The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-06-26
The eAaal,nae
IS Essential 81

p. c. Stokes, former governor Of,
New Jersey; who is now president OF
I the Mechanics .NatioIa Bank Of
Trenton, II. j.. member of the Fed q
eral Reserve System fl1s s5yEr1tt ten the
following letter to the yaited & Globe;
Rubber company Of Trerton, n. j. as:
I 10 his views on the automDb bile ifldals-
itry. -. - =: -
{ tAs. banker, Interested in the
prosperity Of the country and the. l.e nee
essary maintenance and developm ent
Of an industry that furnishes employ
ment and wages and thus promotes
the general welfare Of, the masses,
beg leave: to call your attention to
the reported action Of some of the
Federal Reserve Banks in CHASING
Automobiles as nom essentials in the
extension Of credit.
| s.It might-be well to call the atten-
ton of:stlie banking fraternity to the
Importance Of the automobile. not eniy
| as "a factor IN the necessary transpor-
tation facilities OF. the country but as
a contributor to one Of the largest
OF our industries and a promoter Of
the . happiness and morals OF our
people.
sit is a mooted. question whether
1.-THE automobile industry stands second
or third in The country. It all the
parts in connection herewith are IN
cluded, it ranks second. What lndiVld-
i.ual banker. has a. right to say there
fore. that an industry which by the
| common Judgment Of the people OF
this country, has attained such pro-
| portions in our Industrial life, is
on-essential? Burke said you can
not indict a. whole people. No bank X
! ing fraternity or government has a
right to say an industry Of such size
as the autono bile industry, based up
on the needs. and requirements OF tne
public, is, unnecessary and therefore
! unworthy, of. eredit.
.The automobile is OF immense
! value to the nation as a promoter OF
the spirit of 5contentment and as an
effective snppressor. Of the spirit OF
unrest. No owner Of an ,au@tom tom opile T.
even though it be pleasure car, VINO mo
| is able to enjoy its use:for his fatasiy
or his friends, is likely 10 beeonas e. e 2 Z.
Bolshevist or Communist He fayors
! the continuation Of things as they are
because he has means OF Happiness
| in his own possession and Therefore
kis against any unheaval Of the present
! social order.
1 Next 10 the church, there is no
factor in. American life that does SO
much for the morals of the pubic as
does the automobile. Formerly tiie g
pleasures. Of life divided the family.
The falher had one avenue Of recrea- a
.IItfon. the mother another. the cnIid-
]rIeen another. Today our roadsides are
fetowded with family picnic parties
Who carry their lunches with them he n
land who take their outing as a unit. unit.
ANY device that brings the fanaily to.
igether as a. unit in their pursuit Q,
pleasure, is a. promoter. OF good NOR.
Eals and yields benefcent influence
T that makes for the good of American
civilization. If every family IN tnt
1 land rassessed an automobile, famA!
tiles would be closer and many OF tne .i1e
I nroblems; OF social unrest wouies o.
1 haprily solved. The barker who say:
that a device Of this kind is a non
j essential possesses narrow vision
Land fails to see the far-reaehing influi, y
ence it has For good. The antomohils
is one Of the: co1ntrys best ministers ,l.al
and best preachers"