Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-06
Commercial Organizations
and Government Brought
Closer by Conferences.
SPEAKERS so DECLARE
AT CLOSING BANQUET
Value in Future Cooperation Cited
in Work of Commerce Depart
ment Explained.

Loaded down with ammunition for
the trade battles which officials and
business men say will certainly come
after the closing of the great Euro
pean conflict, the two-day conference
between officials Of the Department Of
Commerce and secretaries of CONNER
cial organizations of the large cities
came to a close with banquet and
smoker at the University Club last
night
Described as the connecting INK De-
tween government and business, the
conference, the first Of its kind in the
history of the department, was said to
have accomplished its purpose OF
bringing together the great trade pro-
noting branch of the government and
the representatives of the, great com
mercial organizations on that cooper
alive basis which can result IN put
mutual good to commerce and the PEG
pie. The secretaries were enthusiastic
in every way over the results OF tne
meetings. where they were gwen
and what it is trying to do for hu-
mainly.
Cooperation Closer.
In expressing the appreciation of the
commercial secretaries for the oppor-
tunity of attending such conference as
that just closed. and in predicting the
great good that will result. William
George Bruce. secretary of the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers Association
of Milwaukee, Wis, acting as spokesman
for the delegation, said:
ut is a well known fact that co-opera-
ton between government and commerce
is becoming closer and closer every year.
1t is a fact that the government Is really
responsible to the people and the COM
merce of the nation. The legislative body
must solve from day to day the ereat
economic problems which come before II,
but. a demonstration of the helpfulness of
the departments to the commerce and
business of the nation Is given in the con-
ferences which come to a close at this
time. When the government maintains
just such an attitude toward commerce
and industry. the government has fuinlied
its obligation. We feel that we have
been amply repaid for our time during the
past few days in assisting in the estab-
lishment of a new policy.
Helping Hand Necessary.
Il believe that I am not expressing
too much when l say that we were
agreeably surprised not only at the
adoption of such a policy of extend
ing a helping hand. but that it is prac-
ticable and that it is absolutely neces-
sary. If it is true that this nation is
about to play new and important
part in the affairs Of the world, II we
are to lead in the great markets Of
efficiency, then it must necessarily fol-
low that the government must CO.
operate with commerce and all must
cooperate to realize the highest aims
n the nation"
Secretary Redfield called upon AS
sistant Secretary Sweet to make reply.
Explaining that 1t cost 100000 a
month to run the Department of Com
merce. a total of s12. 100000 year, and
that the government spent $125. 900. 900
a year on its army. he said: 1T occurs
to me that we are spending very little
for commerce and a great deal for
protection
Mission Of Department.
All the people. he said. ought to be
interested in the government. What is
wanted, he continued. is a cooperation
between the people themselves and
government, and such cooperation is
not difficult to bring about. He said
he now could see very clearly how the
commercial organizations can work to-
gether with the government all for the
good of the people of the United States.
He said that the officials of the de-
partment wanted the commercial or
ganizations to have every bit of in
formation in its possession concerning
foreign trade and other information
gathered, because that was the mission
of the department.
What we want you to do" he con-
cluded. lis to tell the people how we
feel about it."
At this point w. c. Culkins, secretary
of the Chamber Of Commerce and Mer-
oh1 co. ~
proposed a silent toast to the Presi-
dent of the United States.
Secretary Redfeld in concluding the
conference took occasion to pay high
tribute to the officials of his depart
ment, which, he said, ut is my privilege
many times to follow" He said he was
very grateful of having the oppor-
tunity of showing his department and
it's work to the secretaries. He said he
hoped that 1t would be by no means the
last time. as they knew they were al
ways welcome, and that both could look
forward to better things, having taken
the first step together on the common
road.
Film Reveals Activities.
Fully 5000 feet of film showing the
various activities of the department.
together with about 100 lantern slides.
were shown. One piece of Aim showing
Secretary Rednelo IN some OF MS cnaf-
acteristic poses at his desk while dis
posing of the days work called forth
applause and cheers.
The committee on arrangements, to
which much credit Is given for the
success of this first conference, was
composed of E. A. Brand, assistant
chief of the bureau Of foreign and do
nestle commerce. chairman; George c.
Havenner. chief clerk of the depart
ment; N Eckhardt, jr., chief clerk of
. ko DIV In
commerce: Dan c. Vaughan. chief OF
the bureau of publications.: E. T. Quig-
ley. assistant solicitor: U. Grant Smith.
private secretary to the Secretary
George Johannes, disbursing officer
Robert II. Clancy, private secretary to
the Secretary; Clifford Hastings. chief
| of the appointment division; Thomas J.
Fitzgerald. assistant chief clerk of the
| department; F. NJ. Shore, chief of the
Of n SenrefarX,a al