The Washington herald., 1917-10-21
OIL and RUBBER Big auto QUESTIONS
BUT MANUFACTURERS Will NOT SUFFER
Pleasure Cars Not to Be Commandeered by
Government for War Purposes, and Sup
ply Shortage Will Be Met.

How will Americas entrance into
the war affect the automobile?
With calmness and equanimity that
are significant. the American people
have accepted war and its responsible
tiles The full seriousness of the hard
ships. responsibilities and sacrifices
which II will entail viii not actualize
for some time. Meanwhile. automobile
manufacturers, automobile owners, as
well as Americans in every branch,
trade and profession of life, realize
that they are face to face with new
problems. Conditions will be changed,
new fields OF opportunity will be
opened. while individual interests must
be sacrificed for the nations neeo.
The automobile depends for its life
upon two commodities, rubber and OIL
Not either of these or one Of these,
but both OF these And 1t is upon the
ste biliZation OF these markets that the
first anxiety Of the manufacturer falls.
\ spirit OF willing patriotism has al
ready been shown. Prominent rubber
manufacturers have loyalty placed
their plants, their experience and their
organizations at the disposal Of the
government Others have announced
their willingness to do so il these
services are required. The American
rubber industry has never been more
prosperous or in better condition to
face a war than now. With crude
rubber largely in the hands of our
allies, who in turn will be looking to
America for more supplies than here
tofore, there are at present no indica-
tions that there will be any shortage
of this fundamental necessity. Further
Great reduction OF the world ocean
carrying power will. however. serious
ly interfere with the volume that could
be imported. With this in mind, H. S.
Firestone, president of the Rubber AS
ISOLATION of America, n axes a plea for
the realization of the necessity for an
American merchant marine.
Is Plentiful
There Is plenty Of rubber" says
Mr.. Firestone, but its transporta-
ton must be kept open II shipments
Of rubber from London and the far
East were shut or, the rubber in
dustry would be paralyzed in from
thirty to sixty days"
OF necessity, all the companies
manufacturing rubber goods In this
country have for the past two years,
- . ACoAAN u NAC war NAN
period OF Americas neutrality, oper-
ated under a more or less complicat-
ed and cumbersome system for the
double purpose of insuring an unin-
terrupted supply Of crude rubber
one OF the means of which was a
careful control OF the destination OF
exported finished products. Now that
the United States Is definitely ranged
on the side Of the allies, this system
will no longer be necessary and this
viii be a source OF relief to Ameri-
can manufacturers in many ways
In view Of many things, however,
the American people may expect a
probable curtailment in the manu-
facture Of pleasure cars in order that
the immediate demand for army
trucks may be met The government
will require greatly increased sup
plies of materials which are manu-
factured from rubber and for some
months, at least, production cannot
be increased sufficiently to meet an
increased demand and the normal
commercial demand. A prompt dis
patch to the fighting front of an
American expeditionary force. with
its consequent immediate equipment
of rubber articles, would require a
careful inventory Of rubber facilitie;