The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-02-13
PROSPERITY WILL
FOLLOW THE WAR
Is Belief Of Studebaker Distrib-
utor Who Spent Two Years in
Europe

That an unprecedented wave or
prosperity, both IN Europe and In
America Is bound to follow the pres
ent European war, Ia the firm belief
Of George e. Willis, who for the. past
two and one-half years has been In
charge of Studebaker Automobile dis
tribution on the European continent,
and who just recently returned to
America after travelling through sew
eral Of the belligerent and neutral
countries.
"If the war Is concluded within Is
months, and general governmental
conditions in each country are not
materially altered. feel positive that
France. Germany, Russia and England
viii experience revival such as oc-
cured following the Franco Prussian
war and lasted until two years ago
when the present war clouds began to
gather" said Willis.
"The wealth and prosperity Of Euro
peans--particularly Germans, French
and English--rests In their people and
not In their natural resources. Those
people are thrifty. They strive long
with great perseverance and patience
and achieve whatever they want or
need and as soon as there n prospect
OF period of peace, they will start
In to recoup their lost fortunes with
zeal and a logged perseverance,,
backed by science and intelligence,
that win cause history to repeat It.
self.
while there has been, and still
will be enormous loss Of life, the male
population viii be sufficient to till the
onf1 md IN Ia oora - k6a ~~o~.yo~ ~
nels of industry and trade.
This loss. among laboring men, IL
one OF the factors however which will
bring prosperity to America. The war
has completely exhausted the supply
OF horses, wagons, and many kinds Of
manufactured articles. Upon resump-
ton Of peace. there will be an imme-
date demand Tor needed material to
assist In rebuilding the commerce and
industry OF Europe. The scarcity of
labor will cause high prices in all
classes Of manufactured goods--so
high In fact that I do not believe Eu-
rope can compete with America In
suck commodities as motor cars,
wagons. farm machinery and steel
products for many years to come,
even II any of them maintain q high
tariff. America, with her scientific
production methods, her enormous
factories, and the advantage gained
by having large market during the
period or stagnation In Europe. will
be called upon to supply much or the
materials needed by Europe In the
reconstruction which II bound to fol
low the present war.
Before the war, the demand for
American automobiles In Europe was
rapidly increasing. European manu-.
facturers have never been able "a
compete with America In price-and
this price difference will be even
greater after the war than before. be-
cause OF the scarcity OF labor. The
prejudice against American goods 4
last disappearing in spite Of the or.
ganized efforts of the European man
ufacfurers to discredit the quality of
the American product and keep Il out
Of their markets. The buying public
In Europe IL fast becoming convinced
through their own experience and
observations-that our oars are not
only from rs per cent TO so per cent
cheaper than European makes. but IN
many details Of design, construction
and equipment are more practical and
really stand up better in hard service
than European makes.
II have every confidence In the
ability of the European nations to re
coup rapidly and in the people them,
selves-assisted by their government
Ito recoup their fortunes and brina
about long period of steady indus
trial prosperity. That American
made motor cars and American made
machinery Of all kinds will play an
IMPORTANT part In this re-esta blsh
ment. cannot be doubted by anyone
Who has visited Europe and who un