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CommiTTEE /orEconomic and SOCIAL PROGRESS - - -73O FIFTH AVEllUE - HEW YORK CITYNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS OFFICE OF CHAIRMAN Mr. Marinner Eccles, Governor, Federal Reserve Board, Washington, D. C. Dear Mr. Eccles: Mr. John Laing, of J. L. Laing & Son, Limited, is the head of the finest and largest building company in England. Their history dates back over three generations. Their company enjoys a reputation that, unfortunately, is not shared in America by any building company. The Committee has received many courtesies during their studies of the English program. Among those who have always been most cooperative has been Mr. Laing. As the dean of English builders, we have been very anxious to get him over here for some time. However, he has always said he was too busy building homes to come to America to talk about it. With perseverance we finally convinced him that he could do a great deal of good by coming over here and talking with some of our leaders in home building and home mortgage finance. Mr. Laing will arrive in New York on September in this country for about two weeks. We have planned a you can be particularly helpful, while at the same time information and knowledge that should be valuable to us 20th, and will remain program for him in which we can get first-hand in a national program. On the 29th of September a large luncheon is being given to Mr. Laing in the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel Astor. Speeches will be broadcast over the radio on a forty-five or sixty minute program. The New York Building Congress, in conjunction with the Committee, are tendering him this luncheon. On the evening of September 24th I am giving a little dinner in Washington, in Mr. Laingfs honor, at the Hotel Shoreham. About fifteen men will be invited, among whom will be those mentioned in the enclosed list. May I ask you to consider this letter an invitation to join us at dinner on the above-mentioned evening, at seven-thirty P.M.? I will phone you on Thursday or Friday. I think that this will be an excellent opportunity for all of us to show our English cousins that we can do honor to one who represents them, as well as Mr. Laing. A great deal of good will and knowledge will come out of his visit. • Economic and SOCIAL PROGRESS \ Page Two I hope you will find it possible toaccept this invitation. Kindest personal regards. Cordi^Hy yours, Committee for Economic, and Social Progress September fifteenth 19 3 7 Invited Guests: Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Stewart MacDonald John D. Biggers J. II. Daiger Frederic A. Delano Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Marinner Eccles John Fahey A. S. Freed Thomas S. Holden Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. John Laing Ormond Loomis Daniel C. Roper Horace Russell September 17, 1937. Mr. Allie S. Freed, Chairman, Committee for Economic and Social Progress, 730 Fifth Avenue, New York City, New York. Dear Sir: fiepiying to your letter of September 15th addressed to Mr. Marriner Eccles, Mr. Eccles is in the West at the present time and does not expect to return to Washington until some time after the fifth of October. It will, therefore, be impossible for Mr*. Eccles to accept your kind invitation to the dinner which you are giving for Mr. John Laing of J.L. Laing & Son, Limited, on the evening of September 24th. Very truly yours, Secretary to Mr. M. S. -^ccles. VLE:mlh
