The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-15
Object Chamber of Commerce
of United States Explained.
Sounds Like Successor of Man.
ufacturers' Association.
URGE STRONG ORGANIZATION
Comparable With Labor and
Agricultural Forces.
To COunteract Popular Senti-
ment Business Is Predatory.

San Francisco, July 15.-"To aid
every American by cordial co-opera-
ton; to draw together in a common
bond, the business men of America in
defense Of their good name, in the cre-
alton of an instrumentality through
which they may speak a whole with
authority to the executive and to con-
gress, relative to the things which bus
mess needs; to create a force COM
parable in every respect to the organ
lied forces of labor and of agriculture,S
these are the objects of Chamber of
Commerce of the United States, now
being formed as outlined by Harry
A. Wheeler. of Chicago, president of the
organization. Mr.. Wheeler, expounding
his theme here before the San Fran
cisco chamber of commerce and other
commercial bodies. said frankly that
aside from natural evolution, another
reason for the organization of a ma
tionaI body at this time is the indis-
criminate attacks made upon business
generally; upon the public platform
and in the daily and periodical press Of
the country. The popular prejudice
which was first reused against the
railroad has extended its line of attack
to include the Industrial life of the
nation and the profession of banking"
he said.
Popular sentiment has 1t that all
who have been successful in accumu-
lation of wealth. have become SO by
predatory means and that rottenness
underlies the entire commercial fabric
of the nation. To be popular with the
general public upon the platform has
been to give voice to vain attacks
upon these interests. To popularize the
periodical press, statements which
have little foundation have been made.
or an isolated example of evil doing
was made to bear upon an entire in
dustry.
As an argument for the larger gov
ernment regulation of business. one of
the candidates in the last presidential
campaign repeatedly declared that
business interests of the country were
engaged in chaotic struggle to devour
each other and that all were combined
in an effort to enslave the working
man.
For ten years this campaign of mis-
representation has been going on with
little or no contradiction on the part
of business and the Chamber of Com
merce of the United States enters the
field to present a legitimate defense
against these unjust attacks.
Ninety per cent of business is hon
est. The American business man
stands in the forefront of those who
adhere to the highest principles of
honor and integrity, but single handed
he has been powerless to present a
proper Defense
Other objects touched upon by Mr.
Wheeler were the assistance of con-
gress in enacting reasonable legislation
for the regulation of industrial COR
porations; the development of a mer-
chant marine, the enactment of none
tary legislation making the banking
system more stable and allowing for
branches in foreign ports and the en-
of reciprocity.
The organization. he said. is being
not for the purpose of war
fare, but that compromise and arbitra-
tion that might take the place of open
antagonism.