New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-04
Tells u. S. Chamber OF
Commerce He Wants Co
operative System.
WOULD HELP THEM
IN FOREIGN TRADE
Bryan's Plea for Ship Pur-
chase Bill Raises Cry
of mo! MOI"
Prom Tae Tribune EJ 20

'''h ''' '''''i'' t''
Washington, Feb. g. Prcsiieu; vii
sen talked for forty-iivc minutes TO-
night to more than one thousand mem
bcIs Of the Chamber Of Commerce Of
the United States ana their friends on
the benefits Of common counsel and -
he great good an organization Of that
kind could accomplish. but he never
mentioned the ship purchase bill. His
audience was disappointed that he did
not touch on this subject. because Il IS
ore OF the questions uppermo7t IN the
minds Of many business men.
The President told the delegates that
he was IN favor Of some change in the
antitrust laws that would provide !or
cooperation in the search FOR trade in
foreign markets. He explained that
there was a difference between co
operation and combination. ard that
frequently the latter was used for the
benefit of the few. II. however. q
change in the Law could be made which
would give every one. both great and
small. an opportunity in the foreign
market. he was for it.
Mr.. Wilson received a area, ovation
from the delegates as he entered the
hall. but this was exceeded when. in
MIS- speech. he said:
When the time comes that peace is
as handsome as war. then there vii! be
no war. ! am happy to say that the
United States has moved little nearer
that goal
The Presidea: also brought a laugh
when he said that if enough liars
talked one would be sure 20 get the
truth. because the things they had left
unsaid would represent What the truth
was lie said this vas 5Omewhat true
of his experience about Mexico, where
vivid imagination and many special
interests depicted things as they wish
them to be-"
Move for Ship Bill.
Whether or not President Wilson
was aware that a majority Of the dele
gates TO the convention are not in favor
of the shipping bill, some of the Presi-
dents friends in the chamber were
busy during the day preparing TO put
up a hot fight against the adoption Of
any report or recommendation hostile
to the measure.
The leader in this fight. which
promises to be hot one tomorrow,
ia William l.. Saunders, of Plaintield,
y. J., who was a delegate TO the Balt!-
more convention. Mr.. Saunders and
several delegates held a conference this
afternoon and decided to make a Wig
Gus protest against the adoption of
any report against the shipping bill
until the entire question had been sub
m;.ted TO a referendum vote Of all the
members OF the Chamber of Commerce
of the United States.
One reference in President Wilson's
speech was taken by some as possibly
hint to the Democratic Senators
who have refused to support the ship
ping bill. This was when he said that
a man should hold his particular opin-
ion Professionally. To accentuate this
Mr.. Wilson told of committe of four
teen appointed to revise the curriculum
while he was president Of Princeton.
When this council met each of the
fourteen had a programme which he
considered the precise thing TO do,
ana was prepared to fight for 1t. The
discussions ran on for six months, the
President said, and finally report was
made to which every one agreed. Each
member of the committee had in that
time learned lot more about the sub
iect than he had thought possible.
"The point is said the President.
that when we have a consensus of
opinion. when we have this common
counsel, then the legislative processes
OF this government will be Infinitely
Spaces for Thinking.
Several of the Presidents listeners.
however, declined to see IN this any
reference to the ship purchase bill, be.
cause only a few seconds before he had
said:
There are thinking spaces in this
country, and some OF tine thinking IS
very solid thinking indeed-the think
ing of the sort of men that We all love
best. who think for themselves, who
do not see things "a they are told 20
see them, but look at them and see
them for themselves, and II they are
told they are white when they are not
white. plainly say that they are black
men with eyes and with courage BACK
Of those eyes 10 tell what they sec.
The President asked the advice OF
the delegates on the proposed change
in the antitrust laws, which he said
he did not think they we're prepared
to give right away. because they would
have TO make some rather extended IN
quiries before they were ready 10
give il.
what | am thinking of is competl-
ton in foreign markets as between the
merchants of different nations" said
Mr.. Wilson. 81 speak OF the subject
with a certain degree of hesitation,
because the thing furthest from my
thought is taking advantage OF ma
tions now disabled from playing full
part in that competition. and seeking
sudden selfish advantage because they
are for the time being disabled. Pray
all that thought from our minds and
l.. L Ha