New-York tribune., 1912-03-13
AUTO NEWS OF THE DAY
Protest Against RELOCATION Of
GIidden Trophy.
"MISTAKE," SAYS B. BRISCOE
Automobile Club Report on Bust.
ness Methods Will Be Ready
in Short Time.

Believing that a serious mistake has been
made in the decision to make the GlIdden
trophy a minor prize in the national re-
liability contest. Benjamin Briscoe presl-
dent of the United States Motor Company.
has asked the American Automobile Assoc,.
alton and the Manufacturers Contest Asso-
citation to retain the Glidden trophy as the
chief prize in American automobile reliabil.
| ity competition.
Mr.. Briscoe declares that 1t will be ruin.
GUS TO nullfy the good work and prestige
which eight years Of hard work have built
I'D. merely because few persons are op.
posed to perpetuatng the name OF ar In
diyiduaI In every branch Of sport, he de-
clares, there are trophies offered by In
dividuals and known by the names OF In
dividuals.
mo other trophy could compel public In
terest in motoring to the same extent as
the Glidden trophy" said Mr.. Briscoe. "Tbs
trophy should be retained for all time. II
Is the classic of automobile competition and
represents more hard work on the part Of
American automobile manufacturers than
any other trophy or contest, not even ex-
ceptinS those trophies which are offered for
u.
contests, which prove the desired reliability
in motor cars Tours like the last Glidden
contest from New York TO Jacksonville
also furnish an incentive for the individual
TO compete.
mo good reason for the rejection Of the
trophy has been advanced. The simple fact
that It bears the name Of an individual Is
no reason why the prestige OF the one great
national touring contest should be sacri-
ficed 10 the whims or fancies Of few. It
is a menace 10 the industry TO kill the Gid
den tour, and II would take years of unap-
preciated competition to inspire public con-
Adence In a new tour and make the public
realize it's value.
"Uhat would yachtsmen say II the Amer
teas Cup were shelved for an equally unin'
portant reason2 Why not reject the famous
Harmsworth Cup because Sir Alfred Harms
worth receives personal mention? Why DO
not the German motorists bolt their ma
tional tour because II carries the name OF
Prince Henry? It would have been no less
unreasonable 10 silence the name OF Wander
bilt because a man Of that name offered
cup that has become famous"
The report Of the committee TO the mems
hers on the business methods In the con-
duct of the Automobile Club OF America
and other features in connection with tho
big organization has not yet been dis
tributed. At the compromise" meeting
three weeks ago, March Il was set as the
date on which the report would be ren-
dered. II may go out tonight or to-mor-
row; in any case, before next Monday
night, when general meeting VIII %
held There appears to be feeling tha'
the breach between the so-called insur-
gents and the regulars is not so wide as
had been believed, and that nothing ter
rible will follow the issuance OF the re-
port or the meeting OF March 10.
David Bruce Brown, the champion roaa
race driver, has followed the example or
Ralph De Palma in buying Mercer race
about. The purchase was made yesterday
and delivery will be made within thres
weeks. Bruce Browns car, IN its fittings,
will be an exact duplicate Of the one raced
so successfully by De Palma last season.
He expects TO use the Mercer IN minor
events and to keep himself IN condiuon
for big road races.