Evening star., 1915-11-23
CONVENTION PLANS
OF j. S. CHAMBER
Members of Executive Com
mittee Set Date and Dis
cuss Program.

Members Of the executive committee
of the Chamber of Commerce OF the
United States are in Washington, hold
ing meetings for the purpose of or
gani:iug tho coming annual conven-
tion of the chamber here. The dates
selected for the convention are Feb
iuary s. 9 and 10.
Last night W. L. Stevenson. mining
engineer of SkaGway. Alaska. appeared
before the committee to explain the
proposed plan of Alaskan Development
and Henry j. Pierce of the Seattle
Chamber of Commerce was given n
hearing on the subject of water power
legislation which is to come before
Congress this winter
Members of the executive committee
Yesterday and today visited various
departments of the government ana
conferred with government officials as
to the present status of various meas
ures which will affect business.
Those at the Meetings.
Present at the meetings were John H.
Fahey of Boston, president of the ma
tional chamber: Robert F. Maddox, for
merIy mayor of Atlanta, vice presi-
dent: r. c. Rhett. for eight years mayor
of Charleston. $. c.. chairman of the
. executive committee; William ii.
Douglas of New York, former mem
ber of Congress: +. T Meredith, pup
fisher of Des Moine. Iowa: A. l. Esberg.
a manufacturer of San Francisco. and
Elliot II. Goodwin of Washington, sec
rotary of the national chamber.
John II. Fahey, president of the ma :
tionaI chamber. in an interview. had
the following to say of the aims OF the
great organization:
=, Three Years ago the Chamber of
Commerce of the United States was
organized. 1t mad no membership and
1t hadn't u dollar.
To-day ii stands as the spokesman OF
$50 commercial organizations, repre-
senting nearly 100000 business men,
firms and corporations throughout the
United States.
In three years it has become great
constructive force in the business life
of this nation. 1t has helped vital
commercial legislation at Washington
1t suggested important amendments TO
th. federal reserve act, assisted in the
readjustment of the Department of
Commerce and Influenced important
notifications that appear in the nnal
form of the trust bills.
Policies of the Organization.
.'As the time of the fourth annual
meeting approaches. the great business
convention TO be held in Washington
February S, and 10. the national
chamber stands committed. through
referenda, to the proposition of the up
building of a merchant marine. ma
tional budget and a permanent nom
partisan tariff commission.
agriculture and labor have long
been organized. Now the Chamber OF
Commerce of the United States is or
ganiZing business nationally. 1t has
nothing to conceal. 1t is the mouth
piece of no clique or group. The New
York banker and the San Francisco
merchant may be found i'll its member
ship. Its voice is the voice Of Ameri-
can business. 1t speaks for all.
Let me say to business men every
where, the national chamber is your
organization. II is fighting your bat
tie IL is doing what you could never
hope to do single handed or through local
organization IL is contending Ior just
W hat you want TO see in this whole coun-
try-business stability. integrity, san
ny, understanding. And il wants, and
needs, and, indeed. must have, the en-
eour re m fnt and support or every hive,
patriotic busiress man in the United