El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-09-28
AUTOMOBILES A PRIME NECESSITY
ENTITLED TO FIRST CARE

OUR GOVERNMENT at Washington persists II classify
~ ing automobiles nonessenals, Injuries In Try
ing to divert attention from its runous eravaganoes
the excessive drain upon industry to pay federal taxes and
the continued high prices and tight money, the adinistra
ton pipes away about the spendt people and includes
automobiles with carpets furniture talking machines soda
water and cigars and few hundred other items, as
Injuries implying that the expenditures are unnecessary
ard accountable for the strain credits
If the 10000 trucks sent to France for the Of the
American army in the Injuries, then the
automobiles and trucks being used and marketed in this
country If railroads Injuries automobiles
If electric Light and power Injuries, automobiles
If telephones and typeers are Injuries, are autono-
hles and trucks.
'Zra7agance? For what reason have banks N cen
picked the automobile manufacturers distributors
purchasers and users objects of squeezing policy7
Only small percentage Of all the automobile vehicles
in the United States used primarily exclusively
pleasure vehicles Even the pleasure vehicles quite
necessary parks and athletic grounds. They
Injuries in sense that they be dispensed with but
much might be said thousand things that people use
eat wear houses they live II, that not abso
utey essential to bare existence But the fact is that not
10 percent Of passenger cars are reserved ont
Of that have do with business at least with
profitable time saving and not mere time spending
IF it were not for the 100000 automobile cars and
trucks IN IN the United States the railroads and cleo
trc lines would be utterly swsmped traffic city streets
and country roads would be blocked to standstiu and
the produce OF the country Its farms and industries could
lot move.
Automobiles and autotrucks are prime necessity IN
this day and age. There other industry IN America
whose general prosperity is essential to smoothly
working industrial commercial and financial system The
disposition IN quarters not only in governmental
circles and IN banking houses but among groups
Of nonowners Of ears to look upon the purchase and opera
ton Of car wanton extravaganza, is not only silly,
it is dangerous and carries possibilities Of serious disar
Tangsent Of the industrial and coercal balance in the
nataa reflected IN restriction Of legitimate credits
imposition Of excessive burdens
The automobile has precisely the claim TO be
gared essential the good read the telephone the
Telegraph the railroad and the mail Anything that saves
tine and compasses distance and promotes Communication
and facilitates exchange Of commodities and distribution Of
uecsares Is essential nowadays to be cassed as
q luxury.
While some pressure has been brought to bear fac
tories the dealer distributor entitled to consideration
and be is often less able to bear financial pressure than
The dealer pays cash for his cars, and he
must be financed until they paid for By the Ultimate
the banks did not help him cary the paper
Of his customers the capital he would have TO employ would
be enormous beyond the reach Of any but few great
poratons. It that TIE factories might Justly be
called upon TO assist to some extent In financing the dealers
and distributors that the Waole pressure would not
come the smaller 1ocsltes Dealers are entitled to
greater degree Of protection IN their agsneies.
The factories not free Of responsibilities in connec
ton with the distributing end Of the business They have
been having things very much their way but It Is not
impossible that readjustmeuts due before the
cnery Of distribution be called perfect At the same
te the factories doing big work in meeting the
present situation by cutting prices, and this is bound 20
stimulate demand and promote absorption, while relieving
in a measure the pressure the banks.