Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-02-01
PLAN BUILDING
FOR HOUSING
CONVENTIONS
Movement Already Started to
Erect Much-Needed
Structure.
COMMITTEE APPOINTED

COMIul EE AFRO1N ED
J. A. Daugherty, vice president and
general manager of the Robbins Body
Corporation, today was named chairman
of a committee which will investigate
and formulate plans for the construction
of great industrial and convention
building in Indianapolis. The other
members Of the committee are Walter
B. Marmon, president of the Nordyke &
Marmon Company: Henry L. Dithmer,
president of the Polar Ice and Fuel Com
pany; Felix NJ. McWhirter, president of
the PEOPLES State Bank, and Harper j.
Ransberg, president Of the Ransberg
Glass Company.
The men were named today by o. B.
lies, chairman Of the manufacturers
committee of the Chamber of Commerce,
following a dinner given last night by
the committee at the Chamber of Com
MERGE The sentiment Of the assembled
business men was unanimously in favor
of such a building and no time was lost
today in getting the movement under
way.
with this movement for a building is
also a movement for. another industrial
exhibition such as was given at the State
an exhibition are in the hands of the
members of the manufacturers commit
tee and the exhibition is believed to be
assured.
The building plan calls for & large
structure in which conventions may be
held and in which exhibitions possibly
permanent exhibitions of Indianapolis
undergraduates could be housed. The
building would be so situated that 1t
would have facilities for the unloading
of freight and would still be in m
J trail location.
According to plans already roughly
mapped out, the building would be con-
structed by a corporation organized for
that purpose and which would probably
be financed through the sale of preferred
stock.
The speaking program at the dinner at
which these proposals were made was
opened by Charles F. Coffin, president of
the Chamber of Commerce who discussed
business conditions generally. Mr.. Coffin
said it must be admitted that at present
business conditions are unsatisfactory.
NO TIME FOR
SELF-DECEPTION.
''There has been a great deal OF guess
ing and taking for granted that these
conditions must change" he said. But
this is no time for thoughtlessness and
for deceiving ourselves. Shouting pros
perity will not bring prosperity. There
must be other factors.
'FWhat Is the matter with business
Some say transportation, others the high
cost of labor, others the high cost Of raw
materials, and still others the high cost
of living generally. But to be helpful
we must detach ourselves and look npon
business as q whole. A diagnosis must
precede the remedy in this as in Ills of
the body Remedies should be suggested
only after broad analysis"
Mr.. Coffin said that II is merely
thoughtless to say that all war taxes
should be abolished in order to bring
about business prosperity. He likened
the present condition to the waves Of the
ocean which roll on for hours after the
wind ceases.
"The war is over, but the waves it
stirred up are still dashing about US, ="
he said. THE war was the occasion, If
not the cause, of present business condi-
lions. Everything was turned upside
down and every economic law was
smashed. That is the reason for present
conditions"
Mr.. Coffin expressed the hope that If
there is ever another world war the Gov
eminent will step in and refuse TO per
NIT price increases, rent increases or
increases in the cost Of labor He de-
clared that profteering in such a case
must never begin.
The question now, he said, is how long
it Will take prosperity to return. He
cited the war OF 1912 and the Civil War
and pointed out that it was twenty to
thirty years after each before business
reached state Of "normalcy." He said
precisely the came conditions exist now
as existed following those wars and that
business cannot be expected to become
stabilized for a like period.
"Why is this situation ahead Of us 20
he asked. Because capital fights to the
last to keep what it has gained and labor
Is just as determined. Another reason is
because this country cannot consume all
OF the products Of the factory and the
farm and there is no foreign market.
Rat what can we do2 One thing that
should be done is for the United States
TO acknowledge It's international obliga-
tions and to undertake to discharge them.
We have said paddle your own canoe,
but We are waking up to the fact that
We are in the same canoe and If it is
upset we will barely escape with our
lives"
GALS " o.
SHOULD TAKE PART.
Mr.. Coffin said the United States will
be represented at the conference at Genoa
whether it wishes to be or not, because
representation will come through nations
which owe money to the United States.
He urged that this country be represent
ed directly at the conference.
There are other things that we can
do" he said. Now is the time for men
to think and study and plan for their own
individual businesses. We must get rid
of the idea that economy is a thing of
the past and work and be as economical
as we can"
The last industrial exhibition was then
referred to by Mr.. Coffin as one Of the
things that must be done He said that
every one must keep his head and must
not be discouraged for a minute. The
most valuable man to any community
he said, is the prophet who is never dis
couraged, the man who is always ready
to say, Forward march :"
Mr. Coffin was followed by J. Harper
Ransburg, who suggested that com
mittee be appointed to arrange for an
other industrial exhibitions and to ar
range a site for such an exhibition, and
remarked that great many persons have
suggested the advisability of a hall fol
such exhibitions. 1t was finally decided
that the matter of holding another exhi-
bition be placed in the hands Of the
manufacturers committee
MIR. Ransburg then elaborated on the
building idea and said the situation war
rants the manufacturers committee and
other business men of Indianapolis get
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