Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-23
CLARENCE SAMUEL KING
On Advantages Of Trade Organization

On HCVdntdScb OF 'Tdoc
TIlADE organization, especially during
i. the period of war reconstruction, has
proved to be Of incstimable benefit TO the
business man, who Is daily recognizing the
value that close personal contact with other
men in the same line brings, according to
Clarence Samuel King. secretary of the
Atlantic Coast Shipbuiders' Association.
1T is important" said Mr.. King. that
business men realize the necessity of keep
ing their trade organizations at the extreme
peak Of usefulness. both for the sake of
economy and for general efficiency. During
times of financial stress the alert business
man, relying upon past experience, prepares
his equipment and sharpens his points OF
contact for the inevitable reaction toward
prosperity, and however hard pressed he
may be for orders, the last thing which he
allows to dcprecate is his business organiza-
tion. with its highly trained and sensitive
mechanism and its distinctive and individual
industrial morale.
Importance OF Associations
while he takes justifable pride in
maintaining his individual plant at high
point of efficiency during periods Of deprcs-
sion. he further recognizes the fact that
associations Of business men are the sensitive
nerve centers of our industrial system. and
as such are especially important when busi-
ness conditions are unsettled.
Il cannot too strongly caution business
posts of business efficiency to be weakened
through an illadvised spirit of retrench-
ment, leaving the industrial path unguarded
against the progress of unsound and dubious
experiment. The success of the progressive
trade associations Of today depends almost
entirely upon the executive directing its af
fairs and upon the helpful co operation of its
members.
Conditions have changed rapidly and
decidedly in the last few years. and organi-
thot bnyy n1 In
the formation of national policies in their
respective trades are those whose admins
trativc affairs are in the hands of real eN-
CrutiveF, having plenary powers, who are
responsible for the work and methods they
pursue in advancing the interests Of the in
dustries they represent.
One Specific Instance
"Our own association. for example, began
with a small group of shipbuildcrs whose
plants were confined to the Delaware River
district, Today its membership includes
practically every big shipyard on the At
lantC Coast and along the Gulf of Mexico,
together with number of ship repair
plants. We also enjoy the close co operation
Of other American shipbuilding plants Of the
Great Lakes and the Pacific Coast which
cannot become members because of geo.
graphical location
"ReCognizng the claim of drydocks and
marine repair plants that keeping ships in
to building them, we recently opened the way
for an even greater organization, more or
less national in scope, by making eligible for
membership every shipbuilding and repair
plant on the Atlantic Coast. In extending
its field of usefulness to cover the entire
shipbuilding industry We were actuated by
desire to establish closer business relations,
secure united and co operative action on the
problems OF the industry and Standardize,
as far as possible, the conditions under which
marine work Is done.
Furtherlng an American Marine
Foremost among the objects of the asso-
citation is the furthering of the American
merchant marine aud the establishing of
shIpbuilding as a permanent American in
dustry. The larger and greater association
that was made possible through the broad
ening Of its field Is continuing along the
same conservative but constructive lines
that made the association u powerful and
influential stabilizing force during the war
and an even greater factor for the industry
| in the transition from war to peace.
The day IL past when a single firm
corporation or individual can stand on its
own feet and alone and apart from its com
| petitors. No organization, no matter how
| greatly constructed or how large its scope,
| can live in itself and Of itself alone 1t Is
the unity Of men and combination of men
into one entity that makes for progress
| Concentration of effort, recognition Of Just
| and ethical standards, square dealing in its
| fullest sense mutual co operation, a thor
ough regard for the opinion of others, a
| full consideration Of the employe as we'll
J as Of the employer, a considerate attitude