Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-01-26
HARD TIMES AN
ALLY OF KAISER
Willys Warns Prosperity Must
Continue to. Assure
Victory
BY JOHN n. wILLYs

/ by oOAtN n. WILLIE
President WHY'S Overland. Inc.
The war has given opportunily for
a great deal of platform oratcry,
and, as always happens unGe' SINH
lar circumstances. a variety of theo-
ltes are advanced, some of which
are highly practical and some of
winch need only moments consid-
GRAFTON to convince one that the
orator has not given the subject any
l cal thought and consideration.
We have on our hands to-day the
most important job that any nation
ever had and 1t is essential that we
analyze carefully the various the
ories which have been advanced.
Then We must follow only the course
which will be of benefit to this ma
ton in this war with Germant. In
stead of, through ignorance and lack
| of consideration, finding ourselves
working for the Kaiser.
We must thrash the Kaiser thor
oughly. The point at issue is how
best to do 1t.
While the manufacturers of this
country have practically unanimous
ly notified the Government that they
are anxious to help in the produc-
| ton of materials for war, there Is,
! however, no way of determining as
| yet to what degree war essentials
| will absorb the entire productivity of
the country.
Any attempt to direct public pur-
chases beyond this limit OF war es-
sentials might easily work griev-
cous hardship on many industries.
II thousands of people were thrown
out of employment, a depression
would be created which might bc re-
| Elected Immediately in the public at
| titude toward the war.
We cannot fight the Kaiser and
hard times at the same time. We
require prosperity in this country
with which to win this war, IL that
prosperity does not interfere with
the building of munitions. Is 1t not
therefore, wisest for us to follow the
policy of filling the Government con-
tracts with the utmost speed and
keep the rest of our productivity 60
ing in accord with public demand,
so that the vast army of the Amer
lean people at home are in posi-
ton to support the Government with
spirit of optimism, and also with
enough money to help market the
bond issues which are coming up
from time to time?
l refer now to the broad inter
ests of all American industry. The
automobile industry in which l am
personally interested is so firmly es-
tablished as a part of the great
transportation system of this country
that those who know the part it
plays considers 1t one of the 'funda-
mental essentials of this country to-
day. But there are other industries
which have been classed by unthink-
ing people as non-essentials. l be-
lieve such classifications are pernici-
Gus and dangerous.
What is. essential to me may not
be to you. AS a matter of fact, you
may say that even the clothes you
have on your back and the boots you
wear are non-essential, because the
North American Indians lived here
in the same climate for thousands of
years without them. Similar COM
ment might be made concerning
many industries.
I believe the public is capable OF
deciding what is essential to them,
and we should, after war needs are
properly supported, let the people
alone to make their own choice of
their requirements.
To illustrate how impossible it is
for any man to determine his neigh
bor's requirements. l was talking the
other day to man who was in
clined to refer to motor cars as a
nOn-eSSenIldl "hliS ilt iS5ol uSu lAiC
railroad as a necessity.
That man did not know that sew
eral of his neighbors were saving
many dollars every year by travel
ing from their country homes to
town in their cars instead of by
railroad.
He did not know the motor car is
taking an even greater part in the
pioneer development of the country
than is the railroad. Nor did he
know that the seating capacity of
automobiles in this country is great
er than that of the railroads.
He had been informed that the
pleasure driving of automobiles is
less than fifteen per cent.-probably
less than the pleasure riding on
trains and trolleyS.
He had not considered that ev-
cry automobile parked down town
in our cities represents a man or
woman on some time-saving business
esent or that the 100000 automo-
biles in rural communities are trans
porting millions of pounds of pro-
duce daily, bringing farms nearer to
town and saving millions of hours
for productive time to farmers who
formerly had to master their trans
portation problems with horses.
He did not know that statesmen
to-day are saving ten to fifty per
cent. of their time with the auto
mobile-leaving that much extra
power for Uncle Sam.
I point out these things about my
business just to show you how mis-
taken a man may be in his opinion
about the necessity of any industry.
Above all times. this is good time
for every man to weigh his remarks
and stick to those things about which
he is informed.
view with suspicion of Interior
motive the remarks of any man who
breaches a doctrine that tends to
stagnate any industry below the pub
lies demand and beyond the Gov
ernmen1s actual need of its curtail-
ment.
For example, certain men mali
ciously' interested in reduced prices
for motor stocks have thrown out
misleading impressions about the au-
tomobile industry as similar groups
have around other industries. But
| tell you no little group of men
can for their own gain interfere with
that which the public has decided
will increase efficiency and make
more useful citizens.
We are going to win this war
We are going to win through pros
perity here. And l urge that form
of optimism from every man. who
lifts his voice.
yELIE COMPANY OVERSoLD
Plant Is Also Handling War Depart
ment Contracts