South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-06-28


ing; next year we go swimming
country at large were still in the
blues, Erskine pictured 20 Stude-
baker dealers at their ew York
banquet at the Plaza a 100. 000-car
production, sending them back home
full OF confidence and long OF the
stock
Market Price OF Shares TrcbIed
The extraordinary rise In Sude-
baker dealers az their New York
Studebaker dealers and for a host
I Of Erskine's friends scattered
throughout the country. II was the
I day before Christmas. 1920. that
\ the stock broke a $40 share and in
7 less than IT months It has crossed
\ 125. All OF Ersklne's market pre-
I dictlons made good. The flavor OF
this romance was suggested at the
/ last New York Show dinner OF the
Automobile Chamber OF Commerce
when the gag master" who pre-
scented with appropriate remarks
/ medals 10 the various leaders OF
the industry, admitted in presenting
4 Ersline's medal. that all present
/ would have Jared better in 1921
I had they ceased manufacturing IN
the West and trekked 70 Wall
Street TO buy studebaker stock.
But Erskine is more interested
in building up Studebaker than in
mere market fluctuations His un-
bounded faith in the company has
been evidenced afresh within 90
days by the decision 10 expend
/ 100000 for new buildings in
South Bend TO render the company
more self-contained. The only fly
in his ointment is concern over
housing facilities.
Has a Heart
Which brings to mind one OF his
strong characteristics. civic pride
Nobody believes in South Bend
I, more than Erskine. He predicts
that by 1925 II will outstrip Toledo
in population and his only worry
is that the city will not be able
TO take care of his employees. His
vigor and sincerity OF purpose were
concretely demonstrated by the
$4,000. 900 expenditure on housing
developments by Studebaker in
1920 through the Citizens Home
Company, a subsidiary.
The same keen appreciation OF
the human element in business (:
eXampled by the compreh ansive Co
operati tive Department which though
directly managed by a former Pres
byterian minister in South Bend il
one of Erskine's Fets. Generou:
anniversary check plan. co-partner-
ship plan, vacation plan, pension
and life insurance plans have re.
duced the Studebaker labor turn.
over TO under 63 per cent. and
created a marvellous loyalty. Profit
sharing has been shrewdly devised
10 make extra efforts OF executives
worth while. They share in every
gain in net-that is why Erskines
own urge carries through the whole
organization.
Not ony is Erslcne keenly inter
ested in the welfare OF his factor
employees but he never loses al
opportunity for contact Will
whom he is on almost as intimate
terms as his sales managers. Es
pecially IS he anxious TO push the
young fellow. One of the big Pa
cific coast distributors that nat
made the Studebaker name famou!
in Southern California is a proteg,
who was given his tremendous OF
portunity by fcrskine when h,
emerged in his upper 20s from tn,
army at the end Of the war Thu
Cleveland dealer that is makinl
such a brilliant record this -ear Il
also another young find"
Erskine comes naturally by hi
warmth toward his fellowman. be
ing a Southerner by birth. Born Fl
b Huntville, Alabama, the town o
which his great-grandfather was
p founder in Revolutionary days, h
spent his early boyhood there. HI
; first job was taken at the age of I
: as office boy on a wholesale pape
5 house in ST. Louis at $50 a month
! In that city he stayed six years. end
D ing up as municipal bookkeeper a
! a salary OF $50 a month. Then h
2 went with a wholesale drug nous
r where he stayed until he was 2
years old.
How He Developed
, His real business career dates fror
, 1898 when he Joined the America
, Cotton oil Co. as chief clerk, ad
. vancing to the general auditorshlT
When that company failed IN 1904
, he undertook the auditing OF tn
Yale and Towne Co. and was prom
ised the treasurership OF that con
Germ by President Towne If he mad
: good. He was Installed before tn
!. audit was finished. He stayed wit
Yale and Towne for six years, goin
thence TO Underwood Typewriter CO
IN 1910, and from the vice-presiden
cy OF that company 10 the treasurer
ship OF the Studebaker. In 1911 n
was made first vice-president, com
ing at the age OF a. years to tn
: head OF a 10000 600 concern. no.
one OF Americas greatest INDUSTRIAL
with resources OF over 500, 900 o
and SIS, 1000. 900 earning power.
A R Erskine is a man OF averag
! height with the powerful round
shaped. forward thrusting head c
the executive. set fairly close TO hi
F. shoulders and with the keen ey
OF the visionary who makes realitie
Of his dreams. He radiates energ,
: optimism and confidence. The drivin
: force behind HIS powerful frame
o tempered by the warmth OF his per
= sonality and the charm OF hi
z southern accent. At 81 he appear
Z 70 be at the height of his power.
= Broad and Modest
= Unlike a good many automobIl
= company executives who have grow
y up with the industry. he IS a man {
IA very catholic taste. interested I
a more than the making and spendin
= Of money. The breadth OF his ir
] terests IS evidenced by his presenC