Evening star., 1935-02-24
Trade Associations
Appreciably Increased
BY HARDEN COLFAx.

0lIlC6 Lllc dQVGIlL Oh LIE NeW OSdt-
particularly since the N. r. A. began to
| function-the number and scope Of
the activities Of national and inter-
state trade associations in the United
States have increased appreciably.
While 1t is not yet known how many
Of the present total of these came into
being as a result Of the impetus given
by the N. r. A. program, nevertheless
| according to a compilation Of trade
organizations Just made public by the
| Department Of Coumerce) each code
Of fair competition" has been spon-
sored by at least one, and in some
| cases more, national trade associations
and large number Of similar affiliated
interstate, State and local trade groups.
BY January !, 1885, more than $40
basic and 180 supplemental codes had
been approved by the N. r. A., includ-
ing in their fields Of operation approx
mately 100000 business firms with
%, 900 900 employees. 1t Is true, MIRA.
does not cover the Nations 10000 900
other wage and salaried workers and
employees on farms, in the professions,
in the Government and in the do
mestic field. In its compilation, how
| ever, the Commerce Department has
listed more than 2,500 trade aSsocia-
tions. with headquarters in the United
States. of widely varying scope.
Fifty years ago there were less than
so trade organizations. we are told,
and Of these five are still functioning-
the Writing Paper Manufacturers As
sociation, United States Brewers As
ISOLATION, National Association of Wool
Manufacturers, National Association Of
Cotton Manufacturers and National
Board Of Fire Underwriters.
Il 4 y \
The principal activities now under
way in the larger trade associations
listed by the Commerce Department
| include the development Of sound in
dustrial relations within the industries
concerned, plans for stabilizing en-
ployment, market research and an
alysis, cooperative marketing and
sales promotion. product research, sim
plification and Standardization, cost
accounting, budget forecasting and
statistical control and cross-licensing
or pooling Of patents.
Quoting the provision Of NJ l. r. A.
to the effect that 1t is the policy OF
Congress to provide for the general
| welfare by promoting, among other
things, cooperative action among
trade groups" we are reminded that
the difference between trade associa-
tions and code authorities lies prirl-
cipally in the fact that trade asso-
citation Is a voluntary organization Of
business men, while code authority
Is an agency of limited powers and
functions with Government authority
behind it."
Generally speaking, the largest
number Of local groups is in the trade
and business service fields, while most
national and interstate trade organi-
cations are those Of manufacturers,
since their sales areas frequently have
broader geographical scope.
AS might be expected, the largest
number Of the associations In this list
are located In New York State-more
than 1000 Of them. Illinois and Penn
sylvania follow. More than 174,000
manufacturing Adjustments are con-
cerned, with the figures for the whole
sale trade being $4,000 enterprises,
for the retail trade l,526,000 and Tor
business service 100000.
The compilation points out that q
trade organization, In the sense 1t Is
considered here, Is voluntary or
Ranization of business competitors,
usually In one branch Of the indus
trial trade or service fields. The list
also includes associations Of American
importers and exporters and interna-
tional chambers Of commerce. It does
not include agricultural, labor, pro-
fessional and scientific organizations.
OF the associations, 1900 are con-
cerned with manufacturers and their
problems, 800 with wholesalers and re-
tailers, 200 with business services and
100 with foreign trade.
Copyright. 1880