The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-06-06
By GEORGE BIGGERs

ARather interesting are the moves made in various parts of the country by automobile dealers regarding the ac- tlon of the banks in refusing to accept motor car paper" or at least in trim Ing 1t down to a minimum
 In Tennessee last week the automo- bile dealers all over the state held a meeting and de6ifed to go before the bankers in body and ask the bankers to be reasonable" The dealers want the banks to accept their paper" per- chance on a tighter basis than former " held sway, but then they wanted 1t accepted even to small extent.
 In Kansas City the automobile deal CTS have formed an association of their own and contemplate handling their own paper"
 CONDITIONS ABOUT SAME
 Conditions are about the same all over the United States in regard to the banks and automobile paper" It just isn't being done" now and that's about the end of it. The big fellows are go- ing on through and undoubtedly will weather the storm, but with some of the smaller fry who haven't the if nancial backing, the outlook could as- sume rosier hue.
 Just yesterday a truck salesman, M. F. Fox, representing the Fulton Mo-
 J gotten on it's feet again after a rather turbulent session, was talking with the automotive editor regarding conditions over the country. MT. Fox was making sort of flying trip, and had just vis- lted Cleveland, St. Louis. Kansas City, omaha, Denver, St. Joe and is now cov- ering the southern states
 Tn Cleveland and Omaha the au- tomobile dealers are panicky,' said MT. ahc +rJ. know what to do. They seem to be in trance. None of them are going out after business. In St Louis and Den ver conditions are better, the dealers regarding the banking situation as be- ing all in days work, and are mak- ing the best of it. It's harder for them to make deals but then they are go- ing after the business just the same and they are getting it"
 STARTED RETRENCHING
 Birmingham dealers started retrench- ing two weeks ago-that is the big ma jority of them did. Some read the Handwriting on the wall and prepared for the emergency The first move that some or them made was in disposing or their used cars as quickly as possible They wanted to convert that money into ready cash and some pushed used cars to the exclusion of everything else The Hlain ldea was to get as much money in hand as possible.
 Quite few of the Birmingham deal CTS regard the tightening of the money market as a good thing for the business here. There is no doubt but what there were some Hong trades' being made in Birmingham. Too much money was being allowed on used cars too little cash was being accepted and many of the notes were of the long, term variety. Kansas City dealers have an agreement now whereby they will not accept less than 50 per cent cash and the notes to run not longer than eight months It's coming to that in every place, too, it seems. Present con- ditions are forcing the automobile busi- ness back to business basis. It had reached stage where it almost ceased to be business because of the many 'wild' deals that were being made right along.
 It is to be hoped, however, that Bir- mlngham dealers do not become pan icky." Now is the time for the opti- mists to step to the fore and spread little optimism wherever they go The pessimists are always with us.- They