Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-29
Chamber of Commerce of
United States May Sound
Business Men by Vote.
SUBJECT is BROACHED BY
MEMBERS OF THAT BODY
Views Would Be of Service to Con-
gress in Determining Whether
Cost Would Be Acceptable.

| The Chamber of Commerce of the
| United States expects to be of service
| to Congress and the Washington gov
| ernment generally in determining the
question whether the people of the
United States, at least the business
men of the country, are willing to pay
for increased military preparedness
4 This information was obtained to-
| day from Elliott H. Goodwin, general
! secretary of the national chamber, at
| it's headquarters here in the Riggs
building.
/ In response to an inquiry as to
whether the chamber contemplates
| taking a referendum vote among the
boards of trade. chambers of COM
merce and other business orga nizations
of the United States which compose its
| membership on the question of wheth-
er the business men of the country, ir-
respective of political affiliations, want
and are willing to pay for increased
military preparedness, Mr.. Goodwin
| said that members of the national
chamber had already broached the sub
| ject to headquarters.
The subject is undoubtedly engaging
| the attention of the country" Mr..
| Goodwin said, "and is likely to be un-
der continued discussion in Congress
| this winter. I do not know that a ref
| erendum could be arranged for. in view
| of the fact that when a proposition is
| sent out by the national chamber it is
necessary to so state it that it can be
| voted on Yes or No by the different
! trade bodies composing our member
| ship.
LAS I understand it, no fixed pro-
| posal for certain kind of increased
military preparedness and method of
pa yment has yet been advanced by the
| government. and until that is made
| public we would not have anything to
| submit to vote by referendum.
Feature of Next Annual Meeting.
| But I will say that the subject has
already been brought up with the ma
tional chamber, and that it is likely to
| be a large feature of our next annual
meeting, which takes place in Febru-
airy here. Under our organization plan
any member has right to bring up
any subject he or the body he repre-
sents chooses, and no one may say
him nay. So that / think the question
is certain to come up and that we will
have an opportunity to be of public
service in this respect"
[
meeting of the Chamber of Commerce
of the United States is to be the largest
in the history of the organization. 1t
is said to be likely that there will be
no less than 1000 or 1.200 business
men, the leaders in all lines of busi-
ness and finance in this country, gath
cred in Washington for the occasion.
Last convention there were about 900
delegates.
At the last annual meeting of the
har nr0nnSa1
ernment ship purchase bill was the big
feature under discussion. and senators,
Representatives and other leaders In the
government attended the convention to
urge their arguments upon the busi-
| ness men for and against that proposal.
Ship Purchase Bill Canvass.
| The discussion admittedly was of
great value to Congress, as it was par
| ticipated in by some of the leading
business men of the country.
| Later on a referendum was sent out
| by the chamber in which the business
men of the country were asked to indi-
cate whether or not they favored the
ship purchase bill. and much informa-
ton as to the sentiment of the business
men of the country for and against
various proposals in that connection
was laid before Congress.
| 1t was said in Washington today that
| if the Chamber of Commerce of the
| United States does take up the ques-
| ton of military preparedness and how
! the people of the country shall pay for It,
| if Congress votes for 1t, the discussion
will likely be of great value.
All along those who have been in
| favor of increased military prepared
| ness have been in doubt as to how the
greatly increased expenditures which
| would be necessary shall be met. Will
| liam J. Bryan, the leader of the move
ment against a bigger army and navy,
| has declared again and again that the
| people of the country will not stand
| the increased taxation that might be
| necessary.