Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-05
By RosCoE c. EDLuNn,

AH6Os
citation Executives.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, January 5.-One of the
lessons brought home to American busi-
ness by, the vicissitudeS of 1880 is the
value of facts as the basis of industrial
development. The finding and distribu
ton of facts Is peculiarly the function
of the trade association, and it probably
Is In this department that the trade
associations OF the country have per-
formed their most important service
to industry during the past year.
Much of the. uncertainty through
which we are passing is due to I'M
founded rumors, to incomplete, unau-
thoritative, and often misleading, data,
to fears for the future entertained by
the manufacturer and merchant seek
ing to plot his individual course. In
times like these business looks to its
trade association for reliable informa-
ton, unbiased by the influences of in
dividual competition. When the Ma
tional Business Survey Conference was
organized it turned first to the trade
associations for facts.
Standardized Methods.
Simplifcation and Standardization Of
methods is the keystone Of business
economy. The results Of research and
experience in these departments are
now being shared by many cooperative
groups for the benefit of the entire in
dustrial fabrics. Trade association
executives are exchanging information
on management, credit cost accounting,
systematized education, advertising,
traffic and many other subjects Of gen.
eral interest.
This recognition of the immediate i'm
portance of statistics has not only given
impetus to the statistical service MAIN
tanned by many large trade associations.
but has caused other associations to
initiate flor the first time services of
this kind. The results have been of
ineStimable value not only to their own
members, but to. the general public.
The collection and dissemination OF
basic information, however, is only one
field in which the trade associations
have quickened their activities during
the past year. In business promotion
efforts trade groups have set an ex-
ample by showing the individual bust
ness man the importance of intensified
sales efforts to Offset business depreS-
sion. According to partial survey
made by the trade association depart
ment of the Chamber of Commerce OF
the United States, 81 Of the trade as
Sociations reporting increased their
trade promotion budgets during 1890
while only Sc made decreases and 81
operated under budgets equal to those
OF the preceding year in this depart
ment. In order to maintain these ac-
tivitieS several associations have drawn
upon their reserve funds. One hun
dred and twenty-seven associations re-
ported a total 1880 budget for trade
promotional work amounting to SO 1927
AIS, of which $5,816,969 was for adj
ficf,1 II fc
figures, that the total amount expended
by trade associations during 1880 in CO.
operative market development was well
in excess of any former year.
Trade Promtion Movement.
The fact that trade association lead
ers do not regard a period Of business
recession as an unpropftious time to
start trade promotion movements was
demonstrated by the fact that sew
eral new advertising campaigns were
launched during the year and that
other associations authorized cooper
alive advertising surveys looking to the
expenditure Of several million dollars.
Trade. associations in the railroad anc
utility fields were among the first to
cooperate with the Federal Govern
ment in stimulating public and semi
public construction work. Some SIS as
sociations in the construction field sent
representatives to the meeting held in
Washington on January 25, 1880, and
are mobilizing their resources for the
general program of the National Bush
ness Survey Conference Through
these associations information concern
ing the construction program was dis
tributed to local and regional associa-
tons and to their members. AS an OUT
growth of this conference plans are. now
under way for setting up permanent
clearing house organization for the con-
struction industries and solving prob
lens involving the stabilizing of indus
tries which require longtime effort.
The movement to speed up construc-
ton was further stimulated by the ac-
ton of trade associations representing
financial interests in bringing about the