The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-05-21
President of Chamber
of Commerce Is
Optimistic
TRADE BETTER
THAN YEAR AGO
Says Merchant Marine
Would Further I'm
prove Situation

The speed with which American
business recovered from the shock
OF the European war is simply amaz.
ing. II demonstrated more than
anything else possibly could do. the
fundamental strength OF the bust
ness systems OF this nation" said
John II. Fahey. OF Boston. president
of the Chamber OF Commerce OF tho
United States. who is In Detroit for
q conference with President C.. IS
Warren. OF the local Board OF Com.
merce, and Henry B. Joy. a director
In the national organization
Mr. Fahey will 20 from Detroit "a
Chicago, where he will confer with
Harry A Wheeler. former president
OF the chamber and now chairman
OF the federal trade relations com
mittee OF that body. relative TO an
attempt 20 modify the Interpretation
OF the sherman antitrust law In
such way as TO permit OF combi.
nations In various lines OF foreign
trade. Under the present lnterpre.
tation OF the law. American manu-
facturers are not permitted to com
bine 10 obtain foreign trade. despite
the fact that they are forced to com.
pete with strong German. French
and British trusts"
Continuing his discussion OF the
business revival In this country. Mr..
rahey said:
"Of course. this recovery IL some
what spotty, but this Is condition
purely natural and one which should
have been expected When all the
agencies OF business are broken
down at once they are bound 10 be
rebuilt with respect 10 their respec-
live Importance In the general
scheme OF things Consequently
many lineS-euch as the manufae'
ture OF many OF the Injuries OF l!fe
have been neglected 10 q great eN
tent Then. too. such condition
brings about general spirit OF
economy on the part OF the people
which is bound TO last for n year or
more.
There Is strong upward ten.
dency In practically all lines of bus.
tness right now. and the end is not
yet in sight consider the recovery
from the serious consequences OF
the war as one Of the greatest trio.
utes 10 the correctness OF the basic
theories OF American business"
Business. according to Mr.. Fahey.
In now on a firmer basis than II was
O year ago.
Asked concerning a referendum
which the Chamber OF Commerce ~
taking as TO the ACCESSIBILITY OF the
establishment OF a merchant marine.
Mr.. Fahey declined 10 make a detail
ed declaration as TO his ideas on the
matter. saying that IL was not his
function 10 express opinions in ad-
vance OF the vote OF the organiZa-
ton.
He called attention TO the fact.
however. that more serious attention
has been paid to the subject within
the last few months than at any
time since the civil war. This is
due to the fact that the European
war practically stopped shipping &C.
tivities. the belligerent nations be-
ing unable 10 move their vessels and
the United States having practically
none OF its own This condition, &C
cording TO Mr.. Fahey. is the exact
duplicate OF that during the Napo-
leonic wars when the United states
gained It's greatest supremacy as
maritime nation. a supremacy which
was wrecked by the Civil war.
THE United States needs a mer'
chant marine to cope with the pres
ent situation" he said. ut 10 al
most certain that some steps to es.
tablish II are going 10 be taken Just
what they will be no one is now In q
position to say. The great trouble
with former discussions Of the mer'
chant marine question has been that
people In the interior Of the country
believed It would bt good thing for
the Atlantic seaboard but would
prove OF no material benefit to the
other sections. with the destruction
OF shipping occasioned by the Euro
Dean war. these people have come TO
a realization OF the fact that you
cant nnd an outlet for corn. wheat.
cattle or other agricultural products
without n means for moving them.
At will prove one Of the greatest
factors in the ultimate solution OF
the merchant marine problem, In my
lrI.