The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-12-15
JOHN N, WILLYS SAYS PROSPERITY
 HAS JUST BEGUN
Toledo Automobile Manu- facturer Sees Great Future
 for U. $. Trade.

New York, Dec. 15.-s1 am not of those who believe that our prosperity will end with the wars end," said John N. Willys of Toledo, O., presi- dent of the Willys-Overland com pany, at the second days session of the tenth annual convention of the Association of Life Insurance Presi- dents.
 ''I think we are just getting start ed,'' said MT. Willys. we have long had natural resources. The war has awakened us to their more efficient development Europe must be rebuilt after this war ends We will have the trained men as never before. It will be our work. The profits will be ours. There is warrant only for op- timism. But if we are to realize our commercial ultimate, there must be a minimum curbing of individual ag- gressiveness. The amazing advance advance of the motor car industry proves what American men can do if left a free hand.
 "In 1906 there were in the United States only 120,000 automobiles, De- cember l, 1916, saw 3,352,000 cars representing an approxmated cash value of two billion dollars Think of the growth from 120,OO0 to 3,352,- 900 cars in one decade! The found CTS of the industry had optimism. Op- timisrn has reaped it's rewards. Look at the changes the motor car has wrought in our daily life. It has bet tered it in every factor, urban and rural, social and commercial.
 There is no greater error in our national life than failure justly to appraise the patriotism of the Amer ican merchant, manufacturer and fi- nancier. I genuinely believe that the hope of our country lies in the effi- ciency that we have developed in so- called Big Business,' and in the pa- triotic willingness of the men who control this efficiency to devote it's full power to the safeguarding of the nation. Industrial efficiency in this country goes far beyond government tai efficiency. This can be said with out any lack Of patriotism. The very nature of our institutions, the work ing out of our democracy, precludes in government methods that perman- ency so essential to utmost efficiency
 There are those who concede this superior commercial efficiency, but who condemn it as being applied to purely personal ends. They argue that the industrial chieftain has an eye only for the dollar, that he is blind to larger considerations of ab- stract patriotism. Gentlemen, this is an injustice that cannot too ardently be refuted. Our history disproves it. The unselfish devotion of cOntem- porary big men is further rebuttal The big-visioned business man rises with his obligations He has motives of highest patriotic impulse. He is eager to coordinate his activities with those of other great industrial concerns and with government ex- perts to do what is best for the ad- vancement of the country in time of peace and forsits protection in time of war.
 deal with my own industry which of fers an especially valuable demon-s stration of how private enterprises
 may become public benefactions. The makers of motor cars rank equally with producers of ammunition in their potential possibilities of mili- tary services to the country.
 Motor vehicles in the present war have twice saved France from exter- imitation. When the peril was great est, when the onrush of the Germans in September had brought them al- most within sight of Paris, General Gallieni, then Military Governor of Paris, rushed troops in motor ve- hicles by the thousands to the aid Eof General Foch. They turned the tide and made possible the victory we know as the battle of the Marne. Motor trucks ssaved Verdun.
 'Let Americans take hope in the immense motor car facilities we have here ; Millions of cars, hundreds of thousands of trucks, are available. Men to drive them are plenty. The Eautomobile plants could produce as many more cars as possibly could be needed.
 Legislation should be scientific. It becomes aggression the instant it at tempts more than legitimate protec- tion to the public.
 ''Let us have full scope to develop that initiative which is the main | 0f