The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-05-24
One Man to
Buy for the
Whole World
GIGANTIC PLAN IS
NOW IN FORMATION
Plan is to Place Buying Under
OneHead-To Spend Ten
... Billion Annually.

WASHINGTON. May ~. a pro-
gram under which the American SoV'
eminent virtually would pool 1ts pur-
chasing. for the sake OF attaining
maximum efficiency, with that OF all
! the Allies. construct buying machlne
! into which hundreds OF experts IN many
lines will fit as cog-wheclS. and place
one man in charge Of the whole glEan-
; tic enterprise is under conSlQerailol
and fast assuming definite outline.
! This man would b. the worlds SUI
per-buyer. Into his hands the nations
. az war with Germany would place aP-
. proxmately Sl0.QUn .n0h .0n0 d year
store of money exceeding the taolca
fortunes Of the ancient lncaS and win
; no parallel in modern history.
! SO far has the program prosreSSeu
: that the officials entrusted with us
execution have definite idea as 10
whom they will choose. " nile no
final decision has been reached as 10
whether one man or q small commits
sion shall be chosen. indications are
that it will be ono man and that MS
+ selection will be announced within tHe
naXt fortnight.
: Great Britain. France. Russia. Italy.
Japan. Belgum-virually all the ha'
lions linked With America IN inc war
against Prussian autocracy - nave
agreed 10 the essentials OF tn" scheme
and Will Si"n an agreement making II
effective as soon as tho tremendous
amount OF detail involved Can h" adj
iuSred At thr present the program
hinges on the extent To which thr
l-nited States will participate in the
pooling ARRANGEMENT.
The Allies. it is estimated, will spend
appruxipalely $4,000 ,nHn.puu year
morr il .Americau credi; and American
PRODUCERS can make it possible for
thrm T., spcna more. TO eliminate
duplication OF effort and compeuuVe
bidding. it is proposed 10 bring all
;haSc vast purchases under the dirrc'
lion Of a single organlIauon..
Work to Be Divided.
: Tho mechanism OF the organization
would conSS; primarily OF directing
head and subdivision OF bureaus,
each in charge OF purchases OF GER
tain 1mmoditirS.
= The bureau in charge of :oodStunS
: purchases would rank among the most
important OF tho subdivisions.
. 10 assist this bureau hcaC. there Will
br an army Of expert buyers familiar
with American markets. selected TOT
their ability.
Equally important would hn the mu-
nitions bureau. Experts from the
army and navy probably would play an
,important part in the work OF this hu'
rpau. They would BE- assisted by Il
large field force 10 keep close record
Of output. producing ability OF Amcrl'
can munitions plants and the needs
OF American military and naval estab,
,iShmcntS. which. Of course, would
take precedence over tho needs OF the
Allies.
Th. worlds greatest clo'hins buyer
would have charge OF another SUB
division Of the organization. sepa.
rate bureau probably would be devoted
10 the purchase Of rOal and oil Tor luel.
another 10 the railway equipment. ana
others 70 many other groups ot the
things needed hy the nations a; war.
Much OF the labor a; present being
done by the Allies organization" ana
The Council of National Defense would
: PASS automatically To tn" control or
Tho purchasing commission.
DONATES HIGH SCHOOL SITE
.LNI;kSI;t RI. W. Va. MaE = II"
! ln,rr,i nr education nf Coal district. ms
.r:mtI annmiinr"i to-day hat carr >.
tInrn.r president nF ;h" tlarksourS =
Hoard nf Trai.. has donated - site lpr
:, rev ,gli Sci""l building |" the dlS-
,~ir;. The sit" iS located At AdamSton
al, :