Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-07-26
HOOVER CALLS MEETING
TO PROMOTE BUSINESS
BY WILLIAM p. HELM


~ WASHINGTON, July 2o.-The
greatest business meeting ever held
in the United States has been called
for next Friday in this city, by Sec
rotary Hoover, to take preliminary
action toward:
l. Finding out in an orderly and
desirable manner just where indus
try stands at the present time in
the United States.
.. The mutual exchange, through
the department of commerce, of In
formation relative to the production,
distribution and marketing of Amer
ica's basic commodities and manu-
features, so that intelligent steps
may be taken with the least posi-
Bile delay toward speeding a bust
ness revival.
\ 3. Helpful and whole-hearted &C
ton by the government in increas-
ing American commerce afloat and
ashore, at home and abroad.
..s Secretary Hoover has an idea that
the government can do much through
his department, toward helping
business to get firmly on its feet.
He wants to hear from the business
men of the country as to the de-
tails of how it can best be done. He
has some definite ideas of his own
about it and some ideas that are
not so definite. He expects to de-
vote the ~ day to the meeting,
outline what he has in mind and
Invite discussion and action.
One of the things he has in mind
Is revolutionizing the function OF
the census bureau with especial ref
erence toward it's helpfulness to
business. He wants the census bu-
reau to furnish live statistics, if pos
sible, instead of figures from one to
distribution and possibly other fea-
lures of American commodltles.
This is something the census bureau
has never done before.
An Improved Census
If business interests represented
at next Fridays meeting feeel that
such information will be of value
and assistance to them-and Mr..
Hoover believes it will-there is
be speeded up, that statistics, will
be gathered equently-possibly as
often as once month In certain
1ines-and that the results will be
available in the shortest time neces-
sary for tabulation and compilation.
- Another thing Secretary Hoover
has in mind is special encourage
ment and aid to American export
ers. He believes that Americas
prosperity lies largely in extension
of her foreign trade. In order that
the greatest governmental assistance
4 possible may be extended in that d.
rection, he has in mind the forma-
ton of ten or twelve subsections of
the bureau of foreign and domestic
commerce, each subsection being de-
voted to particular line of indus
try and UEder the direction, of
skilled and capable leader. familiar
with the industry he is serving. 1t
will be that leaders function to
study the needs of his industry and
help it in every legitimate way to
e5tend its activities especially
There will be no clerks or under
Kings at the heads of these sub
sections. Mr.. Hoover is looking for
fifty usand-dollar-a-year men. If
! he can find them, who can come
or two of their time to unraveling
the tangle, do a good job and then
go home. 1t will entail a tremen-
dous personal sacrifice on the men
heading these subsections, if they
are of the high caliber Mr.. Hoover
wants them to be, for the places will
pay but six thousand dollars year
leach.
All the foregoing, of course, is
tentative, and its adoption, rejec-
Ition or modification depends largely
upon next Fridays meeting.
Big Business Representation
At that meeting perhaps three,
fourths of the nations industrial
Business will be represented through
trade organizations. The National
prising thousands of the manufac-
Euring interests of the country.
heads the list. Some of the other
producing organizations which have
beeen invited to attend are:
The Manufacturing Chemists as
industry of the country; the Ma
kional Coal association. representing
hree-fourths of all the soft coal
mined in the United States: the Ma
ional Automobile Chamber of Com
nerce, representing, nearly all the
Lime association; the National Pc
+roleum association; the National
lumber association; the American
IRON and Steel institute, represent
ng virtually al the iron and steel
Ars' National federation; the Ma
ional Association of Glue and Gel
Rtine Manufacturers; the National
Mss ocia ton of Hosiery and Under
wear Manufacturers, and many 9TH
rs.
South Represented
Mr.. Hoover also wants to hear
from the middle men and retailers.
They will be represented IN many
ines. some of them being the Ma
iona1 Retail Dry Goods association,
Under the law passed in March,
919, a census of manufacturers is
0 be taken every two years during
i've years as heretofore. Much Of
he discussion will. be devoted as to
he methods to be followed in talk
ng the next manufactures census,
beginning January l, 1922. Mr..
Hoover wants to make it as help
ul as possible and to speed it as
nuch as can be done. In addition.
ent statistics as to the production
coal, iron and steel, lumber. ce
nent, petroleum and other basic
Commodities. That has not been
one before by the department of
commerce Gin isolated instances it
done to some extent by other bu-
eaus) and Mr.. Hoover believes it
hould be done.
How can it best be done? And
aving been accomplished speedily,
what form will the information
of greatest benefit to American
Industry? And then, how can the
apartment further help the indus
ry? They are the questions which
he meeting will face.
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