Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-06-07
HOOVER MOVES TO
AID TEXTILE MEN
The Atlanta Journal News Bureau,
623 Riggs Building.
by THEODORE TILLER


WASHINGTON, June 5.-After a
conference last week with represen-
tatives of cotton goods manufac-
turers and wholesalers Secretary
Hoover has appointed committee
from these interests to discuss and
report upon the feasibility of gath
ering accurate statistics covering
consumption, production and stocks.
About twenty cotton mill men at
tended the confereno with the Sec
rotary of commerce, this meeting be-
ing one of a series Mr.. Hoover is
calling with business men represent
ing various industries. 1t is in line
with the Hoover policy to make the
department of commerce more worth
while to American business.
Some opposition to the statistics
gathering scheme was expressed at
the conference by men who said the
proceeding would be very intricate
because the statistics must cover
such a large number of items and
could hardly be complete.
However, wool men who happened
to be present answered these argu-
ments by citing the advantages to
the wool industry of reports now is
sued on wool consumption and active
and idle wool machinery.
Three problems now confront the
industry, Secretary Hoover declared
in opening the conference. They
are the export situation, STANDARDIZED
ton of materials and nomenclature
and the gathering Of statistics on
which future operations can be
based. He explained the work now
being done by his department on all
three of these questions, and sug-
gested that the matter of statistics
might be solved by gathering and
disseminating monthly reports show
ing active and idle cotton machin-
cry, as we'll as reports covering in
a general way stocks on hand and
consumption.
Cotton men present declared that
much of the information which the
department is DESTROYS of securing
is now compiled h the various as
sociations, but that some cf the or
CARNATIONS are fearful that the de-
cision of the supreme court in the
ing, will be unfavorable and will
declare that the information now be-
ing gathered is illegal.
Most of those present, after a dis
cussion of the matter, appeared to
favor the gathering of information
regarding active cotton machinery
and the volume of orders on hand.
1t was suggested, in relation to the
latter, that the information be given
in the manner adopted by the steel
companies, showing the quantity of
orders on hand by giving the time
which the mills would require to get
them out.
Representative of the wholesale
and retail interests said they were
willing to cooperate with the de-
partment by giving statistics regard
ing their stocks and sales, dispoSing
of one of the arguments of the
manufacturers that it might be i'm
possible to get such information and
that the wholesalers and retailer;
would then have an advantage over
the manufa cturer by knowing his
situation while he was kept in ignor-
ance of theirs.
Industries which are now getting
statistics from the department of
commerce, such as the cotton (raw)
the data is very valuable, it was
brought out at the meeting, and
would not like to have it d;scon-
tinued.
The committees appointed by Mr..
Hoover met following the general
conference and will report to him
regarding the ACCESSIBILITY Of gath
ering statistics and suggesting per-
manent service committees which
will cooperate with the department
in planning the form such work shall
take.
The committee of manufacturers
consists of Edward W. Clark. Amer
lean Printing company. Fall River:
A. H. Garside, National Association
of Cotton Manufacturers, Boston
Henry B. Thompson. National Asso-
citation of Finishers of Cotton Fab
RIGS, New York; Walter H. Bradley.
Pepperell Manufacturing company
Boston; A. E. Colby. Pacific Mills.
Boston. and Allen F. Johnson. B. B.
and r. Knight Inc, Providence. The
wholesalers will discuss the forma-
ton of a committee. as we'll, Thomas
A. Fernley, of the National Whole
sale Dry Goods association. Phila-
delphla, and E. B. Sydnor. Southern
wholesale Dry Goods association,
Richmond, being named by Mr..
Hoover. Representatives of the wool
associations present were asked by
the secretary to recommend a com
| mittee which would act in an ad-
visory capacity in working out a
@''7'1Inr SchN10R for that Industry