The Mankato free press., 1918-07-05
NANKATO MAY SECURE
WAR CONTRACTS SOON
Commercial Club Will Assist
In the Undertaking
SURVEY is TO Be MADE
Plan Outlined BY the Industries
Board; Cooperation of the
Manufacturers

Manufacturers
Mankato will soon be in line to get
some war contracts, if the manufac-
turers of the city desire them and
can compete. The country has re-
Gently been divided into industrial
regions, for convenience in organiz-
ing for this work, and the region in
which Mankato is located is now get
ting organized. The Mankato Com
mercial club received full informa-
| tiOn as to the plan to be followed.
The regional industrial commission
of st. Paul has taken the matter up
with the commercial clubs of Man
kato, st. Cloud, Redwing, Brainerd,
Rochester and Albert Lea, following
some preliminary information OBJ
| tanned.
New Section Created.
10 meet TIE constantly increasing
demands of the government for new
| resources and to supply the war
needs OF the army and navy and other
departments, the war industrial
board at Washington has created a
new section, called. the resources and
conversion section. The primary OBJ
Ject of this new section, as outlined
to the Mankato Commercial club. is
to. assemble as quickly as possible
complete and detailed information
concerning industries in all parts of
The country, as follows:
| Those not now engaged in war
work, but capable of undertaking
fsuch work
concerning Industries only partly
employed on war work, but able to
increase their production of neces-
sary war materials.
industries now employed on war
work whose contracts will soon be
complete.
All Industries To Cooperate.
| IL is desired to enlist the aid of
al! classes of industry, and to bring
.hls about it is imperative that all
industries be asked to participate.
| Wnether or not they are now mem
Ders or business organizations To
accomplish this in the most efficient
way 1t has been decided to divide
| the country into regions and organize
tEem thoroughly under the leader
snip and with the cooperation of
iocal business organizations. such as
the commercial club.
Inc Importance of this work and tbo
auVantage to manufacturers cannot he
eas&sserated, as it provides a direct noi,t
ind',ot.:e uohIace between regions and the war
- INDUSTRIES es board in Washington. making
| ~ possible to render the government the
-uieSI industrial cooperation With the
tdPiuiy progressing war program rnucb
fhe e"Ier nst 1or the coming year than for
oe past, 1t is becoming more apparent
each day that the demands on Industry
III ehiS country will be enormous ~ :
| ohder the plan proposed, inquiries will
thy o" rom the war industries board to
| formation will be supplied by the re-
sional organizations, and this inforrna :
tion VIII then flow from the regions tn
ene,o cue supply and purchasing officers of the
depends upon the unselfish co-oneratio
OF every business man
M Financed BY Manufacturers,
Inc regional organizations, as well as
Dy the manufacturers. The ST PanI ~
INDUSTRIES board has a memberships fee
ranging from $25 to $1OO, depending ,nor
| tne credit rating of the firm, but this
amount is not sufficient to carry on the
work properly and it is proposed to adont
the cleveland plan, where voluntary CON
| tributions from industrials are obfa mod
ranging from $25 to $780, 1t must he
member of the commission i'm eas,b re-
sioil or Slio-reglon, whether he contrib
uteS or not.
Form of Organization.
ro1.iaI d,s region VIII be divided into sub
regionai districts, each district within the
region to organize along standard lines.
and plan of organization has been sent
the commercial club For each group
mere VIII De chairman and vice chair
man VINO Will be part of a committee, of
nVe chosen by the group as its represen
tatlVe committee. The chairmen of the
various groups will compose the board of
oTectors, VINO may at their discretion
select other business men to serve as
members of the board, which board will
choose the executive committee for the
district io
Every manufacturer in the region is
not only requested but urged to become
! a member of the commission
Detailed Information Called For.
"A survey OF all industries is to be made
on the standard form of the war indus
tries board, and in cases where the cues
tlonnalre is not applicable to certain
groups of manufacturers, a supplementary
QUESTIONABLE will be sent. These inyen-
tories are to be made in triplicate, one
| copy being retained by the division in
the region, one by the regional organi-
zat1on. and one sent to Washington. The
information that is deducted from these
inventory sheets will be transferred to
cards, using system conforming to that
| used by the industrial inventory section
| OF the war industries board. A copy of
the QUESTIONABLE has been supplied to
| the Commercial club.
In short time conference is to be
called in this region, and it is desired
that Mankato shall send representatives.
The secretary of the Commercial club
has made up a list of manufacturing
plantslin the city and North Mankato and
| has advised the commission at ST pa,,I
as to the number of survey blanks that
will be needed. These blanks call for
detailed information as to the equipment
| of the various plants, machinery and
| tools on hand, output, labor situation,
etc. The information secured will be
held confidential 1t is believed that ev-
| cry manufacturer in Mankato will be
more than glad to cooperate to the
| fullest extent.
ISENTTOFORT LEAvENWORTH