The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-05-12
HOOYER's PLANS To INCgEASE
UNCLE SANS COMMERCE

Y over road policies and school schemes
.l.at il forgot 70 make any appropria-
tion whatever for the commission on
commerce il authorized Governor
Hartness 10 name
We are reminded Of this remissness
on the part Of the latest wisdom and
virtue" Of Vermont by the telegraphic
announcement in the preceding issue
Of the Free Press that Secretary Her
bert Hoover has asked Congress for
an appropriation Of S61S,0O0 for the
department Of commerce, which would
do in the broader field what a Vermont
commission Of commerce would do for
business and industry Of the Green
Mountain State.
We have only to look about US in
Burlington to enter into the edges Of
appreciation of the tremendous possi-
bilities for industry and commerce
still awaiting development. Less than
ten years ago two young men from
New York came to Burlington with a
combined capital of possibly $500
and bought a comparatively small ice
cream business No man in Burling-
ton had the vision 10 see what they
could see in the possibilities Of the
manufacture and distribution Of this
delicacy on large scale. They knew
their business from the COW up, and
they extended their operations until it
bcame necessary to acquire number
of creameries TO secure the pure cream
needed In their business.
Today Frank S. Mcintosh and II. B.
Slingerland are operating ice cream
plants in New Hampshire and Maine
as well as in Vermont, and we expect
soon TO see them take on additional
territory in the splendid business they
have developed. IL you will look
about Burlington you will see various
other business concerns built out Of
nothing as it were simply because the
men behind them had vision and the
nerve and push to back it.
We recall period not long ago
when it was fashionable 10 growl that
you could do nothing in Burlington or
in Vermont, we were so far TO one
side. In particular we could not man
ufacture. While we were growing
and whining The American Asbestos
concern bought up Eden mountain
where they have an inexhaustible
store of a commodity that has long
been imported from fields as far away
as South Africa We had to wait for
outsiders to see the riches we had long
been treading under foot when out
hunting for game or recreation. II is
sad reflection that most Of the big
hydro-electric plants in Vermont have
been due to the initiative Of outside
capital. Ever Burlington is paying
Massachusetts, capital for the electric
"juice" which our community should
have had the vision to provide for it.
self by securing ample water power
when such opportunities were actually
going begging.
Il Is one Of the functions Of board
Of trade to help people TO have vision
to see possibilities Of this and other
kinds. What could not State com
mission of this kind do for the de-
velopment Of Vermont industry? We
are now TO see what similar agency
can accomplish for the industry and
business Of our nation as a whole.
II there is any man in America who
has vision for big things in industry
and commerce and organized effort in
various directions that man is Herbert
Hoover. He sees the grand opportun-
tiles for the extension Of American
trade in the marts Of the entire world.
II he has his way, we shall cease 10 be
under the necessity Of shipping Amer
lean products TO South American ports
via Liverpool in British ships, as was
so long necessary owing TO rupiDe
Americanism. And so in other direc-
tons.
Secretary Hoover wants better IA
cilities for the collection Of informa-
ton about fields for American com
merce. We have long had consular re-
ports, but as a rule the information
contained therein has been confined TO
paper-covered governmental literature
which found its way largely into the
voracious waste baskets Of editorial
sarctums. II was not placed in the
hands q manufacturers and traders
where i would do the most good.
Hoover Is going at this work Of IN
creasIng American industry and trade
precisely as De organized work for the
relief q the devastated regions Of Bel
gium and France during the World
War in a big way. He wants 70 create
twelve nex divisions in the depart
ment of commerce for the study Of
world trade opportunities He would