Chamber of Commerce

Sincere, Vague. In New York the eleventh annual convention of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce heard discussions of a wide gamut of present-day business and economic problems. In addition to the general sessions devoted to such broad topics as railroads, European affairs and transportation, many sessions of special groups reviewed the more specific subjects of agricultural credits, modern insurance, the conservation of natural resources, coal, oil and rubber. Even methods of obtaining better postmasters were exhaustively considered. The convention expressed itself as favoring a World Court, an economic conference to settle European affairs and a slight relaxation of present immigration restrictions by the addition of a selected 2%. It sharply opposed government ownership in all its phases, and with regard to government regulation of business, where such a course was justifiable at all, expressed a preference for Federal over State or local jurisdiction. The Chamber urged that a transportation system in the United States, commensurate with the country's needs, be developed by the coordination and expansion of railroad lines, waterways and motor truck routes. The virtue of the Chamber's resolutions lay in their eminently sound common sense, their weakness in their vague and inclusive nature. The result was much more sincere than a political party platform, but in some respects hardly more concrete.

Mr. Hoover. The speech most quoted by the press was delivered by Secretary of Commerce Hoover, who particularly stressed the necessity of preserving the American spirit of private initiative, and warned his hearers against the extension of governmental control over business. Mr. Hoover had no fears that, owing to our huge stock of gold, the current trade boom would end in inflation. He did, however, urge that coal be stored now to lighten the transportation problem next fall and winter.

Railways. The topic of transportation was especially dwelt upon during the convention. Several discussions can perhaps be set down as essentially propaganda of the legitimate sort; a gentleman from Missouri, for example, urged the improvement of our inland waterways, while a motor manufacturer stressed the importance of the motor truck, and a railroad president stated the grievances and trials of the railways. Nevertheless, a deep impression was made when a policy of fair play for the railroads was successively urged by a farmer (0. E. Bradfute, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation), a labor union representative (W. N. Doak, senior Vice President of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen), and a banker (W. W. Head, First Vice President of the American Bankers' Association). If the agricultural shipper, the unionized railroad employee and the financier can agree upon a railroad policy, it would seem that public opinion will soon crystallize about it, too.

Europe. Considerable attention was also devoted to European problems, and the delegates seemed quite in agreement that this country should do what it could to effect a settlement there, for the sake of its own business. Julius H. Barnes, President of the Chamber, rendered a detailed and valuable report upon present conditions in Europe, country by country. Other speakers on foreign affairs were Willis Booth, of the Guaranty Trust Company, President of the International Chamber of Commerce, and Robert Masson, Director General of the Credit Lyonnais of Paris. The last named dwelt eloquently upon France's problems, and defended the invasion of the Ruhr as a final and inevitable step by the French to collect their just debts from Germany. Raita Fujiyama, President of the National Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Japan, also addressed the convention as a representative of the oriental countries, and made a plea for closer future cooperation between Japan and the United States; he advanced the argument that these two nations alone are today secure from threatened chaos and disorder, and that a consequent mutual responsibility for upholding the peace, prosperity and progress of the world rests as never before upon their ability to understand and cooperate with each other.

Officers. At the conclusion of the convention, while the delegates were sailing up the Hudson to inspect the United States Military Academy at West Point, Mr. Barnes was re-elected President of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States. In addition, four regional Vice Presidents were elected as follows: for the eastern states, A. C. Bedford of New York; for the north central states, Thomas E. Wilson of Chicago; for the south central states, Harry A. Black of Galveston; and for the western states, H. M. Robinson of Los Angeles. Charles Nagel of St. Louis, William Butterworth of Moline, A. B. Farquhar of York, Willis Booth of New York, and L. S. Gillette of Minneapolis were also elected honorary Vice Presidents.

Organization. The new plan for decentralizing the executive branch of the Chamber into the four districts above mentioned is expected to provide the various parts of the country with an additional executive machinery which the growth of the organization has made necessary. This district plan, it is expected, will bring members closer in touch with the central administration of the Chamber in Washington.