The secondary industries that we must now begin to encourage are characterized by a wide variety of work. They have different standards, are not easily susceptible to organization on a large scale, and hence politically have never acted as a concerted and effective force. The National Association of Manufacturers has been held together largely by an exaggerated emphasis upon the struggle against trades unionism. This ideal of strife with labor is no longer sufficient, and many believe that much more can be gained by co-operating with labor to build up the productive power of our people.
SECONDARY INDUSTRIES AND CONSERVATION.
Today, the interests of the secondary manufacturer coincide closely with the demands of the conservation movement, and with the best interest of the Nation. The secondary manufacturer needs a permanent supply of raw materials. It is to his interest to see that coal, lumber, iron, electric power generated from our waterfalls, and every other raw material of manufacture be permanently available at reasonable prices. Where undue monopoly of the power of such raw materials exists, the secondary manufacturer will be acting in accordance with his own enlightened interests if he helps to restrict and regulate by political action. Reckless exploitation, leading to exhaustion of any natural store, threatens the very existence of his business.
In order to produce in large quantities, the secondary manufacturer must sell into broad markets; must use freely and extensively the transportation systems of the country. He realizes that the development of railroading in the United States (which surpasses that of any other country in the world, and has knit together a population of a hundred millions with great buying and consuming power into one homogeneous market) is one of our great national assets. On the basis of this broad market, quantity manufacture can be developed as nowhere else in the world.
President White—Before introducing the next speaker, I will read a letter from Dr. Charles A. Doremus, of New York, whom we expected to be here.
Letter from Mr. Charles A. Doremus
New York, September 30, 1912.
Mr. J. B. White, President of the Fourth National Conservation Congress:
Dear Sir—Much to my regret I am prevented from attending the sessions of the Congress, though appointed to represent, as a member of its Committee, the American Electrochemical Society.
One of the matters detaining me is work in connection with the American Museum of Safety, which is doing progressive work to conserve human life. There are now twenty-two such museums and their beneficial influence is being felt here and abroad. The large corporations have been enlisted in the work of accident prevention and allied topics and the recent congresses, the Eighth International Congress of Applied Chemistry and the International Congress of Hygiene and Demography, have awakened great public interest in all that pertains to the preservation of health and life.