The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-10-26
North Dakota Party
Back From Big Trip
Special Train Carrying Dealers and Newspaper Men to Sec
Z. NJ T. Factories at Detroit Back--AI Enthusiastic
Over Wonderful Facilities Of Plant


Back to their homes from their trip
to Detroit have come the EMF "30''
and Flanders "2O' dealers who accepts
ed the recent invitation Of Gen. Mgr.
Walter %. Flanders of the Studebaker
corporations EMF factories, Two
days were spent in Detroit, two days
that will linger long in the memories
OF the automobile distributors. Not
one Of them Will soon forget the jolly
party which boarded the special train,
as Mr.. Flanders guests. and the high
Jinks that made sleep impossible in
transit. And the hearty welcome
when they arrived, the entertainment
provided while there, the perfect sys-
tenn with which the entire party was
whisked about from place to place,
the cordial hospitality of their host,
the great automobile manufactures
all these were features prominent and
memorable.
But the main impression shown
among the returning dealers was one
of pridepride In the added knowledge
they had received OF the scope OF the
enterprise with which each il con-
nected.
In the two days spent at Detroit
the dealers saw. in round numbers,
100000 worth OF motor cars COM
pleted before their eyes and shipped
to the dealers who had, perhaps for
weeks. been begging for increased
allotments. They saw In full blast
operation, two OF the greatest automo-
bile manufacturing plants in the
country They travelled for hours over
q selected route through the Stude-
baker factories-traveAed until their
muscles were tired and their joints
creaked-and still were able to inspect
but part of two OF twelve plants of
the corporation which occupies in the
neighborhood OF thirty three acres Of
floor space, employs an army of more
than 5000 men and has pay roll of
$525,000 a month.
The visit was a social one, so spe-
Gifted by Mr.. Flanders In his invita-
ton. But there was not a dealer in
the party who failed to appreciate the
significance of the affair from the
of business. Walter r..
Flanders, the most talked OF American
manufacturer, the giant OF them all
they learned to call him The Big
CHER before they got home wanted
to show his dealers that he did not
believe any business, however man.
moth, can get past the stage of
man -to-nan transaction. He wanted
them to get the spirit of the organiza-
ton ne has built up in Detroit. He
wanted their confidence. He wanted. |
most especially, to show them that his |
promise OF $4,000 motor cars for their |
sale in the season that Is to come, was |
no idle pledge or bombastic boast.
The dealers came and saw all these |
things for themselves. They weren't |
allowed to enter into any new bust |
ness obligations with the factory. Yet
there was everywhere an underlying
sentiment that the $4,000 which the |
Studebaker corporation Is expanding |
pm its series of excursions of which |
theirs was one. win come back to |
the firm 1000 times over as the result |
Of the trip.
The North Dakota Montana excur-
sion was the last OF twenty two spe-
cial trains. each Of which carried it's
quota OF the company's 1880 dealers
n the United States. The immediate
were in charge Of Jack
Graham, manager Of the firms dis
branch in Fargo
Perfect system was manifested in
he details, from the very first.
The dealers reported to Fargo and
we're assigned places in the special,
iolid Pullman train. A dining car
md cafe car. well stocked at the
expense of the entertaining firm, were
important adjuncts. Several repre-
OF the sales department Of
he company joined the party and
Helped other "live wires keep things
moving on the trip to Detroit.
The train was boarded outside of
Detroit by a staff of BARRIERS who saw
o 1t that each dealer who wanted 1t.
eceived a clean shave.
Arrival at the EMF siding in De-
roit was timed to coincide with the
pening Of the working day. The
eaters we're welcomed by a delegation
Il department heads, led by Sales
Ianager Paul Smith. A squadron of
handlers 40" touring cars was drawn
- at the curb, each bearing a card
n which appeared the names OF the
callers 1t was to carry. The names
ad been wired ahead and coincided
xactly with the membership of the i
arty. Though there were more than
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