Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-18
In the Motor World
BY q. ADAMS HOWARD.


FINAL arrangements for the
r. eleventh annual automobile
show in the National Capital,
which opens next Saturday
at the Auditorium, rapidly are be-
ing whipped into shape. Although
some changes have been made in
the committee generalship by the
Washington Automot1ve Trade
Association, under whose auspices
the show is staged, all matters are
under competent management,
and indications point to the finest
exhibition the city has had the
privilege of witnessing.
Interesting Array.
In no previous year have the
manufacturers brought forth such
an interesting array Of models.
Never before have the new year
designs and creations offered so
much for the value. There is
something that can attract the
purse contents of every one.
Judging from the New York
show, there will be plenty OF pur-
chasing done as well as looking.
It will be the pleasant duty of
the citizens of this city to take in
this annual entertainment. May
its success be pleasing to all!
One of the Nations leading
manufacturers attempts to sum
up the present period. He says as
follows:
1.-THE automobile buying public
will benefit materially through the
cycle Of business from which the
country is now emerging.
'"This is but a repetition Of
similar periods and in which
values have always mounted i'm
mediately following.
An Industrialist's Explanation.
1.-THE explanation Is simple.
When business is exceptionally
good selling Is not particularly
difhcult. When business slows
down an extra requirement Is
placed on the manufacturer and
his distributing organization. He
must attempt to produce a prod
uct which meets less sales re-
sistance than his competitors. II
he fails in this or attempts to
mark time or If he attempts to
foist on the public an old product
under new guise the public turns
from him to those who offer more.
No man or manufacturer, par
ticularly at a time like this, can
stand still. He must either go
ahead or retreat.
at Is believed that the business
conditions Of 1880 not only will
benefit the public, but will be the
greatest tonic to the automobile
industry which it has received in
years.
Easy selling produces fiabby
organizations. Whether it is the
manufacturer, his sales depart
ment, or his distributing organi-
zation, when the public buys in
discriminatory any industry suffers
Ia the long run. There Is often
the tendency to let things slide,
to ride on the band wagon be-
cause everybody else is there, to
accept conditions as they are, to
get the lock step. In strenuous
times through necessity this is not
tolerated.
'@The automobile industry has
been particularly affected by this.
While it has been growing for
more than a quarter century its
real success has been overnight.
From a production Of slightly over
1000 cars In 1900, In 80 years it
has become the worlds largest
manufacturing industry, employ
ing more men, using greater
dollar volume Of materials, than
any other industry.
Naturally, with such a rapid
growth there has been a pyramid
Ing Of activities, unwise policies,
lack Of business methods, over
production, and a general waste
and duplication.
"It Is only In such periods as
we are now passing through that
o new industry gets its feet on
the ground. The inefficient, the
overZealous, the weak, and the
Me, too settle back and those
companies and men who can