The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1917-11-15
HENRY fORD'S OFFER

USV -
! All ford Factories rendered to the
/ Government May Result in Stop
/ Making Any Pleasure Cars.
letter in Philadelphia Public Ledger:
Henry Ford will build no more
pleasure cars until the war is, over.
He will devote his entire plant to
the production of<-War necessities,
such as tractors, ambulances, air
carft engines and shells. Through
his personal represeinatatlye, e: II.
tinue absolutely the production of
pleasure cars, and under the head of
''pleasure cars fall all the ordinary
runabouts, touring cars and small
commercial trucks which his plant
has turned out by the thousands.
Mr.. Ford's patriotic offer was ac-
greatest gratitude. The shortage of
chrome yanadium steel which is
needed vitally for shells and air
plane engines, has caused the great
est uneasiness among the men re-
sponsible for putting through on
time our program Of industrial war
in peace time approximately 100000
tons of chrome vanadium steel a
year All this steel will now go into
war work.
The chrome shortage, which men
aces OuS war program,~is due in part
to the increased demand of chrome
for war work. but more especially
makes it impossible to get enough
ships to bring an adequate supply of
chrome from Rhodesia and New
Caledonia, where it is produced.
Government officials declare that it
is utterly impossible to allow auto
mobile manufacturers to consume
the same amount of chrome as. in
time of peace and at The same time
have enough left to fill our war de-
mands.
This chrome shortage is the pri-
mary cause of the recent decision OF
the war industries board to cut down
the production of pleasure automo-
per cent.
But for many reasons as we'll it is
desired to turn the automobile fac
tories to war work. There is such a
shortage of coal throughout the ma
ton that many steel mills engaged
in war work have had to shut down
portions of their plants, In the face
ernment officials that it is little
short Of crime against the nation to
allow coal to be sunnlied to indus
tries engaged in the production OF
nonessentials.
Doctor Garfield has repeatedly an=
nounced that the coal supply OF non
essential industries would be cut off,
and it is expected that the fuel ad-
ministration will take action in this
direction in the very near future.
Furthermore, the railroads are w
able xto haul sufficient coal for bbtn
noneSsential industries and essential
Industries. Throughout all govern.
ment circles in which the decision. OF
Mr.. Ford is known lie is. receiving
the highest praise for his-frank fac
ing of this situation and his action in
doing his bit to reduce the nonessen--
ton demand for chrome, coal and
freight cars.
It is hoped by the government
that The committee of automobile
manufacturers which now has under
consideration the reduction OF the
output of pleasure automobiles will
be inspired by the same patriotic
motives that moved Mr.. Ford.
1t is insisted by the government
officials who are handling this mat
ter that there would be enough war
work to keep every automobile fac
JOTy IN Iu0 udIiOH oOlAo 9Auii IAAiS
and overtime, evenlif the production
of pleasure automobiles should be
abandoned altogether Such radical
action as this, however, is not con-
temphted for the present, as it is
desired to keep the selling organiza-
tions of the various factories INTACT,
which would be impossible ii the
manufacture OF pleasure cars were
entirely discontinued.
Hanrv FordN has offered VOluntar-
lily to do the. thing which the auto
mobile manufacturers of nearly ey-
cry nation at war have been compell-
ed to do. In Germany shortly after
the outbreak of the war the use OF
specified list Of raw materials Tor
anything but war work was forbid
den. This list included steel, cop
per. leather and all other commod-
tiles useful in war. Manufacturers
not merely of automobiles, but such
things as pianos, had to turn their
plants at once to the production of
Shells and other munitions. An in
dustrial metamOrphosis was prOduc-,
ed in a surprisingly short time.
Today the German official figures
Indicate that more than 80 per cent
of the industries of the nation eare
engaged in war work. If the United
States is to carry the industrial bur-
den of the war successfully there
must be a similar, though less radi-
cal turning of industry from nones-
sential-to war work. Henry Ford
has Shown the way.
soldier Boys Remembered COmrade.
Z