Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-27
According to rubber experts,
Is the Overinflated automobile tire.

OI QlNGISC ldItOIS "hlNh Nc'''
bine to make the automotive indus
try and its ramihcations the great
est single endeavor in the country
today is the continuance OF an IN
creasingly large distribution OF car:
through retail channels,
Put more concisely and more
bluntly. the sale of automobiles to
ultimate consumers must be main
tanned if the present chain OF pros
perity which the automotive indus
try has had a prominent part If
forging, is not to be weakened III
one of its vital links.
American business has gotten over
its former bad habit of falling to
look conditions squarely i'll the eye
There is less disposition now to lg-
more a set of adverse conditions
than was the case i'll earlier years.
Rather, the business community &C
quaints itself with the fundamental
causes of given situation, viSualizes
the possible consequences clearly
and determines upon carefully
planned action which, if consistent
" and conscientiously carried
through, will result in general bet
terment.
This altered viewpoint has brought
with it many salutary circumstances.
Many lines of endeavor-a majority
of them, it might be said-already
have set up an efficient and an in
teiligent machinery through which
necessary steps are taken when con-
ditions warrant; machinery which
constantly is on guard, and especial
~ so when the outlook is brightest.
);
Upon the shoulders of the retail
distributor of automobiles falls a
very great burden-one which often
is overlooked in considering the
whole broad question; one which
the public does not fully understand
and which distributors do not uni
versally comprehend. These points
hold true in season and out, and it
should be recognized at the outset
that while the seasonal easing off
processes of past years are diminish
ing, yet the problem OF lowered pro-
ductive and distributive effort at GER
tain times still is a definite feature
of the industry.
The local retail distributor is the
liaison officer, so to speak, between
manufacturer and public. The man
ufacturer produces the cars; it is
the job of the retailer to see that
they are distributed as widely as
possible.
Important as such task may ap-
pear at first glance, more careful
study reveals it as of even greater
significance. The fully successful re-
tail distributor of automobiles rem
ders several public services. First
of all, it is through his efforts that
great economic entity is maintained
strong and flourishing, and a factor
which contributes largely to the ma
terial well being of the Nation as
whole. Secondly, in giving wide dis
tribution to a product whose bene-
fits are of such pronounced impor-
lance, he is, in very genuine sense,
performing a service to those he
wins as converts to motoring.
But does his duty end there?
Granted that in distributing over as
wide field as possible these units
of transportation the dealer organi-
cations are aiding manufacturer and
through sustaining an industry which
{. through its many channels gives en-
ployment and prosperity to millions.
has he yet fully completed his re-
sponsibility.
The best thought is that in doing
these things he is performing an i'm
portant service, but that unless he
goes still further-along lines which
will be explained herein--he is not
doing all that he could do for the
greatest benefit of the public. the
manufacturer and, chiefly, himself.
OF what value is an automobile
unless there are roads for it to run
over? OF what service is an auto
mobile if it is 10 be held within GER
tain circumscribed limits in terri
tory where floor space is measured
i'll millions of square miles?
The answer is plain.
y + i
1t then is the duty Of the distribu-
tor, as much as any other single
agency, and more than most, to bend
every effort toward the construction
of new roads and the maintenance of
those already in existence. The
more roads there are the greater is
the inducenlent 10 buy automobiles
and the greater the mutual benefit
a benefit which will be felt by every
person within the United States.
Who more than the distributor of
cars should take all means to bring
about the construction of new high
wayS9 And, il might be said, who
has done so relatively little in this
particular and especial connection
than the local distributor:
The term local distributor does not
mean Washington, or Baltimore. or
Cleveland, or any community IN par
ticular, but here refers TO the group
as a whole--as a large body-and in
It's relationship to the question ma
tionally.
Road building projects should re-
ccive more than just the hearty IN
dorsement of the distributor organi'
cations. The mere passage OF reso-
lutions urging the construction Of q
given piece OF road will help but
little. Firm and strenuous effort;
should be put forth and every legiti.
mate influence exerted to the enc
that an increasingly large program
of building be effected. That means
intensive work Only through in
tensive work will the bigger end be
achieved.
Distributor interest in the loca
traffic problems, wherever and what
ever they may be, is a field of en-
dcavor which we'll might be more
carefully and assiduously cultivated
Of what use is an automobile 4
one cannot find parking space: 81