Evening star., 1944-02-09
Murray, Mead Discuss
Small Business Needs
In Forum Talks

small manufacturers who are able
to do so should be allowed to re-
sumo production of civilian goods
now, Chairman Murray of the Sem
ate Small Business Committee said
last night on the National Radio
Forum. They should not be held
back because their large competi-
tors are tied up with war contracts.
he added.
Senator Mead, Democrat, of New
York, a member of the committee,
explained his bill to encourage risk
capital for small business enterprises.
The two Senators were introduced
to national radio audience of the
Blue Network by Edward Boykin,
conductor of the Forum, in the
WMAL studio. The Forum is ar
ranged by The Star.
I'VE hear considerable talk about
the inequity of permitting small
plants to resume civilian production
while the big plants are still tied
up in war work." Senator Murray
said. 'It is argued that it would be
an unwise and unjust policy to per-
nit the small civilian goods manu-
facturers to reconvert while their
big competitors in the same field are
still tied up in war production. This
argument is just as unsound as the
early argument that war production
was q program for big plants.
Sees Small Plants Imperiled.
IF this policy is followed, it will
mean that thousands of small plants
all over the country will 60 broke
waiting at the barrier to give the
big manufacturing organizations an
even start in reconversion. The
little concerns will be lost in the
shuttle in the final mad scramble of
resumption Of civilian production.
III small concerns can be turned
over now to civilian production it
will create stronger competitive
position for small business in the
postwar period 1t will provide
sharper competition, lower prices. |
increased consumption and full en-
ployment."
Senator Mead said he had been
particularly interested in providing
a permanent system to stimulate the
now OF risk capital to small busi-
ness IN the postwar years. After
several years study of this problem,
I have worked out a bill to create
a small business finance corpora
tion within the Federal Reserve
System to serve as permanent |
financial foundation under the small
business structure of the country. |
Through this corporation, small.
business could secure working funds
for periods up to 10 years"
Would Aid Trade Research.
Another handicap small business
is up against, Senator Mead said.
"is the lack of adequate business
management and marketing research
facilities. Large corporations are
able to establish elaborate depart
ments for this purpose, and thereby
keep themselves informed on the
latest business and marketing tech
niques. I have submitted a bill
directing the Secretary of Commerce
to establish field service for the
purpose of giving such technical aid
to small business"
Senator Mead, referring to his re-
cent tour of world battlefronts, told .
of natives of North Africa and India
using modern American equipment.
He said he was sure half of Au-
stralias population was hoping to
buy American automobiles. Lease
lend goods, he said, "are planting
seeds which will yield a tremendous
harvest in the free world trade of
The postwar world"
There are two aspects of this
question for small business" he con-
cluded. First, we should begin to
study the type Of organization which
can carry the products of small and
medium size industry into the world
market alongside the goods of those
corporations able to support indi-
vldual sales organizations. Second.
the goal of full employment in the
postwar world, precondition for a
thriving small business, seems less
distant when we consider the tre-
mendous possibilities of the world
-