and laws are of but minor effect on these fundamental things. But by well-directed economic forces, by co-operation in the community we can not only maintain American standards of living-we can raise them. We have the highest ingenuity and efficiency in the operation of our industry and commerce of any nation in the world. Yet our economic machine is far from perfect. Wastes are legion. There are wastes which arise from widespread unemployment during depressions, and from speculation and overproduction in booms; wastes attributable to labor turnover and the stress of labor conflicts; wastes due to intermittent and seasonal production, as in the coal and construction industries; vast wastes from strictures in commerce due to inadequate transportation, such as the lack of sufficient terminals; wastes caused by excessive variations in products; wastes in materials arising from lack of efficient processes; wastes by fire, and wastes in human life. Against these and other wastes the department, acting always in co-operation with the industries themselves, has for the past three years developed an increasingly definite program. As these manifold activities of the department are based upon co-operation with industry and commerce, none of them leads to paternalistic ends. Many of the bureaus of the department have contributed to these activities. ROSTER OF SECRETARIES OF COMMERCE AND LABOR GEORGE B. CORTELYOU, of New York. From February 16, 1903, to March 5, 1906 (see Department of the Treasury). VICTOR H. METCALF, of California. From July 1, 1904, to December 11, 1906 (see Department of the OSCAR S. STRAUSS, of New York. From December 17, 1906, to March 4, 1909. CHARLES NAGEL, of Missouri. From March 5, 1909, to March 5, 1913. SECRETARIES OF COMMERCE WILLIAM COX REDFIELD, of New York. From March 6, 1913, to October 31, 1919. JOSHUA WILLIS ALEXANDER, of Missouri. From December 16, 1919, to March 4, 1921. HERBERT HOOVER, of California. From March 4, 1921. Secretary Cortelyou was transferred by President Roosevelt first to the Postoffice Department and from there to the Treasury Department. Secretary Metcalf was transferred to the Navy Department. BIOGRAPHIES OF SECRETARIES OF COMMERCE AND LABOR OSCAR SOLOMON STRAUSS SCAR SOLOMON STRAUSS-Secretary of Commerce and Labor from December 17, 1906, to March 4, 1909. Born in Ottenberg, Bavaria, December 23, 1850. Son of Lazarus and Sara Strauss. Educated at Columbia College. Married, in 1882, Miss Sarah Lavenburg. 1887-Minister to Turkey. 1902-Member Permanent Court at The Hague. The parents of Mr. Strauss came to America in 1854, locating in Georgia. They removed to New York in 1865, where Oscar attended Columbia College, being graduated with distinguished honor. Having adopted the law as his profession he studied that science and on being admitted to the bar began the practice in New York city. In 1881 he gave up the practice and engaged in mercantile business, becoming interested in banking and other business enterprises. In 1887 he was appointed minister plenipotentiary to Turkey, winning in that position a high reputation as a diplomat. It was a difficult position but Mr. Strauss met fully all requirements. The next year the office was raised to ambassadorial rank. In 1906 he was made Secretary of the Department of Commerce and Labor (the two departments then being combined). There he applied his knowledge of the commercial situation both in this country and in those of Europe and the East, to shape the activities along lines to increase our trade with other nations. Retiring from that position he was again appointed ambassador to Turkey. Mr. Strauss has written a number of books, among them being "The Origin of Republican Form of Government in the United States” and "The Development of Religious Liberty in the United States." Mr. Strauss was active in all matters to advance education and for a number of years was president of the American Social Science Association. CHA CHARLES NAGEL HARLES NAGEL-Secretary of Commerce and Labor from March 5, 1909, to March 5, 1913. Born in Colorado county, Texas, August 9, 1849. Son of Hermann and Frederice (Litsman) Nagel. Educated in the public schools. Married, August 4, 1876, Miss Fannie Brandeis; May 5, 1895, Annie Shepley. 1881-Member Missouri House of Representatives. 1909 Secretary of Commerce and Labor After leaving the high school, where he graduated, Mr. Nagel studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1873. It was not long until he held a leading place among the lawyers of St. Louis and he maintained that high reputation. For several years he was a lecturer before the students of the St. Louis School of Law. He was always deeply interested in education and for a number of years was one of the trustees of Washington University in St. Louis. Mr. Nagel wielded great influence among the German-American citizens and was looked upon as one of the leaders of that class of citizens. His probity and his loyalty to the American Constitution and to the principles upon which the government is founded gave him a leadership not only among German-Americans but with all classes. His administration of the department was one of marked success. He brought the department up to a high state of efficiency, proving its importance to the business interests of the country. W BIOGRAPHIES OF SECRETARIES OF COMMERCE WILLIAM COX REDFIELD ILLIAM COX REDFIELD-Secretary of Commerce from March 6, 1913, to October 31, 1919. Born in Albany, New York, June 18, 1858. Son of Charles Bailey and Mary (Wallace) Redfield. Educated in the public schools of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Married, March 1, 1885, Miss Elise M. Fuller. 1902-Commissioner of Public Works, Brooklyn. Mr. Redfield's parents removed to Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Later he removed first to New York city and then to Brooklyn. There he engaged in the iron and steel business, becoming much interested in what he termed "Industrial Education." He wrote much on this and kindred subjects. As a business man he was more than usually successful. He made a high reputation as commissioner of public works of Brooklyn. This with other things recommended him to President Wilson for the position of Secretary of Commerce. This department was then still in the chrysalis stage. The energy and farsightedness of Mr. Redfield brought it into popularity with the varied business interests of the country. He introduced numerous changes, among them being the bringing to this country the annual fur seal sales, which before his time had been conducted in London. JOSHUA WILLIS ALEXANDER OSHUA WILLIS ALEXANDER-Secretary of Commerce from December 16, 1919, to March 4, 1921. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, January 22, 1852. Son of Thomas W. and Jane (Robinson) Alexander. Educated in the public schools and at Christian University, Canton, Missouri. Married, February 2, 1873, Miss Ann Richardson. 1876-Public Administrator of Daviess county, Missouri. 1882-Member Board of Education of Canton. 1886-Speaker Missouri House of Representatives. 1919 Secretary of Commerce. When Mr. Alexander was only seven years old his father died, leaving him to the sole care of his mother. He removed with his mother to Missouri, first locating at Canton and in 1873 he made his home in Gallatin. He had graduated from the Christian University and had studied law. Being admitted to the bar in 1875 he began the practice of law at Gallatin. He took an active interest in all matters of education and in 1882 was elected a member of the Board of Education for Gallatin, remaining a member for more than a score of years, serving at various times as secretary and president of the board. The same year he was elected a member of the Missouri General Assembly, serving three consecutive terms, being speaker of the House during his last term. He also served two terms as mayor of Gallatin. In 1907 he was sent to the national House of Representatives, where he remained until he resigned in 1919 to accept a seat in the cabinet of President Wilson as Secretary of Commerce to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Secretary Redfield. When the war in Europe came, involving transportation on the ocean, President Wilson appointed Mr. Alexander as the House of Representatives member of the "International Conference on the Safety of Life at Sea." Of this conference he was chairman of the United States commission. In Congress he was for a time chairman of the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. He was also chairman of the investigation of the so-called "Shipping Trust." H HERBERT HOOVER ERBERT HOOVER-Secretary of Commerce from March 5, 1921. Born at West Branch, Iowa, August 10, 1874. Son of Jesse Clark and Hilda Randall (Minthorn) Hoover. Educated in the public schools of West Branch, the Pacific Academy at Salem, Oregon, and Leland Stanford University. Married, in 1899, Miss Lou Henry. |