Evening star., 1919-03-09
NEW ERA|Sb BEGUN
BY AUTO INDUSTRY
Does Part in War, and Now
Is Setting Record for Re-
construction Work.
"SH0W" HERE THIS WEEK

With the greatest war in the
worlds history practically ended. and
having done its share to put a stop
to the terrible holocaust, the automo-
tive industry-the third largest in the
United States-is starting upon a new
era and setting record for recon-
struction work that is without psral-
/. lei in the country today.
Pages have been written about the
magnificent work rendered the gov
ernment by those connected with the
automotive industry, and when the
history of the war is written It will
be found that its supremacy was
deciding factor.
Made Up of optimists-
The automobile trade is made up OF
optimists. Otherwise 1t could not have
grown to its present magnitude. From
the beginning the manufacturers
and dealers had implicit faith in the
growth and prosperity of the country,
in the utility of the automobile and
motor truck. and in their own abiI-
ity as business men. During the last
year of the war those vitality inter-
ested in the industry were soreiy
tried, not on account of financial con-
dition5 so much, but because of the
uncertainty as to whether or not their
product would meet the test demand
ed by our allies.
When it was proven that the brains
and brawn of the great American
automotive industry literally stood in
after hostilitfes had ceased for those
connected with all branches of the
business to regain their equilibrium
and start in afresh.
The representatives of the industry
in Washington are eager to throw
open the doors of their various estab-
lishments to welcome and show the
public, by means of displaying mod
els of their 1919 passenger cars and
trucks, what gigantic strides have
been made since the signing OF the
armistice. Beginning tomorrow and
continuing throughout the week every
automobile and truck distributor In
the city will keep open house.
Unable to Find Hall.
It is entirely due to the efforts OF
the new Washington Automotive
Trade Association, composed of men
in every branch of the business that
washington is to have this display.
The organization secured the city for
a building suitable to hold an auto
mobile show, but due to congested
conditions had to abandon the idea, -
1t was then decided that rather than
forego display altogether. an OPEN
house week would be held.
Owing to the curtailment of produce
ton during the past year and the huge
reconstruction work that confronted
the manufacturers when tfe sudden
unlikely that there will be any new
models shown this year. But With the
vast knowledge gained from expe-
rience in the war, where American
made vehicles of every description.
won such high honors it Is certain
that our alert engineers will quickly
remedy defects.
It is also extremely unlikely that
present prices will fall. 1t is more
likely. in fact. that prices on great
ma ajority of cars will advance. At the
present price of material and labor,
the manufacturer cannot produce
good vehicle any cheaper. II as cheap,
as he could a year ago. AS long as
the high cost of living continues the
cost of labor and material must re-
main high. 1t would seem advisable
for those who have been waiting for
marked drop in prices before selecting
their cars to abandon the idea ana
buy now.
Expect Heavy Demand.
The consensus of opinion is that the
year 1918 will be one long to be re-
membered by those interested in tho
business. and the most serious ques-
ton that looms up at present is
whether the manufacturers will be
able to supply the unprecedented de-
mand that is being made upon their
limited resources.
There are fifty different makes OF
,asvanpe- cars and thirty makes OF