The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-20
Will Base His Claims on Record of Achievement in
 Business and Science
WEEKS IS FACTOR
 ON SAME PLATFORM
New York Banks Now Devoting Much Study to the Possibilities of Trade With Russia After
 the Wa.
By HOLLAND

| New York, March 19.-(Special ) There is no doubt about the sincerity of those attempting to perfect an or 1 ganization by means of which Gen. T. Coleman du Pont may be brought prom inently before the repGb blican national convention as a candidate for Presi- Gent, and especially as Il candidate of business men. This movement began some weeks ago, and it was with the knowledge of General du Pont. Some have said that through his association with the great powder and explosive [ manufacturing industry he will be like ly to antagonize those voters who arc opposed to the sale by manufacturers of the United States of arms and munf- tions of war to the allies.
 Nevertheless, General du Fonts friends say that there need be no anx- iety on this account. His business ca reer, which has been varied and on the whole very successful, is not asso- ciated so greatly with the powder in terests as with various railroad and manufacturing enterprises. Although he is business man, he is also one of scientific aattainments, having been a student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology He is an active member of various scientific societies and he gained his first prestige as a business man while associated with railroad en- terprises and with manufacturing and coal and iron mining in Kentucky. Nevertheless, if the platform upon which his friends propose to place him is that which represents the relation of business to American life and pros perity it is presumed that he will have la serious rival in Senator John Win gate Weeks of Massachusetts. Senator Weeks gained such scientific attain ments as were possible for student at the Naval academy at Annapolis to secure. His later training, however was that of a banker of Boston and the firm with which he was associated gained high reputation for integrity and abil- ity. Its business has always been of such character as to make the part ners necessarily familiar with many business activities and with the best business methods Both Senator Weeks and General du Pont are recognized as men of political ability of the kind which is of avail in party management and organization. General du Pont has always had the reputation of having been the man who in Delaware pre- t sensational promoter who was common ly called Gas" Addicks.
 Senator Weeks has had experience from the ground floor up in the kind of politics which is characteristic of Massachusetts. For the first time in the history of national conventions, two men of conspicuous success in busi- ness life are to be brought forward, if present expectations are realized, as candidates of business men for the presidential nomination at the republi- can convention in Chicago in June
 General du Pont is in his social and personal relations very democratic. He speaks with pardonable pride of "his building"-thus designating it-in which he has his offices in New York city. He is very approachable in his offices, speaks with emphasis and earn estness, but beneath a somewhat brusque manner is soon found to have a very kind heart. His building, as he calls it, is the new Equitable building, which represents the largest invest ment of capital in single building for business purposes made in this or any other country.
 The managers of the National Bank of Commerce and almost all the direc- tors are possibly as competent to speak authoritatively of the future of our trade, and particularly foreign trade as are tne managers OI dHy otpcf pdhh . ing institution, with possibly single exception In fact, the exception is more apparent than real, since the Ma tional City bank, the exception re- ferred to, and the National Bank of Commerce are in several ways closely allied.
 The Bank of Commerce, whose re- port to the comptroller of the currency set forth conditions as of March z, pos scsses resources of a little under $780, 900. .000. It is one of the larger Ameri- can banks. One of the vice presidents of this bank, J. Howard Ardeley, is spoken of as especially qualified by experience and observation to give in formation respecting foreign trade con- ditions. In some informal remarks made few days ago by him. he said, as quoted, that the European war has put the United States commercially 50 years ahead. The prostration of our former competitors is deplorable, in his view, and yet that should not make the