Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-03-16
REs.BR|sCOE ASKS
To RETAIN TROPHY
A. A. A. and Manufacturers
Contest Association
Petiti0ned.

Believing that a serious mistake has
been made by the American Automo-
bile Association In ~subrogating the
Glidden trophy to a minor place in the
National Reliability Contest, Benjamin
Briscoe, president of the United States
Motor Company. has asked the A. A.
A. and the Manufactures Contest As-
as the chief prize in American reli-
ability competition.
Mr.. Briscoe declares that 1t will be
ruinous to nullify the good work and
prestige which eight years Of hard
work have built up merely because a
few persons are opposed to perpetual
ing the name of an individual. In
every branch of sport, he declares.
there are trophies offered by individu-
ais and known by the names of In
dividuals.
mo other trophy could compel pub
lie interest in motoring to the same
extent as the Glidden trophy" said MI.
Briscoe. 1.-THE trophy should be re-
tanned for all time. 1t is the classic
of automobile competition and repre-
sents more hard work or the part OF
American automobile manufacturers
than any other trophy or contest, not
even excepting those trophies which
are offered for racing.
Racing is giving way to touring con-
tests which prove the desired RELIABLE
ity in motor cars. Tours like h last
Glidden contest from New York to
Jacksonville, Fla, also furnish an in
centive for the Individual to compete.
'The Glidden trophy was donated by
q sportsman purely In an a~ltruistic
spirit. He is a world renowned mo-
torist and retired capitalist, having no
interest whatsoever in h automobile
trade beyond the announcement of
touring k private owners and the
demonstration of comparative reliabi-
lily. The trophy vas accepted by the
American Automobile Association and
has been competed for seven times.
mo good reason for it's rejection
has been advanced. The simple fact
that the trophy bears the name of an
individual is no reason why the prestige
of our national contest should be sac
rlfced to the whims or fancies of a
few. It is a to the industry
to kill the Glidden tour and it would
take years of unappreciated COMPETE
ton to inspire public confidence in a
new tour and make the public realize
it's value.
1.-THE Glidden tour has always been
known as the national contest of the
American Automobile Association,
leaving in it's wake a spirited move
ment for good roads and a greater in
terest in motoring, which are two of
the aims of the association.
What would yachtsmen say If the
Americas Cup were shelved for an
equally unimportant reason? Why not
reject the famous Harmsworth cup
because Sir Alfred Harmsworth re-
ceives personal mention? Why do not
the German motorists bolt their ma
tional tour because it carries the name
of Prince Henry? 1t would have been
no less unreasonable to silence the
name Vanderbilt because a gentleman
of that name made a cup race famous.
Several years G it was suggested
the Glidden trophy be relegated
and [ feel now Just as strongly as I
did when I opposed the plan at that
time. I am unalterably opposed to
shelving the Glidden trophy. It would
be a %grievous error to erase all that
has been accomplished and attempt
something which, at best, can pro-
duce but little benefit to motoring and
the motorcar industry"