Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-11

influence of government in business Is
tremendous.
Some years ago the Department Of
State. fresh from novel experiences with
the economic groundwork OF diplomacy
entertained aspirations to exercise de-
gree Of guardianship over the foreign
trade of the country. There was or
ganized under its auspices an inter-
detrimental economic liaison commit
tee The idea had merit. There is
much duplication, pushing and jostling
in Washington among various Federal
agencies to establish public impressions
Of usefulness.
But this project could not raise itself
above inter-departmental jealousy. 1t
finally degenerated into an intermittent
conference OF substitutes and alternates
who met In an atmosphere Of old world
diplomacy with each representative
seeking to find out what was the other
fellows game without disclosing any,
thing Of his own.
In Economic LiaisOn.
Economic liaison among the depart
mentS now is to be put back on its feet.
The President has always recognized
vast possibilities in more generous CO.
operative relationships between differ
ent arms Of the Government. More
have been reflected in several moves
in that direction.
or especial interest 10 business is
the intention Of the President to effect
through Secretary of State StimSon and
Secretary of Commerce Lamont closer
cooperative relation between the De-
partmentS Of State and Of Commerce.
Enough friendly rivalry between the
consular service and the foreign COM
merce service may be retained to foster
! morale. but there is to be more facile
exchange of trade information and gen.
orally more active cooperation between
them.
Besides the more specific duties Of
administration. the President has q
prime obligation to preserve a healthy
morale in the business community. He
mental relation with business to de-
velop uncertainty. Modern business
proceeds largely in equations. Uncer-
tainty exerts a terrific braking effect.
The general application Of relatively
small curtailments to individual opera
tions or inventories quickly assume vol
ume proportions.
This aspect Of the presidential job
requires cohesion Of policy compre-
bending all arms OF the Government.
It requires political management which
avoids the disaffection of influential
factors in public affairs. 1t calls for
leadership which discourages quarrels
that divert national energies into mega
tive and unproductive alleys. All the
handicaps and disabilities Of republican
government here confront the Presi-
dent.
The President has assigned the duty
Of promoting and ministering to the
technique of American business to Rob-
ert p. Lamont OF Chicago. There was
very large personal compliment in this
! appointment. The President will de-
pend much on this department. The
| new Secretary Of Commerce will have
large opportunities for service during
the next four years:
Secretary of Commerce Lamont
comes into public life from a general
| setting not unlike that from which
emerged the President himself. In pub
| lie affairs-save for some notable war
service in the industrial field-he Is a
novice. AS q successful practical bust
ness man he has an impressive ped1-
gree.
Discouraging to Critics.
The new Secretary Of Commerce
pleads that he is still getting acquainted
with his Job. There are IL bureaus,
with ramiflcations all over the globe.
and getting acquainted with their
routine alone Is no small task. Never
| tlaeless, Mr.. Lamont impresses one as
having pushed this matter OF &C
| ouaintanceship along at quite pace.
Like his predecessor. however. he has
learned to respect facts and premises.
He hasn't the habit Of easy generaliza-
| ton. His conclusions. when reached.
are likely to afford critics the same
unsatisfying small bites that made Mr.;
Hoover such q discouraging object Of
| attack.
Secretary Lamont lacks some Of the
| intensity Of Mr.. Hoover. Like the Pres
| ident. he is personally modest. Nor Is
| 1t the posefill modesty with which Some
| practical cyclists dress themselves for
| public once. He seems to have ace
/ auired-lilke 4 many other tnconsptcu-