New-York tribune., 1909-05-20
OPEN DOOR AND LABOR
MANUFACTURERS DINNER
German Ambassador Urges Interna-
tiOndL MutudIitY.

International business relations fair exchange
and mutual consideration were the main themes
discussed last night at the dinner of the National
Association of Manufacturers. which closed its
fourteenth annual convention at the Waldorf.
Count Won Bernstorff. the German Ambassa lor,
said that he looked upon the invitation TO speak as
wish to join with Germany In keeping open the
doors of the Orient and other countries where
there might be a desire to close them. The
speeches Of Ludwig Nissen the toastmaster, and
John Kirby, jr., the new president reiterated the
determination to wage unrelenting on militant
labor organizations, and to work for tariff COM
mission
There were about four hundred persons at the
tables in the large ballroom and the galleries were
filed with women. On the platform were the toast
master, Count Won Bernstorff. Representative
Charles n. Fowler, James E Watson, Of Indiana;
E. H Dean of Indianapolis; William McCarrOn.
Public Service Commissioner: II. r. TOwne, d. c.
Ripley. of Pittsburg; Mrs. Harriet Fisher. James
w. Van Cleave, the retiring president, and
President Kirby. The ir3t speaker was the Ger
man Ambassador. who said:
IT, as sincerely hope st should prove possible IN
the course Of next winter to come to new com. %
mercial agreement between Germany and the
millions of prosperous consumers. will remain open
to you and the commerce between our two coun-
I have often heard it said here of late that in
the fact that wages in my country we're lover than
here This again may be so, but very much DOUBT
is lower than it is here. Our industrial cities
do not give that impression. Life is cheaper IN
Germany because the cost Of living is not anected
by such high import duties as in this country
The German Ambassador said that German social
legislation had a most beneficial influence on the
standard of life of the workingman as he was
protected in sickness and while injured and IN old
age received pension. But these expenses all had
to be added to the cost of production which was
thereby greatly increased.
Congressman Fowler followed with liberal praise
Of the German policy. After defence of his bank
ing plan he deprecated the effort to establish a
system of postal savings banks predicting that the
effect would be to double and complicate the dan
gers of the present banking conditions He said
that the banking interests should be completely
divorced from all governmental functions
The other speakers were Mr Watson the Rev
Maurice E. Wilson. Of Ohio, and ex-RepresentatiVe
I.ittIeheld of Maine. A toast drunk to Presi-
dent Taft and the German Ambassador
Before adjourning the business session yesterday
the association elected John Kirby, jr. OF Dayton,
Ohio president: Francis II. Stillman. of this city,
treasurer and the following directors at large: J.
W. Van Cseave D NJ Parry, former presidents; Z.
W Post of Battle Creek Mich; J. G. Battele, OF
Columbus. Ohio: D. A Tompkins. Of Charlotte. y
c.. and Ludwig Nlssen. OF New York City. MI
Van CIeave received retiring from the presi-
dency a check for $4,000. bronze plaque, ruby
scarfpin and diamond ring.
Resolutions were passed favorng a swift postal
merchant marine to the Far East. continuation ot
consular reform Appalachian and White Mountain
forest preservation tariff for protection and a
board to study tariff and report results 70 the
President and tho Congress The committee on
pure food in its report said that the experiments
OF three experts had established the harmlesshess
OF benzoate of soda preservatve.