Evening star., 1918-01-13
SAG MOTOR FIRMS
IN NATIONAL SHOW
Eighteenth Annual Exhibit at
New York Is Bewi|dering Va
riety Of Classy Models.
ADDRESS BY GOV. WHITMAN

! With probably more exhibitors than
ever seen before at motor exhibition,
the eighteenth annual national automobile
show in New York closed its doors last
night The exhibitors this year num-
ibered s46 different companies. OF which
feighty-six displayed 400 complete motor
vehicles or chassas in bewildering vari-
ETY. of models, while the others displayed
a multitude of useful and luxurious ac-
| cessories, which add to the comfort and
serviceab bility of the power-driven car.
Naturally. the larger number were gaso-
line engine automobiles, but there were
five exhibits of electric cars and two of
steam, the latter, in the view of some
experts, apparently being on the eve of
a renewed popularity.
| That the motor vehicle still retains it's
| old-time interest in the eagerness of the
public to study the latest types and in
spect the new refinements characteristic
| of the years progress was seen in the
surprisingly large attendance throughout
| the week. The show was opened Janu-
airy with address by Gov. Whitman,
| who was accompanied by an escort of
| officials from the National Automobile
! Chamber of Commerce. under whose aus
piceS the show was given In the party
were Alfred Reeves. general manager of
| the national chamber; Windsor White.
| H. "a.
manager of the show; Charles Stewart
| and Alexander ]. Hemphill, president of
| the Automobile Club of America and
Chairman Of the board of directors of the
| Guaranty Trust Company. Mr.. Hemp
| hill introduced Gov. Whitman, who made
| a brief address.
Indispensable in War, Says Whitma
| You meet at a time" said the gov
ernor. when the thoughts uppermost
in the minds Of our people concern the
one subject which is absorbing the
worlds attention-the great war. All
| of our wealth. our ingenuig our la
Dor and inventive skill mu de-
voted to the service of our count. y and
perhaps there is no other one manu-
featuring industry that may contribute
more to the winning of the war than
that devoted to the making of motor
vehicles.
war is a terrible test by which to
tor. but the present worldwide conflict
has demonstrated the tremendous i'm
portance of this new method of trans
portation and the great service to the
country rendered by those who are sup
plying for the use of our armies this
absolutely indispensable means of To-
comotion. The motor SO far has play
ed a roll in the struggle such as even
the most enthusiastic military man
never dreamed of before. I think 1t is
true that the governments. through
| their officials, have shown by their ac-
| tions that they realize the Importance
| of this great industry. I am told that
during the past year approximately
| &C, 900 motor vehicles valued at $780,
0O0,00 have been exported American
cars are now on trial before the world
and the manufacturers Of this country,
while they are ding more domestic bus
mess than ever before. are also supply
| ing the demand for these vehicles for
| merly met by the three great manu-
featuring and exporting nations now at
! war. Last year the automobile exports
were greater than those Of all other
kinds Of machinery, surpassed in value
only by the exports of explosives. iron.
steel and foodstuffs.