Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-12-05
TO PaOM0TE
FOREIGN CONNIE RCE

Washington, Dec. 5.--With n view
to rendering practical aid TO the
commercial and Industrial interests
OF the United States and In The pro-
motion of foreign commerce OF this
country. Secretary Straus oil the de-
partment OF commerce and labor is
today holding conference with rep
resentatiyes of the leading CONNER
cial bodies OF over score OF large
elites in all parts of the nation. The
conference viii offer recommends
tion that congress be brought TO G
realization of the magnitude and inn
Iortance of this task of promoting
give it's support with funds com
Inensurate with the work TO be done.
II was with view of developing the
most practical plan for rendering the
department of greater service TO the
commercial inter osts. and at the
same time 10 enable the department
10 enlist the cooperation Of such in
terests, that Secretary Straus called
the present meeting. Additional ses-
sions will he held later. when the
commercial bodies OF other Ameri-
can cities will be asked TO send dele
cations
For some time Secretary Straus
has felt that the new cabinet depart
rnent OF which he Is the head. has
not been performing the functions OF
government which 1t was designed
TO perform. In the past 1t has been
almost solely department OF labor
and the commercial side OF its work
has been neglected. The department.
has been n success. so far as its op-
erations in the field OF labor are con-
cerned. but the idea OF commerce
has been subordinated.
II has had little to do with innu-
encing the commercial operations OF
the country, and has done little 10
improve them. The public does moi
look upon It as that department OF
the government which the CONNER
cial interests of the country look tc
trade In foreign lands. On the con-
trary.- the treasury department ha;
been the peoples stay in time o;
stress and trouble.
1t is because of this feeling thai
Secretary Oscar s. Straus has deter
mined TO bring the department into
it's own, and today's conference if
the first fruit OF this determination.
The present meeting is certain TO ac-
compiish much good in bringing the
business world in touch with the de-
partment. and the sessions to follow
will augment this benefit.
Delegations are present at today's
conference from the chamber OF
commerce. and the board OF trad
and transportation OF New York
the chambers of commerce OF Allan
Ia. Boston, Cincinnati. Minneapolis
New Orleans, Charleston Pittsburg
Portland. Ore. Galveston, St. Paul
Seattle. Richmond and Milwaukee
the merchants exchange of Cincin-
natl, and tie boards OF trade OF Chi
cago, Baltimore and Philadelphia.
In connection with the conference
a pamphlet is being circulated among
the commercial organizations which
throws considerable light on the de
velopment of foreign commerce. The
pamphlet was prepared under the d.
rection of Secretary Straus by n. /
Stone. the tariG expert OF the de.
partment o. commerce and labor IN
this work Mr.. Stone discusses IN
functions Of the department and
makes comparisons with the func.
tlons performed by similar depart.
ments OF European governments. Ir
Germany, for instance. the depart
ment has five councillors whose duty
Il Is to stuiy foreign commerce Tn.
der these councillors are bureaus am
divisions charged with the collection
and publication of information am
statistics relating TO various topics
Of interest 70 the country's com.
meroe.
Thesa councillors are not like oul
special 'aEens and clerks. who arc