The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-30
(By Hank Caldwell.)

10Y J1dHk tdllWeil.t
Everywhere in Detroit, Septem Der
Rs.--You can't help admiring the
antic nerve OF these people who
ktid automobiles. Wars may come
70 wars may go but motor car pro-
iction goes ON here forever. 1t Is
y that Detroit is not patriotic. IL
- simply learned quickly how to do
big bit for the war and conduct
isiness at the same tinle--which is,
the way. a corking plan.
More than $4,000 men have already
Il the great factories. They were
crt away with the most rousing.
eartfelt farewell that any throbbing,
Cpsy. American city has given It's re-
hits But / can not see that the
eparture of this-crean of the -Mork--
g force has interferred with business
nv more than the departure of 25,-
PC automobiles by freight would have
1pset the traffic Of the railroads which
Fach their steel fingers out from
ia point TO all parts of the coun-
] believe. In fact, that Detroit could
morrow send 100000 more fine
Jung men to the war and on Mon
" morning every monster factory
ou1d mingie It's black smoke with the
imson blanket of Old Sol as he I'M
Overs hin,self beyond the Canadian
knk OF the river.
The production OF care in Detroit
fll never suffer SO long as this mar
rious city has such wonderful wo-
hon. sturdy. wholesome specimens,
altogether beautiful In the sense
Broadway butterflies. but fascf-
fsgiy strong. sensible and all there.
brother has gone who has not
~ behind him sister who could
nis bench IN the factory or hoia
m his desk I'm the office.
y "a. the question here is not 80 much,
who will b. called next" These
phople. are not weeping about those
Ethc may never return. They are won
6hrIng IL Detroit can get enough raw
bacterial to keep its plant busy; TO
|hold ttd supreyna cy as the world q
|Sreasest car producing city. They ara
worried lest production this year
hnnld fall below normal They are
kpu6ering what Hugh Chalmers is go
|iEe to do, now that he has closed his
e1k IN one OF the best equipped fac
brieE In the city. They are wonder
hg what Walter f Flanders is GO
u to with that factory; how he ia
\irg to dovetail il IN with the Max
II factory, where within Il few short
prs he has Jumped production from
90 to 100. 900 cars per year
And know that many thousands OF
RaDlA far away from Detroit. who are
Intensely interested in every new
important move in tho motor in
try. are itching 10 hear the inside
Sy OF that Maxweli-Chalrner s deal.
has the most interesting move that
V taken place in the industry since
% United States got into the war.
tAny wise ones are saying now it fs
Ifore runner of other cons oiidAtions.
+ these critical times. they say II
HAy be well 10 let those who can
6ep these big plants running on a
Portable plan do SO
fsl; myself that Il WAS possibly
Y hrst shot in an attack which misht
AXE the foundations Of the industry
ca me out here 10 see Mfr Chal-
rs and Mr.. Flanders and get at
root Of the thing Naturally I
int directly out to the Chalmers
knt 10 sae MIR. Chalmers, II was
fiovefy September morning ana the
h plant looked the picture OF power,
nh her massive buildings vibrating
+8th the machinery within and the
saoke and steam halchIng forth Ike
irow OF dreadna lights making ready
ID But when / went into the executive
Nhces: suffering tom cats. I thought
Had run over cross section of de-
tfated Belgium. The venera BILE
(Nrd In the outer cham per WAS sit
In his old arm chair just looking
Nhen dfved further into the inner
5#Amhsrs OF the executive building |
\ hroadsides into the new Chalmers
Il kat The old ship had new cap
lin and new crew ard she was
Mating new sails and getting under
8y with strong wind on the port
8Arter
al While looked over the clea n
|Hkks the old distributors were com
LII Ep the gang plank, smiling and
y|fked for a long cruise. So far ms
build Judge from the expression Of
but twenty men from Important dis
4ufing points they we're. to a man.
bed pink with the prospects No
dky around the plant had much time
k4s talk about the future, not even
|ia4amax I. Toner, director Of sales. OIL
[lk Hsxweu and vice president Of
Il new Chalmers organization. who
II u In charge. Everybody was work.
Al Ike a national army recruiting
Ter and there was too much real
Illness floating around to discuss
Ahree-
t4Hr Chalmers and all Of his former
under the terms of the
: kweli lease Of the Chalmers prop
y teS. were absolutely through, Just
much 30 as though they never had
Tin and knew none Of them would
N1Hper even ruinor into the
II ktery. Hiking me miles over the
hing city to the executive offices
fhe Maxwell company ] found Mr..
knders. president and general man
4kr, smoking a big cigar. with soft