The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-05-09

alive orders of his physician, had
slipped away for his first real vaca-
ton. He interested WHY'S to the
extent that the latter altered his
itinerary and went to England, where
he put Knight motored cars through
Il grueling test. So impressed was
WHY'S that he returned to Amcl lea
ready to build car powered by a
Knight motor.
1t was a brilliant stroke. There
are today more WHY'S Knight motor
ed cars in existence than all other
Knight types combined. WHY'S
knight sales have doubled each year,
despite the natural competition of
80 per cent of all automobile sales
men and dealers. And the rush to
the knight-type motor by builders
in Europe where the patents have
recently expired, indicates that it's
inherent value is conceded.
A brilliant stroke, yes, but not
nearly so brilliant as the later one
whereby he acquired the Knight pa
tents, thereby insurlng to himself
dominance in knight-motored cars
for years to come and doubtless
forever.
In 1915 Willys-Overland had ban
ner year. Even greater strides were
made in 1916, 14l,OOO cars being
built and sold, thus making II the
biggest year in the company's entire
ictn nf
Then came war.
MISTAKE TO LEAVE TOLEDO
With it's advent WHY'S, as one of
Americas leading business men and
principal owner of the biggest single
automobile plant in the world, found
that his presence was required in the
national capital with frequency
that made him almost weekly COM
muter between Washington and Toll
| edo
1t was a difficult problem to solve!
Should he stay at Toledo and remain
in personal charge? Or should be
delegate authority and remain in the
East? He chose to remain in the
East, keeping in contact with Toledo
by private wire. So, late in 1918, he
moved his family to New York so as
to be nearer Washington.
1t was great mistake-one that
he freely admits now.
Confronted by the manifold pro-
blems of his far flung interests,
WHY'S could have worked 20 hours
a day. He did, almost. Back in Toll
edo things seemed to be running
along smoothly. With the postwar
initiation, 1919 looked like the banner
} year.
Then the crashing blow fell. Out OF
| the blue sky almost came a strike
. at WHY'S one that | re-
member we'll, inasmuch as l was ir
, Detroit at the time. It's causes need
! not be discussed here. To be frank
they were trivial. Adroit manage
ment would have seen it settled ir
week. And to WHY'S in New York
was sent the word that it would be
settled in a week. From silly start
. but famed by radical hatreds, i
} grew into bitter industrial struggle
t that lasted six months. While othel
manufacturers were building cars
! Willys-Overland were producing mex
to nothing. Dealers, unable to ge
4 Overlands, regretfully took on othe1
lines, Stagnation.
That strike cost the company man!
millions of dollars.
, Who was to blame What matter:
) that here? Suffice to say that after
deadlock had been reached, certain
) influences from the East made them
selves felt and tardy settlement
, was arrived at.
, WHY'S was still in the East.
!, Hard on the heels of that-that-
we'll, call it mistake in judgment
. came another unfortunate decision
this having to do with engineering
| and production That, too, was cost
ly.
7 Back East, WHY'S began to won
| der, no doubt, whether it was the
: better part of wisdom to remain
where he was and watch executive:
who had received plenty of rope hang
themselves and the company, o.
whether he should cut loose from en-
, tangling alliances Of extraneOus bus
| mess and get back on the job him
self. Then came postwar depression
. swift and terrible. WHY'S cam
back on the job in person, faced b!
} desperate situation, one that call
ed for all his Wanted skill, daring
and energy. Huge bank loans hat
been accumulated, and some of tn
, bankers were unwilling to renew.
!, tremendous inventory was under roo
at wartime prices. Vast commitment
, for material, some $60,0O0.000 worth
had been made for long periods
: These hung over the company lik
the deadly sword of Damocles.
, WILLYS BACK TO STAY
, WHY'S came back to Toledo, spi
? on his hands, as it were, and pitche'
in-that is, to as great an extent a
possible. For there were still som
interests back East that simply coul
not be allowed to drift without
- pilot at that precarious time. 1t wa
; | necessary to institute ruthless pro
, cess of liquidation. Ruthless is tn
| exact word. 1t had to be ruthless
, For all through the industry me-
who were watching were shakinl
their heads and saying: well, the
2 got Durant. And now they're afte
WHY'S. Tough luck for poor oil
John"
! "But "they" didn't know "poor oil
john" They didn't know how he Low
ed to- fight and what hard hitte
he could be when anyone tried b
I any methods, fair or foul, to TAX
away what was rightfully his. l wis
! you could see the mute but movln
f story that is told by the chart o