The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-04-23
EFFECT OF THE WAR

WHY'S Overland Inc, Automobiles,
Toledo, Ohio.
April IL, 1917.
To All Willys-Overland Distributors
and Dealers:
The Possible Effect of War ON Will
lys-Overland Business
We have been asked by letter, by
wire and verbally, what effect Ameri-
cas- declaration of a state OF war
existing with Germany will have on
business generally, and particularly
on business of The Willys-Overland
Company and it's distributing organ
ization, and in response to these re-
quests submit the following: >
The United States government has
investigated and now appreciates
that the various plants of The Will
lys-O Overland company are very
thoroughly equipped with the most
up-to-date machinery and manned by
highly efficient organizations, to q
point where, in case of emergency
these plants would be very valuable
assets to the United States govern
ment. i1'+
It has also recognized that, with
The Willys-Overland company, pat
riotism comes before pOcketbook, and
| that anything we can do for the
United States government in this
crisis will be done willingly, and
to the very best of our ability, We
feel that every American citizen
should regard the welfare Of his
government as his first obligation.
Because of the multiplicity OF
plants, the completeness OF oul
equipment, the immensely of our or
ganization. we feel that there Is very
little chance of the government be-
| ing called upon to use more thar
a limited amount of our facilities
and that we could do everything thai
the government could ask of us with
out very seriously interfering witt
our output. .t~ :,
We do not know what will be the
government requirements for troops
We know that the employees OF The
| Willys-Overland company are al
Iloyal as exist but we have this ad
yantage-there are so many thou
sands of men in our employ thai
normal government requirements
would not seriously interrupt oul
production.
AS evidence of our ability to serve
the government without interfering
with our output, we have accepted
an order for $500 aeroplane motors
mot complete aerOplanes, but JUS
the motors-and the conditions O.
delivery are such that the order cal
be filled without in any way inter
fering with regular production.
Other causes are, and prohaDl!
will continue to interfere with tint
regular routine of shipments. Freigh
car shortage has been very serious
and this declaration of war will tenn
porarily, at least, increase this short
age for already freight cars are be
ing requisitioned, so that every dis
tributor or dealer should interes
himself in providing other ways ant
means of making delivery, even U
the extent of driving overland great
.er distances than have SO far beel
attempted.
We feel, too, that as matter o
precaution every dealer should tax
advantage of every opportunity tina
offers for getting Overland cars, re
CARELESS of model, current or other
wise. Be posted at all times as
lust what you can get and put you
efforts into selling those models
realizing that the profits are In dc
liveries not in sales.
Keeping closely in touch with TN
office, we can post you on wha
models are available here and, a
times, from other distributors o
from warehouses. 1t is often pos
sible to secure freight cars for shll
ments from some nearby point Whe
freight cars for shipment from Tc
ledo would be impossible.
In general, we look for continue
prosperity in this country, and pre-
dict that the automobile bushes
will be especially good, at least 10
the next several months, and tina
there will be a general shortage G
automobiles, which shortage Over
land dealers appear to be in the bes
position to avoid.
Yours very truly,
YS-OVERLAND, INC.
H.-B. Harper,
1oau do5 Conaral Sa1aS Manager