Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-22
President Shows Great Need of Ad.
vice to Government.
SECRETARY NAGEL SPEAKS
Solving of Business Problems
Pressing Question, He Says.
Committees Are Named.

commerce to cooperate with the federal
government in promoting the nations
business and solving her economic prob
lens. The gathering was the most repre-
sentative OF the kind ever held In this
country. its members coming from every
state IN the Union and from Alaska,
Hawaii, the Philippines. Porto Rico and
the American chambers of commerce of
Paris, Brussels and Constantinople
Accompanied by Secretary Nagel of the
Department OF Commerce and Labor,
Secretary Hilles and his aid, Lieut.. Rock
well, President Taft entered the big hall
Of the New Willard Hotel, where the
conference is being held. amid the cheers
Of the delegates.
Welcome Of President.
The President said:
II am exceedingly glad to welcome you
here and to thank you for such q re-
Spouse to the invitation which was given
you to come. The danger in an introduce
tory address like this is that should say
too much. We want your assistance in
carrying on the government in reference
to those matters that affect the business
and the business welfare Of the country.
and we do not wish to limit your dis
erection In that matter.
I'VE wish that your advice should be
as free and unrestrained as possible, but
we need your assistance and We ask Tor
It, and lest I may overflow and say
something I ought not to ! have COM
mitted to writing exactly what ought to
say:
to the call for this meeting. When the
recommendation for a National Chamber
Of Commerce was made the suggestion
appeared problematical to the minds Of
many. But ! have been SO much Inn
intelligent cooperation with the great
industrial forces of our country that
concluded to put the question to an Inn
mediate test.
Counsel Is Needed.
Even regulating measures finch have
been adopted in the past may have suf-
mered for lack Of advice from those who
should be best qualified by experience and
training to give it. Now that we enter
upon the borad field Of constructive legis-
lation, the need for that counsel is abb
solutely apparent to all Of use. Specialized
Investigation and learning may evolve
theories. Those theories no doubt pro-
But in the last analysis every thought
must stand the testf Of actual use. With
respect to that test. the disinterested ad-
vice of those who are to live by the por-
You gentlemen are most concerned to
have rules of action formulated ana
adopted that are calculated to insure fair
dealing on the one hand, and to allow
and promote legitimate expansion and
development upon the other.
ITO that end you and the government
must cooperate. This you cannot &C
complish 50 long as you are disorganiz-
ed. The advantage OF one interest IS
sure to work to the disadvantage OF
another.
1.-THE government cannot favor sepa-
rate interests; but 1t should promote
commerce and industry as a whole. This
is the meaning OF the recommendation
in my message. To accomplish this l
trust you may make some decided
1T is not my purpose to indicate what
you should do. The cause is primarily
yours. But do feel at liberty to warn
you not to enter upon q discussion OF the
questions to the solution Of which your
organization may ultimately be called
upon to contribute Your purpose must
now be to effect that organization itself.
Even this should. In my opinion. be
broadly framed. providing for distinct
representation Of all your interests: but
trusting 70 experience to guide future
growth and activities.
wishes LUCK 20 M0eC1uK.
Now, this proposition came. as it ought
to come, primarily from my friend and
cabinet officer. the Secretary of Com
merce and Labor. I accepted his sugges-
ton as a valuable one and incorporated
it, as L do not hesitate to take the ability
and assume the credit of any cabinet
officer or any other subordinate who
serves under me. That Is what the rela-
ton means.
II turn the meeting over. therefore. to
him for a more detailed explanation than
/ am able to give, with the feeling that
he, too, however. will be restrained In
what he has to say, in order that the in
ventive genius and the power OF original
thought in this representative body Of the
business element of the United States
Gentlemen, l wish you every luck in
your meeting, in your organization and in
the useful once that you will serve in the
future conduct of the government"
Plea of Secretary Nagel.
for a permanent representative trade
body to assist the federal government in
solving the economic problems pressing
for decision. Unless the government met
these questions along the lines Of prog
Ie8S anu 0eSciOpIHcnt secretary NaGel
foresaw a conflict with business.
So pressing are the problems, the Sec
rotary declared, that IL the governmental
agencies did not find the solution the
commercial and industrial agencies would
compel that solution in one form or
another.
1.-The conflict is irrepressible," he added
III the government does not find and
establish rules by which the development
may be intelligently and normally. had.
then ultimately the expansion and the
progress will be had in defiance Of rules
that do not fit. That has been the story
and that will be the story OF development
everywhere.
Cause Of Confusion.
In my judgment, much of the confu-
sion which now exists to discourage and
to embarrass is to be attributed to the
circumstances that impartial. comprehen-
sive, thoughtful advice has not been az
forded by those who are primarily in
terested. and whose experience is most
essential to a correct understanding.
Instead Of depending on the advice or
the demand OF specialized interests we
must have q common judgment OF COM
merce and industry. and to get that COM
mon Judgment we must have Q common
representation. This il the meaning to the
organisation which il here proposed.
''In other countries the relation be-
tween the government and the Industries
and commerce IL so close that the board
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