Evening star., 1927-05-08
BY FRANK j. CARMOCY.


Competition is friendly, but not
franzied. The real competition in the
motor-car' business is to give the
greatest possible value to the car
buyer"
This appraisal of the attitude of au.
tomobile manufacturers toward one
another is voiced by Alfred Reeves
general manager Of the National Au
tomobile Chamber of Commerce. In II
Mr.. Reeves attempts-and with sue
cess, observers say-to delineate the
difference between the present form
OF competition, the keenest in the his
tory of the automobile industry, and
the forms which prevailed in earlier
times, when the object seemed not
only to outsell ones competitor but
to annihilate him.
Parallels of the attitude of manu-
facturers toward one another are tc
be found in various metropolitan cen
ters in the respective dealer organiza
tions. The Washington Automotiye
Trade Association mirrors this situa
ton very well.
Met MOt0rdom's Problems.
Just as the manufacturers have
welded themselves together under the
banner of the National Automobile
Chamber Of Commerce, so have theiI
dealers linked interests for the com
mon welfare. Both groups saw the
need for organization in the interest
of putting up a more substantial figh'
against a common enemy--the collec
tive forces that retard the motoriza
ton of the Nation, manifest in the
forms of discriminatory and unfair
taxation. restrictive motor vehicle
legislation, dearth Of highways ant
in many other ways.
Nationally organized, the manufac
turer attacks these car sales resist
ance evils on Nationwide scale. As
they appear locally, the dealer
through his organization, fulfills the
same function, although on a more
concentrated front, of course.
Looking at the subject OF competi
ton within the automobile industry
it would be easier perhaps to under
stand unfriendliness between dealer
and dealer than between manufac
turer and manufacturer. AS a matter
of fact. one naturally would expect tc
find competition man,festing itself ir
personal dislikeS in some cases, fol
the dealer is the man on the firing
line. The manufacturer plays the
TOIS vi IldhSTs no
meets the enemy face to face.
In some cities. it is true, this atti
tude between dealer and dealer is t.
be found. to the detriment OF all con
cerned. including the motorist wht
needs organized assistance i'm fghtine
against the forces that restrict the use
of his car.
Opinions Often Differ.
This is not the case in the ranks OF
the Washington Automotive Trade
Association. There are differences o1
opinion and policy between various
members at various times, but on the
whole the organization, headed this
year by Stanley HI. Horner. believes Il
shows one of the finest spirits OF CO
operation and harmony OF any similar
association in the country.
The achievements of the local trade
body are held fully to justify this
position. From its organization, al
most 10 years ago, the w. A. T. A
has realized that it's success depended
upon acting always upon ths premist
that the motorists problems We're ths
dealers problems. Throughout 1t:
entire career this has been the guild
ing principle of the officers and mem
reflection in the establishment Of al
ethical code for dealers and their serv
ice establishments in the continued eE
fort to eliminate lettering influences
such as unfair regulations, unfair
taxation and in other ways.
Accomplishment Of the various ends
Is attributed by veteran members o.
the w. A. II. A. to the fact that per
sonal animosities have not figured II
the affairs OF the organization. Since
it's organization there have been I-.anN
times when competition in the sal'
of cars was exceptionally keen. A
present 1t is admitted to be keenel
than ever before. Yet neither in tht
past nor today has this spirit indulget
itself personally.
Meeting Illustrates Point.
An incident of the meeting held las
Monday night illustrates the high per
sonal regard for one another that ex
lists among the members Of the asso
citation.
When the meeting reached "nev
business" c. II. Warrington, long ac
tive in the affairs of the association
rose and addressed the gathering or
the subject Of the man who has beer
most active in the promotion OF goot
fellowship and the spirit Of co-opera
tion among the members, the first
president OF the w. A. T. A. and the
chairman of the committee that has
sponsored the seven s-.cessful auto
mobile shows in the National Capital
Upon conclusion Of his remarks Mr.
Warrington, on behalf of the associa
tion. presented a splendid sterling sil
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