Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-11-08
MIR. WINDOWS RoBBY.

TIE Minnesota Senator Cla,nor;,ag to, n
Department of Industry and Com
81 7neTce.
[New York Tribune Interview with Senator
Window. I
There should be a new department Gre
atsd, which should have in. charge these
great interests that are now left to shift for
themselves. In England these interests are
watched with almost paternal care. Why,
the British government not only concerns
itself to place, before the country the exact
lition of the trade and manufactures of
the United Kingdom, but a comprehensive
view of the trade of the world. 1t regards
its trade and manufactures as the life of the
nation, as they are. It spares no effort for
their encouragement and promotion. One
Of the chief departments of the British gov
eminent was established long ago for the
especial purpose of bringing to bear the or
ganiZed power and influence of the nation
to aid the people in their commercial and in
austrial contests with the rest of the world.
The board OF. trade, presided over by cab
met officer, investigates and studies all
questions affecting commerce or industry,
suggests commercial policies, enforces laws.
The department exists for the sole purpose
of promoting interests that are vital to the
nation. 1t is second to no other department
in the government of the United Kingdom.
and it commands the ablest talent in the
realm. Whatla contrast to affairs in this
country. Here we are, q great homogeneous
nation; the war question settled, specie pay
ment at hand; the country, by its position,
by its invent 9 genius, ready to lay its hand
upon good share of the trade of the world,
and nothing done to promote our industry
or co'Gmerce! We have only what we redic-
ulously call the department of agriculture
1t is not department. not even a bureau.
It is attached to nothing; it is nobody's
child, but a laughing stock only.''
owl hat would you include in the new de-
partment?'' -
~ 81 would have it include manufactures.
commerce, agriculture, mining, patents,
statistics, and possibly some other things.
The head of the department. should be Sc
lected from the ablest and most experienced
business men of the country. He should be
a member of the cabinet, where his! voice
would be as potential as that of the secre-
tary of the treasury or of the interior, or til
postmaster general His Recommendations
would then have the force of an executive
policy, and the administration would be held
responsible for them. Such department
would group together all of our great in
dustrial and commercial interests, where
they would be considered in their relation to
each other,a and ingtheirz relation to similar
interests in other. countries. This would not
only give them q prominence in some mea-
sure commensurate with their mportance,
but it would firing the organized power of
the ! nation to bear in behalf Of ssour
people in their commercial szf and
industrial contests with the rest Il. of
the world. Itwould also go far to harmon
lie interests in our own country which
CRATE harsbly and threateningly upon each
other. Take agricultural and internal COM
merce for instances. Have we not sc en- tie
agricultural interests arrayed against the
railroads and demanding legislation from
the State and from Congress to protect them
from what was believed 10 be am 1insatiate
monopoly? Have we; not, on the other hand,
seen the railroads, and do we not sea them
to day, combining to control internal COM
meree, disarranging trade, and holding ems
tire communities in their grasp?
f'What do he see in mining? The entire