Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-30
TRADE PROMOTION
GROUP ORGANIZED
Business Men Form Associa-
ton, With "Buy in Wash
ington" as Slogan.

A new cooperative organization I'M
der the name of the Buy in Washing
ton Business Council" designed to slim
ulate local business as a means OF
strengthening the economic structure OF
the city and to provide increased en-
ployment for local citizens, was launched
last night at the Mayfiower Hotel by
heads Of 10 commercial labor and pro-
fessional organizations, including the
three major trade bodies OF Wash
ington.
which is similar to the earlier Buy III
Washington" campaigns conducted here,
is to bring to the highest possible de-
gree the employment of Washington
talent and labor, the use of Washing
ton-made products and the purchase OF
merchandise ARD commodities from
firms whose financial interests are
conferred in this city.
e. J. Murphy Elected to Preside.
E. j. Murphy, past president of the
Board of Trade, was unanimously
elected temporary chairman OF the
council which is to be operated for SIX
months without an assessment against
its charter members, after which forma-
ztion of a permanent organization Is 10
ebe effected.
: with the consent of the assembled
delegates at the dinner meeting, Mr.
MIurphy named the following as an
executive committee to carry out the
Sobiectiyes of the association: John Col
spoys. prominent local spokesman Tor
Tabor and editor of the Trades Unlonlst;
H. w. Heine, president OF the HUDSON
kSupply Co.; Horace w. Peaslee, a past
spresident of the Washington chapter OF
sthe American Institute of Architects;
sF,. H. Rosengarten, president OF tne
n1vad En1nlnVnrC' AS
Eociation: Charles H. Tompkins. gen.
seral contractor and Mr.. Murphy,
representing the paint trade. Louis
5Rothchild, director of the Better Busl-
mess Bureau, was invited to SIT with
sthe executive committee to advise the
body concerning its contemplated pro-
sgram. :. ..o
Thomas Grant, secretary OF the
Building Trades Employers Assoclat! on
council without pay. The secretar1al
work of each group is to be carried on
Inv its own organization and all work Is
Ito be provided voluntarily by member
sbodies.
8 Two-hour Discussion Marks Session.
Z The new organization was formed fol-
flowing a two-hour discussion OF busl-
mess and economic problems racing
washington, in which speakers asserted
4that this city is losing several millions
sof dollars from circulation here ANNUALLY
sbecause building contracts. architectural
ework, labor jobs, purchase OF pulldlng
smaterials and general mercnanolse
swere made out of Washington.
2 In the round table discussion repre-
ssentatives of various groups cited in
stances in which business which might
s. be let in Washington was being given
sto out-of-town organizations which, 1t
swas declared, means not only That 10
seal dealers and trades were losing the
ESTIMATED profits on such work, but that
tthe money representing the total cost
sof such developments and work Is go
Ting out of Washington and thereby re-
sducing the amount of money in local
scirculation and thus weakening the
seconomic structure of the city.
Z One speaker protested vigorously
against the amount of building con-
stracts on local school buildings as well
Eas Government construction work
(which has been awarded to contracting
sfirms from Southern State which, he
rsaid not only ships the necessary build
Sing supplies here from its own State,
sbut also imports cheap labor with which
slocal organized building tradesmen can
sL,uC compete because Of the higher
standards Of living and overhead costs
to local concerns
Others cited instances in which local
private business organizations have
awarded contracts for work to out-of-
town commercial and labor organiza-
tons instead of local men.
Some of the leaders present urged
that the council, as the spokesman
Tor the organization members, should
go to the heads of such concerns and
protest against this practice Of sending
local business and employment to out
side organizations. Others advocated
an educational movement rather than
one OF economic pressure" as a means
Of hometown boosting
The executive committee is to meet
shortly to map out program, draw up
constitution and bylaws for presen-
tation at later meeting of the men,
bers OF the council, to be held at the
call OF Chairman Murphy.
Effects Of Competition Cited.
In the severe competition that exists
between progressive cities and sections
OF the country today, it was declared,
each city Is forced to adopt home
town program In order to survive COM
unercially.
Among those who urged the forma-
ton OF an active organization to this
END at the session last night were Mr..
Murphy, Mr.. Rosengarten, j. r. Skin
ker, president of the Master Builders
Association; Mr.. Tompkins, Mr.. Col
pQys, Thomas Lane, business agent of
the local bricklayers' union organiza-
ton; Claude Owen, president of the
z. G. Shafer Co.; Mr.. Heine, Rudolph
Jose, first vice president of the Wash
tngton Chamber of Commerce; George
Pitt, the new president of the Board
Of Trade; Mark Lansburgh, president
OF the Merchants and Manufacturers
Association; Arthur Carr, first vice
president Of the Washington Real
Estate Board; William J. Eynon, pres
1dent of the Washington Typothetae,
and Luther C. Steward, president Of
the National Federation of Federal
Employees.
Two suggestions made by Mr.. Roths-
child, Better Business Bureau execu-
tive that the council should be
incorporated before its program of
activity is launched and that competent
legal advice be sought in the program
to be carried out-met with general ap-
proyal of the gathering.