Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-19
LAMONT TO SPEAK
IN RADIO FORUM
Commerce Secretary'S Activ-
ity in Reviving Business
SharpenS Interest.

Robert Patterson Lamont, who, as
Secretary Of Commerce, has been one
of the principal contributing factors in
the efforts Of the administration to
stimulate business and to improve the
employment situation throughout the
country following the stock market
crash last Fall, will address the Ma
tional Radio Forum, arranged by The
Evening Star and sponsored by the
Columbia Broadcasting System, tomor-
row night.
Secretary Lamont has made public
addresses only on rare occasions, and
therefore his radio forum address Is
being looked forward to with great IN
terest, particularly because Of the prom
inent position he occupies in the adj
ministration.
It has been through the medium of
the minute surveys made of business
activities by Secretary Lamont's depart
ment following that stock market col
lapse that President Hoover has been
kept informed and thereby was in q
position to act with such decision when
the crisis arrived.
Start of Program.
Secretary Lamont personally repre-
sented the President in bringing about
cooperation of the industrial, business
and public utility heads as well as the
State and municipal authorities, in
starting in motion general gigantic
construction program, which has done
much In the way Of reviving business
and providing employment. Through
out the two months period when busI-
ness depression was at its lowest ebb,
Secretary Lamont spent many hours
daily and night at his Office and was In
conference with the President several
times day.
Before entering President Hoover's
cabinet Mr.. Lamont was president Of
the American Steel Foundries, one of
the large corporations of the country,
as well as being an off1cer In score or
more of industrial or business concerns.
Probably no other man in the Presi-
dents ofhcial family has had q wider
experience In the business world than
he.
Like the President himself, Secretary
Lamont is an engineer, having been grad
uated from the University of Michigan.
It is understood that this fact had con-
siderable to do with Mr.. Hoover's choos-
ing him to take over the MANAGEMENT
Of the Department Of Commerce, which
he himself handled for eight years.
Mr.. Lamont's training as an engineer
and his rare experience as business
man and executive are known to have
much to do with the successful manner
In which he has COPIED with the major
problems which have confronted him
since he became the head of the De-
partment OF Commerce.
First Personal Contact.
President Hoover had known Mr.. La
mont by reputation for long time, but
It was not until their work in connec-
ton with the Mississippi flood relief and
rehabilitation three years ago that they
came into personal contact and became
well acquainted. It was during that
emergency that President Hoover had
an opportunity to watch Mr.. Lamont
IN action and to recognize the real
ability and resourcefulness Of his fellow
engineer.
Mr.. Lamont has lived In Chicago the
greater part of his life. He had never
held public ONCE until he entered the
cabinet and has never been active DO
l1tically. During the World War he was
commissioned major and after pro-
NOTED to colonel in the National Army.
Besides the tremendous responsibility
ne has had in connection with the resuS-
citation Of business, Secretary Lamont
has been actively engaged in printing
the machinery for the starting Of the
taking of the fifteenth census. It is
understood that this vitality interesting
and important subject will be the prin-
cipal topic Of this cabinet officers talk
tomorrow night. Secretary Lannon'S
speech will 60 on the air through Sta
ton WMAL at 10: 30 o'clock,