Roy D. Chapin: The Man Behind the Hudson Motor Car Company

IV. Detroit-to-New York Pioneer Tour

CHAPTER IV DETROIT-TO-NEW YORK PIONEER TOUR ROY D. CHAPIN, at the age of 21, found himself to be one *of the leading men in one of the foremost automobile concerns in the United States. It is probable, however, that neither he nor his associates at that time had the perspective to describe his job in that way. His post with Oldsmobile was similar to that of some bright educated young man of the 1940's in the management group of a small concern equipped to manufacture television instruments or helicopters. Great possibilities, and also great doubts, surrounded any automobile company. Roy's job was, of course, modest; yet he unquestionably occupied a favorable inside position. Everyone in Lansing knew Edward C. Chapin, Roy's father. Lawyer Chapin was respected by Mr. Olds who headed the concern, and by S. L. Smith, its chief financial backer. Mr. Smith's two sons, Frederic L. and Angus, knew the Chapin boys, though the Smiths were somewhat older, and had moved from Lansing to Detroit in 1890. Roy, while occupying an inconspicuous position, was nevertheless personally known to the management, as well as to his friend Loomis, and therefore, was in a position to prove his abilities, as opportunities came along, or, conversely, to rest on his oars. He might indeed have drifted along for a considerable period without anyone objecting. On the contrary , he was almost feverishly eager to get going in the business world. Only a short time after his appointment at Olds, an unexpected situation developed, namely, a strike, which began on May 20, 1901. 27 28 ROY D. CHAPIN "The machinist strike commenced last Monday," Roy wrote to his father at the end of the week, "and we have only been running with a half force since. I have been embracing the opportunity to learn how to run some of the machines and ran a small milling machine Tuesday and Wednesday and yesterday , and today I have been running a lathe. Tomorrow I am going to put the electrical connections in a carriage. I am getting to be quite an accomplished product, {sic)" A month later the labor disturbance was over, but events in the motor industry were always in flux. The Olds people were more and more concentrating their activities in Lansing , since the burning out of the chief part of their Detroit property, and Roy was a little apprehensive about the trend of events. "Well, things have changed around here quite a little," he wrote to his father on June 26, 1901. "Loomis and Beck will go this week or next and Mr. Olds and Mr. Smith are in Lansing today and I should like very much to know what the result of this trip will be." On the letterhead which Roy had used in May, R. E. Olds had been listed as president and general manager, with S. L. Smith vice president, but the present letterhead demoted Olds to vicepresident and general manager, with S. L. Smith assuming the presidency. It already seemed probable that the Smith financial interest would increasingly curtail Mr. Olds' influence in the company. Meanwhile Roy's wages continued to be inadequate even for his relatively modest needs. "I expect Daisy here Friday or Saturday," his June 26 letter continued. "Owing to the depletion of my treasury due to the sudden withdrawal of 75 cents therefrom, I am not entirely able to meet my board bill, take Daisy to Wonderland, buy her ice cream sodas, etc. While this is to be regretted both in Lansing and in Detroit; yet financial crises are bound to come and as Prof. Adams says, DETROIT-TO-NEW YORK PIONEER TOUR 29 the only way to remedy these is to put the money in circulation. "Such is the state of the case and your orator further prays, etc. "With love, "Roy" The reference to the withdrawal of 75 cents perhaps refers to the occasion about this time when Neil Chapin decided to call upon Roy and stayed with him at his Detroit lodgings. Roy was getting room and board for a few dollars a week and had no spare funds with which to provide an extra room. Hence shared his bed with his brother for the night. At the end of the week the landlady presented a bill for Neil Chapin's lodging. When Roy demanded why he should have to pay anything extra...