Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-16
BUILDERS FORM
TO HELP IN WAR
Nationwide FEEDER a t o n
to Save Nonwar Branches
From Disaster
MILLIONS REPRESENTED
Conference Called by L. S.
c h a m b er of Commerce
Pledge Assistance to Wilson
Atlantic City. July 16

Atlantic City, July l6.
More than 225 representatives of many
billions of capital invested in the build
ing trades industries throughout the
United States, meeting here in re-
sponse to an emergency call issued by
the Chamber of Commerce of the United
States. effected temporary organization
of nationwide federation for the dual
purpose of cooperating with the Gov
ernment in the winning of the war and
at the same time saving the nonwar
branches of the building industry from
impending disaster.
Fifty-five national associations COW
ering every branch of the trade from
lumber and brick to plumbing supplies,
glass. paint and cement, including also
several of the great labor federations in
the building trades: fifty-fve regional
associations. comprising the supply. en-
gneering and contracting bodies of
twenty-five States, and fifty-three indi-
vidual manufacturing firms from the
Atlantic coast to San Francisco are
represented in the great meeting.
Allen Walker. New York, eastern dis
triCt representative of the Chamber of
Commerce of the United States, was
made chairman of the temporary or
ganization; +. A. Roberts, secretary of
the Cleveland. o., Builders Exchange,
secretary, and J. Osgood Andrews. rep
resenting the Plate Glass Manufactur-
ers' Association of America. treasurer.
Colonel John r. Virgins. Of Philadel-
phia. president of the National Associa-
ton of Builders Exchanges, was hon
ored with the Craftsmanship of the chm-
mittee on permanent organization.
Message to Wilson
One of the first moves OF the con-
ference was to dispatch this pledge OF
fealty and explanation of purpose to
President Wilson by wire:
We are glad to bear our share of
the burden of the war for liberty and
shall cheerfully accept whatever sac
rifices and readiustments may be es-
sential to its vigorous prosecution.
Our excuse for calling this confer
ence lies, first, in the fact that, as we
have been studying the industries of this
country and their relationship to the
war program. we have found no single
industry so far-reaching and so much
disintegrated as the building trades,
Harry A. Wheeler, of Chicago. president
of the National Chamber of Commerce.
told the manufacturers, distributors and
representatives Of labor federatons in
calling the meeting to order.
We all recognize that the profound
| disturbance of the building industry
which has taken place is the normal re-
suit of the war" said William B. King
! of Washington. general counsel. in de-
fning the position of the National As.
sCciation of Builders Exchanges. 1--WE
are making no complaints. We are
proud to suffer in such cause. But
our leaders in Washington have no de.
! sire to cause more disturbance than is
/ actually necessary. They are glad tc
see any productive industry making prog
ress when this is consistent with wal
needs There is nc desire to kill bust.
ness. We are. therefore. confident of an
official welcome not only when we &c
to Washington with proffers of aid tC
carry On the war. but with suggestions
whereby labor can be wisely employed
In productive industry. We shall be
serving the country in holding our or
ganization intact during the war so as tc
resume work with the least possible de
lay when peace comes"
Committees Named
The convention completed its prelimi
nary work by appointing committees
on permanent organization, to re
port today, resolutions and othe
| matters. The committee on per
manent organization comprises Colo
mel John r. Virgins. Philadelphia
chairman; George s. Bartlett, Chicago
William A. Fay. Cleveland; Franklin ]
Miller, New York; Fl. II. Murdock, New
York: William F. Powell, president o
the National Terra Gotta Association
New York John ]. Comerford. Nationa
Retail Lumber Dealers Association, De
troit Ronald Taylor, New York. an,
Fred A. Wilson, Master Builders Asso
citation, Boston.
Ernest T. Trigg, president of the Phil
adelphia Chamber of Commerce. is chair
man of the committee on resolutions
with these associates: J. II. Kane. Chi
cago; B, F, Affieck. Chicago, presiden
OF the Portland Cement Association
Clarke Pond, Philadelphia w
Henry, Pittsburgh; A. NJ. Maddoch
Trenton, president Sanitary Potters As
sociation; W. B. King, Washington, an
Charles GomDertz San Erancisco