New-York tribune., 1917-07-29

a gallon, or a reduction of 271 per cent
from the prevailing cost, before he will
be inclined TO go back to it. The only
disadvantage, to his mind, is the sacri-
fee of the top deck in order to allow
the holder to be carried. He considers
that with larger single deck bodies this
difficulty will right itself
Among the advantages in favor Of gas
which strongly appeal to the Grimsby
officials are the following: (D The
engine keeps cleaner than with petrol
and the valves do not require grinding
so frequently; (2) choked jets,
punctured floats and other carburetor
troubles are eliminated; (3) the lubri-
eating oil in the engine keeps in better
condition and lasts longer.
Aside. from points like these there
is another angle to be considered.
Laying up cars wholesale will be a
body blow to too many lines of busl-
ness. il seems to US, to make 1t readily
possible TO raise funds from great
many sources for the continuance Of
the war. Discouraging the use OF au-
tomobiles means curtailng the pur-
chase of new cars, further setback
to sn industry which has felt the et-
fects of the declaration of the state
OF war in no uncertain way. That IN
turn means shrinkage of return to
the government in taxing excess
profits. ,
IL means turning many men out OF
employment at factories and by deal
ers and galsgemen everywhere, a very
undesirable condition. 1t means less
business for tire manufacturers, their
dealers and others. II means less bust
ness for supply men. with consequent
drawing in Of their lines and more un-
employment.
Perhaps it Is not fair to remind
legislators they owe something in the
present crisis to the motor car indus
try which puts them under an obliga-
tion to help conserve that line of busi-
ness. But it is we'll put by an official
of the Premier Motor Corporation, and
so here goes:
"'The motor car industry through
its representative, Howard E. Coffin,
has card-indeXed the machinery equip
ment of the entire country.
"'The motor car industry will have
TO build the motors for the flying ma
chimes with which this war will be final
ly won.
"'The motor car industry will feed
the army, carry the supplies for the
navy down to the docks, and haul the
officers of the army from somewhere
in France to somewhere else in
France
"'The motor car industry will bring
the cabbages and roasting ears from
IL ha oFla
liver them to the house.
"'The motor car industry will sup
ply most Of the men for the engineer
ing corps, haul the big guns up to their
emplacements, and carry the wounded
out of range and give them chance
to live again.
"They say that motor cars are an un-
necessary luxury. Then why does the
United States want 10000 of them
right away?
"Seriously, now that you come to
think about it, which would you rather
dispense with--the railroads Of this
country or the automobiles Of this
country? One catastrophe would be
lust about as fatal as the other.
"No, gentlemen, the motor car is not
a luxury--it is necessity OF the dir
est sort.
aside from the President, the Coun--
ell of National Defence, the army and
the navy, our automobile industry is
Americas most helpful friend in her
present hour of need.
"And this business of torturlng the
motor car industry is only another IN
stance of biting the hand that feeds
/ you
Let's not do it,"
These are immediate effects, as we
sec them, of an announcement of The
sort that was issued by the STANDARD
Oil man. His intention is OF the best;
his purpose a proper one. But is hl'
method right?