety The automobile
that is made in a hurry and goes 10
pieces rapidly does not help, but only in
jures the automobile business
The automobile viii. more and more.
become an investment and the purchas-
er VIII demand the full worth OF his
money. Automobile manufacturers who
realize this fact will be- the success
full makers OF machines and will put
the automobile industry on a firm basis
for the future"
Opinions of President Flanders.
President Walter E. Flanders. OF the
EMF Company says that the fact
that his company is now building an
addition 70 its main plant. which viii
more than double its floor space. is cyl
dence Of his belief in the stability Of
the automobile industry.
Mr. Flanders contradicts the current
assertion that people 20 recklessly into
DEBT to secure automobiles. at is safe
TO say" he asserts. that 90 per cent
of the seasons retail sales have been
made on a cash basis. Adherence 70
this rule has been one Of the greatest
advantages Of the industry. Never IN
my experience have I known or heard
Of man mortgaging his home to pur-
chase an automobile Such cases may
exist, but, If they do. they are merely
testimony to the existence OF a class
devoid Of business sense or frugallty,
the members Of which would have ex-
pended their entire resources in some
other way but for their ambition TO
own car"
Mr.. Flanders says that nearly 50 per
cent Of his company's output has gone
into the hands Of owners living on
farms o. ~ small villages, where street
car lines do not exist. He says that
perhaps the next largest class OF auto
mobile purchasers Is the medical pro-
fession, while building and other con-
tractors have also almost universally
adopted this character Of locomotion.
What President Brown Says.
VIII H. Brown. vice president OF the
Willys-overlcnd Company, who was
pioneer in the automobile business. says
that the business is bound to increase
as long as it Is conducted on a purely
commercial basis.
From my point Of view" says Mr..
Brown, the building Of automobiles IS
no different than the making OF pianos,
so FAR as the manufacturer IS concerned.
Our success Is due TO the fact that we
regard the business not rs a spectacular
thing but as a dignihed commercial
proposition