Evening star., 1928-12-07
MINES AID ASKED
FOR u. S. DEFENSE
Robbins Outlines Plans for
Readiustment of Industry
on War Time Basis.

A plea that the American Mining
Congress do its utmost to aid the War
Department in the procurement of es-
Sential raw materials for national pre-
paredness was made today by Assistant
Secretary of War C. B. Robbins in out
lining to the mining convention plans
Tor the readjuStment of industry from
a peace-time to wartime basiS
Sufhcient progress has been made in
such plans to insure such a readiust-
ment with minimum of confusion. Col.
Robbins said. provided industrial leaders
give their fullest cooperation.
when this readjustment has been
made and when our Industrial plants,
expanded and transformed as they must
In some cases be- have had time to come
INTO mass production of munitions. there
can be little fear of failure in military
supplies, provided our plants are them
selves supplied with the raw materials
which they will require" he explained.
Mines Part Held vital.
Col. Robbins emphasized that the
American Mining Congress can meet
the situation in part by insuring the
possibility of continued operation of
coal mines in event of national emer-
gency. He outlined also the War De-
partment'S plans to build up reserve
store of strategic" minerals and metals
which enter into the composition of
modern munitions.
In pointing out that mercury is re-.
quired in the manufacture Of felt hats,
Col. Robbins stated that should the
supply of mercury become short the
Army would be compelled to discard
tie campaign hat for one which does
not require the use of any strategic
raw material.
I'VE have planned to strip ourselves
Immediately of all dispensible articles
which involve the consumption of ma
terials in which a shortage is threat
ened" he said. "It is not anticipated
that there will be any difficulty in get
ting our civilian population to do like
wise"
Election of new president and other
Officers was the most important busi-
ness matter before the convention today.
Newly elected directors of the con-
gress. each to serve three years Begin
ming in 1929. are as follows: James T.
Skelly, Wilmington, Del: Robert e.
Tally. Clarkdale. Ariz: s. Livingstone
Mather, Cleveland. Ohio. and Otis
Mouser, Philadelphia. William H.
Lindsey of Nashville, Tenn, was elected
Ior tWo-year term. ..
Hold Banquet Tonight.
Tonight's annual banquet at the .
Mayf1Ower Hotel. where all sessions are
being held. will be followed by a ball
for delegates and their friends. The
retiring president. j. G.. Bradley, will
preside at the banquet and introduce
the incoming president. The principal
address will be given by former Senator
Stanley of Kentucky. There will be an
elaborate entertainment by radio stars
and others
Speaking on "Mechanization and
Human Progress" in which he stressed
the Use of machinery in industry. Col.
M. c. Rorty of New York, vice presi-
dent of the International Telephone e.
Telegraph Corporation. stated that busi-
ness and employment stability are being
brought about by better understand
Ing and control of banking and other
commercial factors.
With increasing mechanization, he
said. there will be no decrease in en-
ployment. but a shifting of workers
from older occupations to production of
new luxury and semi-luxury goods.
Employment Increase Predicted.
Based on personal observation of
highly mechanical factories, Col. Rorty
said that under mechanization a high
rate OF production can be secured almost
devoid OF strain on the worker. Col.
Rorty said the value of machines and
output was SO great that the wages of
machine attendants had become a
minor item and attendants were en-
ployed in what seemed excessive num-
bers as a safeguard against interrupt
tlonS OF machine operations and spoil
age OF materials. AS machines become
more fully automatic and more costly
and as the value of the product per
machine increases employers will re-
qulre more machine operators and at
tendants.
'Mechanization and human progress
are so closely knit together as to be
inseparable," he said.
Meets Next In Atlanta. I
At the annual meeting of the board
of governors of the southern divisions
of the congress Atlanta, Ga, was Sc
lected for the 1929 session Of the
Southern Industrial Development Con-
ference.
Causes of what was termed the pres
ent chaotic state of the bituminous coal
industry and measures for it's relief
were outlined to the convention yes
terday. Disastrous competition, lack
of proper organization and cooperation
within the industry. the absence Of
proper encouragement from the Gov
ernment. the failure of railroads prior
to 1923 to furnish adequate tranSporta-
ton. and frequent and long strikes in
union coal fields were variously blamed
for the present condition of the in
dustrles by speakers.
Reorganization of the industry, with
distributing and sales agencies in vari-
GUS producing districts, instead of Gov
ernment control and regulation, was
urged by j. d. Francis of New York.
He proposed the mergers of physical
properties into groups sufficiently large
TO eliminate present ruthless competi-
ton and substitute a fair and healthy
between larger producers"
plea for the restoration of the
bituminous coal industry TO the level
OF prosperity enjoyed by other indus
tries was made by H. E. Willard of
Cleveland. He declared that neither
the public, other industries nor the
desired that the industry
shall continue in its present chaotic
condition. When proper efforts are
put forth the bituminouS coal interests
will receive the support of all these
agencies" he said.
During the past years, he pointed
out, labor conditions in West Virginia,
and Ohio have been re-
with public support, so as to
avoid future strikes and lockouts.
DR.. l. e. Young of Pittsburgh was
named chairman of a new section of
the congress devoted to mechanization
Of coal mines.