The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-07-06
Representatives of Twenty Southern Cities Meet Here and Discuss Importance
 of War Work BANKHEAD TELLS OF REAL DAN GER TO SOUTHERN INDUSTRY
Organization Formed at Suggestion of Zone Direc- tor Aldrich to Cooper
 ate With Government

Stressing the necessity of converting nonessential southern industrial plants into war-working establishments the convention of manufacturers and busi- ness men of Alabama, Tennessee, Mis- sissippi and Louisiana, held at the Cham l. Der of Commerce yesterday afternoon. elected an executive committee and started the machinery for securing some of the war business.
 Between 75 and 100 representatives of the civic bodies of 20 cities in the states named responded to the call sent out two weeks ago by President Arthur c. Crowder of the Birmingham Cham Der of Commerce and attended the con- vention. Severol of the delegates made short talks in which they discussed the situation and the importance to the industrial south of getting in on the business created by the war.
 KEEP PLANTS GOING
 Every speaker added his voice to the general demand that something be done to retain the labor now here and to keep the manufacturing plans going. It was made clear by some of them. who had investigated the matter, that such plants as are deemed to be non- essential will be denied fuel when the anticipated shortage comes next win ter, and that raw materials also will be withheld from them.
 President Arthur c. Crowder of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce called the meeting to order and read the call he had sent out for the con Vention. Stating that T. H. Aldrich, ST.. had been appointed regional director for the Thirteenth zone of the resources and conversion section of the war in dustries board, MT. Crowder called upon him to take the chair. MT. Aldrich said that John H. Bankhead, Jr., of Jasper. was more familiar with the mat ters to be considered and requested him to explain them to the delegates.
 DANGER TO SOUTHERN PLANTS
 MT. Bankhead, who is a successful attorney at the Jasper bar and a coal operator, Stated that he had spent sev- eral months in Washington on war mat ters and that he had come in contact with the men who are doing things. and that there Is real danger to south- ern industries in the things he heard there.
 This struggle is not only one of man power" he said. but one of re- sources. While the Germans long ago adapted every resource they had to war purposes and was prepared for the struggle when it came, the other gov ernments, following the usual course of commercial enterprise. Now our gov- ernment is adapting all her factories and all her resources to the winning of the war. The time will arrive when the government will put every business on an essential basis and those that are not making essentials and cannot be into industries of an essen Lial nature, will have to quit
 CONGESTION IN EAST
 Seventy per cent of the manufactur- ng of the country is in a small area in the east. The congestion there is so great that expansion is impossible with he present railroad facilities and fuel supply. It is now question of whether new essential industrial plants will come to the south or go to the west or he northwest. The southern people nave an opportunity to get these, but hey must go after them if they want hem.
 If we do not fall in line with this if our manufacturers don't make these things, they will find themselves without fuel. The priority rule will be established for every thing, and the nonessential will be ,ut off. The coal situation is going 10 be- worse than it is. Many miners nave been drafted into the army The demand for coal at home and abroad s increasing. The result will be that he manufacturer must be engaged on work for the government if he secures 'uel The plants that are not needed n carrying on the war will have to close down, with the result that our abor will be taken away and we will ose our business. Then it will be a question when the reconstruction pe- 'iod begins whether We will get the abor back.
 The policy ot the government is hat all industries must be directed 70 the winning of the war, and the business men of the south must put in line to carry out the will of the government. We should nifty ourselves in the programme and begin at once carrying out the policy | ,f the administration in carrying on he war;
 GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME
 Mr. Aldrich stated that the manu- lecturers and business men must get | .ogether quickly and seriously get Town to work, carrying out the gov programme.
 The zoning of the country, he said | ras for the purpose of encouraging l
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