Great Falls tribune., 1921-03-13
Americans Want Freedom Of Movement:
: -:
Automobile Business Will Be Good in 1921:
By ALFRED REEVES,

Automobile Chamber Of Commerce.
All signs point to conservative but
active business conditions in 1921.
Any one who says this Of the auto
mobile industry is looking into the
future with scientifically constructed
field glasses end not merely gazing
into crystal.
No one can predict how many cars
or trucks will be prod6ced, but the
careful observer and historian can say
that the 1921 total will approximate
and very probably exceed the output
of preceding years.
There has never been year in the
automobile industry when the prOduc-
ton fell behind that of any preceding
year with the sole exception of 1918
when all factories were going full
blast on war business.
Bright Season Ahead.
There have been conditions in the
past, too, such as in 1907 and l914,
when the outlook was far more seri-
ous than it is today. In fact. many
of the more conservative financial men
and business forecasters are saying
that the spring will lead to general
rise in trade which vii! be Of benefit
to all industries.
It does not take economists or sta
tisticians to foresee the continued
growth Of the automobile business or
to be aware of why cars and trucks
have come by such rapid stages to
their present degree of development.
We have always thought of the
railroads and the merchant flats of
the world as creators Of civilization,
spreaders of intelligence and develop
crs Of wealth. But because the motor
car and trucks are such small units,
because Jim Jones and Tom Robinson
can afford car, we are not SO likely
to think of the automobile in such far
reaching terms. Few of us can own
railroads and the merchant fleets of
not alter the fact that each autom obile
owner through possession of his car
is thereby a director in the major
transportation development of the
present century.
Auto as Democratizer.
In fact the automobile has done
more than any other factor in modern
civisi7ation to give to the common man
an assurance of his democratic rights.
This statement may sound a trifle
over enthusiastic, but let us examine
the facts: The railroads carried civil
ization along main arteries, across and
up and down the country. Those who
had lands near the railroads benefited
greatly and others gained somewhat
Indirectly. The railroads necessarily
because of a large capital investment
have been controlled by a few, and
it is quite Fobvious that in the interest
Of efficiency they could not meet the
diverse interests of thousands of citi-
zens. The consequence has been that
numerous individual interests have
hoc
located at distant points, because
preferential rates were given in one
territory over another and on one
commodity over another. But with the
coming of the motor car each owner
was put into sole control of his own
transportation system which made
him independent of whether or not the
railroad came to his door. He was
placed in a position where he could
link up with trunk lines even though
they were 100 or 200 miles away. He
does not depend today on the sched-
ules Of some traction company or upon
other outside forces to connect him
with civilization. The automobile con-
sequently is unit which has given
economic independence to the two and
one-half million farmer-owners and to
all whose livelihood depends on get
ting from point to point with maxi
mum ease.
People Viii Yield Freedom.
That is why the automobile business
will go forward. People will give ur
recreation, people will sacrifice prof
The man or woman who has learned
to go or come as his need demands
will not go back to a system where
he or she is dependent upon the sched
Iles of railway company, or the un'
certain services Of a traction line.
This comment must not be taker
as a criticism Of our electric or steam
roads. / would not take away one
degree of credit from the genius oi
those who have developed these ave
nues Of communication, nor would
suggest that they are not being rul
with efficiency. They are undoubtedl!
vital; and a severe abbreviation O.
their service would be calamitous
But ] do wish to make the point tina
every man whose business depends
himself by ownership of car agains
mishaps to the rail systems. Durin
the past five years there have beel
many instances of discrimination 0
trolley systems, strikes, and traction
company failures which would hav
left thousands of commuters entirel
out of reach of their places of busines
had it not been for the automobile.
This outline of the fundamental i'm
portance of the car and truck is give
to show why in the general course Q
business the automobile industry is
fixture. There are seasons 0
contraction in the making of cars an
trucks just as there are periods OF in
active markets Of wheat and cottoI
but in the long run those businesse
which deal with essentials Of ivin
must prevail.
In addition, and growing out OF thi
fact, there are many points which indi
cate that the 1921 trade in cars an
trucks will be active.
Car Is Entry On Credit Side.
The automobile not only links u
the individual family group with til
rest of society and assures it indie
pendence, but it also writes an entr
on the credit side of the bank balance
There are exceptions to this rule
Some men use their automobile
sheerly as instruments Of recreation
That is their Nivilege, but the bulk 2
the car owners rs}consider their automo
bile as part Of their working capital.
This fact is quite evident on th
face of it but some very illuminatin
testimonies have been gathered durin
the past year which bear out the poin
Readers have doubtless seen in th