The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-02-29
Industrial Life Of the Nation
Now Enters Upon the Real Test
ny IL COLE

having Just emerged from perhaps
t.ae most notable epoch OF reconstruct
tton In the Industrial life or our ma
ucn American business stands on the
threshold Of an era which is destined
20 apply the acid test to whatever we
mey have achieved
k0f year or. more our activities
Wsre 30 frouEht with restless enter
nriss that we found 1t scarcely pos
ssols to analyxc all that had been ac-
compiished. Just how much OF tho
work is to endure the coming year will
til.
Keyed to a pitch of excited enthusi-
asm. eager In our national pride to
prove our ability to carry to a success
ful and speedy close the great under
taking. ON which we embarked with
our allies overseas. American industry
threw itself heart and soul into the
tssk of winning the war.
The zeal displayed on every hand
Vas inspiring Then suddenly the en-
tire panorama changed. From war.
We were fairly catapulted into peace.
We found ourselves back-sf1ifting for
oufseives-left to our own resources.
How valientiy American industry
rtehted itself: how quickly 1t returned
from war to peace basis has been
rho wonder of the rest 81 the world
Gince November IL. 1918, Americas
Industrial achievements have been
6rcbdigna gian. And rearing over the
foet, the motor car industry stands as
. huge Cyciops-a monument to the
ability. the Integrity, the vitality of
those who have been responsible for
Its strides since the war ended.
Had the automobile industry simply
been compelled to return to its erst-
while normal basis, the task would
nAve been gigantic enough considering
how easily it was disrupted In its ell
Forts to sacrifice IT'S personal interests
Tor the greater national good But
n has been forced to do more than
that
Immediately the American people
foand the shackles OF restraint re-
moved by the Cessation OF hostiiities
. demand which had been dammsns
fteelf I'D for year and half, burst
nike food upon the motor car indus
t1v.
The CRY for motor cars was heard
- every hand. Each day the demand
became more compelling. A new class
~ buyers had been created for some
cark Others who had cone without
new cars while the var was on want
ID to bay and buy at once.
Realizing that what an imminent
shortage Of cars. i. was a case of frst
como first served the motor buying
public permitted no grass to grow I'M
Ger Its feet in its effort 70 secure auto
mobiles.
With such a demand a. its beck and
call. with public more easy to satisfy
than ever before because it had done
without SO long that it was satisfied
to take what II could get the motor
Cat Industry proved its true worth by
the attitude It assumed toward pro-
duction
Instead Of simply going back where
II had left eft and building cars of the
same type il had been producing prior
70 the war. the motor car manufac- (
tnrera of America ieaped boldly across
tas c@7asnf 81 time that had elapsed I
took advantage Of every development
which tie intensive research during
thn war had evolved and gave to the
American motoring public a new type
Of automobile cars which embodied
fhs adXanaefntpts which war cngf- 4
fstriuE had produced.
Bow tnuch ti'ts added to the task I
fAere il ma Ma 81 calculating. But :
4 wis acees4szlisaee,. and American
4atemah }e ssatauk ~ a.sa+ers now have
hs Satisfaction OF kno~ing that they
sart tAelr tAth NTH sae pablc~-ihat +
hey pfogreSwra desrIt~ every handi~ I
n.r. 89a taar they hf*e sfFet only re-
Established themselves tn business, but
have not lusr minute In progress.
Ia fact, thts have taken bigger strides
ttons to Industrial snenee during the
recent period of reconstruction have
been greater than those which char
lcterixed any previous effort
: Fer ourselves, we have done all in
our power to keep faith with our
slirntele. That the public has appreci-
Ated our efforts is best shown by the
Ncrensed demand which we have ex-
peFianced.
From maximum production OF
About $500 cars a year prior to the
var. wc enlarged our program 10 $500
sAY9 for 1919, and even then were un-
Abla TO supply but a fraction OF the
number OF cars actually ordered.
Wa are now adding materially to
~ factory and equipment-more than
our factory facilities-and in
80 will produce a minimum $4,000
ara To this number we will add lust
= quickly As we can
OR distributor and dealer organixa-
~ has responded nobly From for
Nm markets we have experienced a
lomAnd for cars that has exceeded our
.sa1ost expectations.
IN the lastseixhteen months We have
woven = web that encompasses the
riohA. Our sales fabric lis more COM
l1ste than cver before. We now are
proud 70 be able to say that there is
lot = country where cars are sold with
Ae exception of Germany and Russia
md there il hardly q city Of conse.