Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-06-26
MOTOR MEN UP IN ARMS
Take Action on James ]. Hills Crit.
oisms.
AUTOS ARE NOT A MERE FAD
Reply 60 the railroad MaEnate's
Cry Of EHtravnEance In Con-
nectIon with the Au-
tOmObiIes.

hallway company. who has publicly critl-
cised automobiling as a pastime and auto
mobile manufacturing as a business. He
declares that motor cars In general are an
eNtravagance, and his comments have been
followed by speech OF Vice President J.
T. Talbot OF the National City bank, who
is quoted as saying that the business Of
making motor cars Is a waste OF capital
These comments have brought many pro
tests from automobile manufacturers, who
feel that they are being placed in WRONG
light before the public.
1t Is unbecOming SUCH men as Mr. I'M
and Mr.. Talbot to term &c eNttavagance
because men dare to invest iu motor cars
instead Of possibly putting money into over
capitalized companies with their n1uipu-
lated and water-logged stocks, said AZ
fred Reeves general manager Of the rs
socatlon OF Licensed Automobile Manufac-
turers, the members and licensees OF which
produce about s. per cent Of the autom9-
biles made in this country. The making
of motor cars cannot be any more wasteful
NJ capital than can be found in some of our
wan street enterprises.
Back to the farm has been the cry Of
Mr. Hill for some time. the claim being
that there were not enough people tlllng
ural wealth Does Mr.. Hi appreciate the
fact that the automobile mas done and Is
doing more TO Keep the young Lcn on the
farm than anything else? is he not aware
that the farmers have been among the
largest buyers OF motor cars during the
last two years, and that In one county in
Iowa alone the census showed S13 autcmo-
blles owned by tillers OF the soil? Certainly
the motor car Is aiding the farmer, rot
alone in the transportation OF himself and
his family with health giving rides but
also in the transportation Of his products.
Il speak OF investing in automobiles"
continued Mr.. Reeves, AS automobiles are
an investment. They not alone give n
greater radius OF travel and are great time
savers, but even when used solely for
pleasure, they give enjoyment TO family
and friends. taking them into the pure
air OF the country. Such riding is bound
to improve both brain and Judgment 1t
aids digestion with the consequent more
cheerful view Of life, and eventually re-
turns compound interest in improved
health and ability to perform in business
life.
1t is undoubtedly true that there are
some people maintaining motor cars who
cannot properly afford them; but Is that
any less true in the case OF those who
speculate I'm Wall streets stocks or buy
more expensive clothing or homes than
their incomes really warrant?
Better by far that MI. HILL and others
who have been quoted as being pessimlstic
on the country's future, and hasten to lay
much of the blame on the motor car,
should glory in the country that could af-
ford to buy 10000 automobiles in 1899; cost
AS mn mn
prospects of buying more than 100000 cars
this year, retailing at not less than $685.
10000. Let them remember that more than
100000 families in this country have In
comes OF 5000 or more.
Let them glory in business that has
almost 100 substantial motor car factories
and a number OF smaller ones with total
capital of more than 500, 900. that has
$50 factories making tires parts and ac-
cessories. with capital of almost $3.50
100000 those same factories, In making
parts and accessories, employing not less
than $4,000 men. Think of trades that have
prospered as a result of the motor car
industry! They include machlnists, black
smiths, assemblers, pattern makers tool
makers. electrical workers. carpenters
flnshers, trimmers, upholsterers, pollshers,
painters. fnisbers, body builders, mill
wrlghts, tinsmiths, wheelwrights and a
score of others.
Let Mr.. Hill, who seems to be so op-
posed to the motor car trade, take pride in
tho 5000 dealers with their statesmen dem
onstrators and mechanics. who are maxi
ing their living selling motor cars. and
the employees caring for cars I'm more than
1900 garages. being paid wages in excess
of what the railroads were ever known 10
pay to their employees
Does Mr. Hill" continued Mr. Reeves.
lever stop to consider the wages earned
by the chauffeurs. Of whom there are
$500 registered In New York state alone?
Invariably they receive on the average bet
ter wages than the men on Mr.. Hills rail-
road or any other railroad.
1T would be unfair to say that either
Mr.. Hill or Mr. Talbot is envious OF the
rapid growth OF the automobile industry
and its bright future, but they certainly
do 1t an injustice and insult the intelligence
OF the American people when they say lts
upbuilding will waste capital and term the
use OF motor cars an extrvagance.
Scandals that come forth almost dali,
from Investigations relating to high financ,
may account for the lack Of confidence ir
bonds and stocks, and may supply reason,
for the falling price OF securities in wal
street, and the preference for investing n
automobiles, which bring certain profitabl,
returns in better health and convenience,
of travel
"one cannot deny that the circulation o.
money Is what aids a community. Tn,
most important people in this country ar,
not those who buy bonds and live ON In,
interest without working or producing any
thing. The real backbone OF the countr,
is the man who works hard. spends a IIttl
and saves little, who gets some enjoy
ment out OF life ana moreover. who think
enough OF his family to own a motor ca
and secure the benefit OF that greatest o
modern means Of transportation.
The motor car Is new" concluded Nj,
Reeves, and of course must be the subieC
OF prejudice TO greater or less extent. III
fact remains. however. ana neither IN
statements OF Mr.. Hill nor Of any othe
man will change II, that the $4,000 motto
cars now running in this country are but
beginning. ana that the number viii In
crease rapidly, both for pleasure and bus
ness purposes; that the country Itself
going 20 be very much better off as a T.,
suit and that the automobile business wi
continue to prosper just as long as maker
give good machines at the iJwest pric,
consistent with design. material ana worI
manship."