The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-09
BUSINESS MEN SHY
ABOUT MAKING TRIP
TOCONSU[T WILSON
Feel Delicacy About Accept
ing SO-called Blanket
Invitation
ADVICE SOUGHT ON
ANTITRUST BILLS
Roosevelt Had Similar Experience
When He Invited Railroad Men
to Talk Over Hepburn
Law With Him
Hy HOLLAND

Hy HOLLAND
New York, March S-(Special )-Presi-
ent Wilson is quoted as having said that
e could not understand the reason for
be silence of business communities and
ne lack of any desire to come to Wash
hgton to offer counsel to the commit
Pc which is about to consider the So
allied supplemental antitrust bills.
Yet il the President We're to take coun-
' el of some of those now in Washington
Fho were there at the time of the dis
ussion upon the so-called Hepburn rate
. i'll in the administration of President
Roosevelt he would learn that the atti-
. lde of business men which now causes
i'm wonder finds good precedent in the
| avs of the Hepburn rate bill and of
olonel Roosevelts presidency
| This measure was one of the very few
. ad conferences with President Roose-
. cit. Mr.. Morgan went to Washington
resumably upon the invitation of the
President and was in conference with
I fr. Roosevelt one evening a the White
louise. 1t was a prolonged conference.
fr Morgan was on the eve of sailing
pom his customary annual excursion to
Europe He was therefore unable to
lake one of a party of railway managers
nd men of finance with whom Presi-
ent Roosevelt was anxious to confer
efore he acted upon the Hepburn bill.
The presumption at that time was that
Ir. Morgan counseled with some of his
riends in the world of railroad affairs
hat they go to Washington and hold con-
erence with President Roosevelt.
! Quite as strong an invitation to the
abroad men to meet the President and
tate to him their views upon the Hep
urn bill was then made as has within
ew days been made by what the Presi-
ent is quoted as having called an ad-
ertised invitation from Mr.. Adamson,
,ho is chairman of the House interstate
ommerce committee. to business men to
ppear and make exposition of their
Jews of the antitrust bill before this
ommittees. President Roosevelt was
Wiling to meet these railroad men in the
ttitude of a man of authority who
ought competent Information. He wrote
ut memorandum of questions which
e purposed asking of the railroad men
fho called upon him. He felt that these
I,en were competent to give information
|ihich would be of value. Yet notwitl-
landing the invitation to railway men to
I o to Washington and confer with the
President very few responded to the in
itation. This was not due to any feel
ing of resentment, any sullenness of dis
osition, but to an impression which has
png prevailed that business men are not
PARTICULARLY welcome at Washington, and
I hat the attitude of those who are in
legislative authority-and sometimes ad-
linistrative-toward business men is one
Which suggests that they regard busl-
ess men with suspicion, always seeking
b serve their own interests.
Notwithstanding this reluctance on the
| art of railroad men to meet in Wash
.gton for the purpose of comforting with
| he President, Mr.. Roosevelt did a little
ater make a statement which was ac-
' epted by railroad men as reassuring. TO
Ibis day there are occasional references
4 the statement which the President
| iade public in relation to the general
uestion of railway rates regulation.
There Will be Conferences
The committee of the House of Repre-
Ientataiv which Is in authority over
Ilterstate commerce matters is certain to
EXPOSITION of the views of business men
especting the so-called supplemental
ntitrust bills. While the criticism
khch is implied in some remarks at
ributed to President Wilson seems, by
|lference at least, to be aimed at New
Fork. yet it has not escaped observation
hat up to this time business men in other
arts of the country seem to be quite
$ reluctant to appear before the COM
40 he. sir tt1a M Nayl
ork. The reason, however. is not far
10 seek There is peculiar shyness,
| certain sensitiveness, which Is charac-
cristic of the attitude of business men
|oward those who are in governmental
uthoritv. But il instead of a general
|lanket sheet invitation or advertisement
10 business men there be personal lnVl-
ations the committee will speedily hnd
| |hat in almost all instances these INVITA-
lions will be accepted.
1t is impossible to learn exactly what
|he sentiment among business men in
Ither parts of the country is. But III
his city the feeling is strong that the
lest representation of American business
In connection with the contemplated anti
| rust measure is one which can be made
I,y chambers of commerce, trade organ
cations. merchants and manufacturers
associations and similar organizations.
Representation of that kind would carry
Weight and would be dignifed. 1t is
| |he understanding in this city that the
chamber of Commerce of New York
will take advantage of the presence of
Representatives of its body in Washing
lon this week as delegates to a gathering
Which as a whole will represent the busi-
hess associations of the United States to
Iay before the committee of the House
Ihe Views of New York business men re-
|pecting the expediency or the necessity
| or this supplemental antitrust legisla-
lion. delegation which will represent
LIS whole the best business sentiment OF
Kew York will be in Washington some-
&ame during the present week This dele
[ation will take to Washington clearly
Formulated views respecting these con-
&emplated measures. Not only VIII the
tommittee of the House hear the views
II these delegates. but there viii be run
nd earnest discussion of these measures
II the congress of the chambers OF COM
S,erce of the United States at the meet
ng in Washington this week.
The Whole Country Represented
. The delegates who will meet in Wash
|ngton at the gathering of the congress
II American chambers of commerce ana
rxrf1I whnIA