Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-12-09
u. S. GOVERNMENT
NEEDING MOTORS
President Of Goodyear Tire &
Rubber Co. Discusses Trans {.
portation Problems.
AUTOMOBILES ARE ESSENTIAL
Foolish Speculation About the
Curtailment of Output Of
Cars, Says Seiberling.
AUTOMOBILES ARE ESSENTIAL

The action Of the government Of
the allies IN restricting the use OF
automobiles to governmental pur-
poses, has naturally aroused much
speculation as to the probable at
titudC OF our authorities In this coun-
try concerning the use of automobiles.
There has been much diversity of
opinions as TO just how far the needs
= OF the nation, In prosecuting the war,
would affect the use of motor cars
The apparently incxhaustible sup
ply of gasoline and the enormous pro-
duction of cars have led some to sug-
gest that after all, there would be
no curtailment of their use. Others
have PREDICTED extremely severe re-
etrictions. The statement of Mr.. +.
A. Seibcrlng, president of the Good
year Tire & Rubber Co., of Akron,
Ohio. in this connection, is therefore
of timely interest to all motorists and
to the automobile industry in general.
Mr.. Soldering is director OF the
:. United States chamber or commerce,
and in close touch with the program
of the government concerning the
war For some time he has been In
almost constant association with the
what that program is. Much has been
the plans for winning the war; spend
Ing several days each week at WASH
ington, in conference.
THE government at Washington Is
doing some things that startle US,
says Mr.. Seiberling. because we DO
not have proper understanding OF
what program is. Much has been
said about stopping the automobiles.
This is all nonsense. The government
Is going to lay its heavy hand on the
non essential industries. But the rub
ber business and the automobile busi-
ness are not In that class. They are
essential industries.
"Just because In England and
France the use of automobiles had TO
be checked, It does not follow that wc
have parallel conditions here. You
must remember that in England ana
cent gasoline, but with $500 and $1.26
gasoline, and that over there the
man power IL exhausted. almost TO
the last man. They have to get every
man available, even from the esson.
tial industries. on the battle front.
They want the automobiles to run for
governmental purposes. When l was
there in 1915, they were alreedy
'boohing' automobiles along the streets
Of London.
Autos Must Take Up Burden,
"But we are not going to get to
that point In this country. Here we
have Il tremendous area. and great
amount of transportation Is necessary
The railroads have broken down and
cannot carry It, The automobile tits
In for the direct purpose of the war
10 n greater extentsthan we have yet
discovered. The commercial end OF
the business will expand tremendous
w. More commercial cars Will De
made than we have ever dreamed or
The JOY riders will be clipped off,
but that does not mean that the man
who takes his family out for ride on
a Sunday of holiday to bet readjust-
ment. probably for the tension OF
. the week, will he criticised,
a Sunday or holiday to get read1llst-
things that ought to be done. Tho
line of demarcatfon can never be
drawn very clearly. but 1t Will not
be drawn so arbitrarily that a. man
will he criticised for taking his fam
ily out for ride, as is the case IN
England. A great many OF the cars
now running Will take OFT their tour-
Ing bodies, and other bodies put on TO
work economically for war purposes
Tires will be used right along, more
and more every year, no matter what
happens. >The tire industry Is essen
tial, and II is going on, notwlthstanu-
ing the production of automobiles may
be cut.
''In the ultimate working out or tho
governments program We are going 10
find out that we must all make sac
rifices for the one great purpose OF
winning the war. That program Is
roing 10 carry with II q tremendous
readjustment in business, In this
country, we have all been individuals,
and our success as a people has been
largely because az individuals, each
one of US could develop the power and
possibilities within us, ard we have
with ambition and enthusiasm, worked
out our individualistic thot.
'.We are going to find that We
must work more as a whole, for the
one thing, the plan OF the government.
We are starting In Washington now.
where we have democratic form OF
government. the most autocratic pow.
rethe world has ever seen In aov-
ernment matters. Before this war
over the president Is going to be the
greatest autocrat in The history of tho
world. His power is going to reach
every corporation in the land, and
every individual. and regulate to what
ever extent Is necessary for govern
ment use. This Is coming certainly
with the prolongation Of the war. and
I believe we are In for q long siege OF
It.
eve have got to move from low,
inefficient plane Of democratic fight
Ing to that high efficient plane or
autocratic fighting. and we are on
pected to do It overnight-an< Inn
, possible thing. But progress Is being
made and we are. moving forward
steadily to the point where this Sleep
ing American giant will be awakened.
to become the mightiest fighting force
on the earth. In this great war. II ID
the decision Of this nation that we
are not going to have any people on
earth menace uA and we are fighting
to make cur future secure for all
time"
De Palma probably WI 20 after
the one-milc and hour records In Flo
rida in December. according to pses-
ont plans He will uso the 6OO-inch