South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-28
WHEELER STRIKES
STRONG BLOW FOR
BUYING At HOME
Former President of Chamber
of Commerce of United States
Urges Manufacturers to
Stimulate Demand.

The strongest blow yet struck in
South Bend for inter-market trading,
for cooperation between retailer and
manufacturer, for cooperation be-
tween the Chamber of Commerce and
its city. was that struck today by
Harry Wheeler of Chicag =, eX-preSi-
dent of the United States chamber of
Commerce, who spoke to $50 men at
the regular Thursday luncheon of the
local Chamber OF Commerce. Fol-
lowing the address a vote extended to
Mr.. Wheeler upon motion OF Frank
r. Herring, attesting that the address
was the Sanest presentation of busi-
ness matters that it ever befel the
lot of the local men to hear. Includ-
ed in Hering's motion was a request
of the directors of the local associa-
tion to provide a list of every article
manufactured in South Bend and fur
nish every member of the chamber
with one.
Must Stimulate Demand.
+The difficulty today" said Mr..
Wheeler in discussing trade building,
lis that too many of US expect the
retailer TO begin it. This is wrong.
The retailer can only sell what his
customers demand and If they de-
mand foreign made goods ii would be
poor business policy and lack of sense
TO refuse to sell him it. The public
demand for homemade goods must
be created and it must be started by
enHsting the manufactures.
The latter should not look afar
and seek his trade 1000 miles away.
He should get it right at home and
make known his goods in exhibits.
The factory that sells none of it's
goods in its own town has mighty
Il.
er town. The right foundation for
trade building in your own city is a
loyalty To your ctty-made products.
1T is difficult but the people must
be educated TO this and your body of
men Is the one To do the educating.
A constant show must be made Of
homemade products. This is not a
selfish proposition
Loyalty Success keynote.
Loyalty 10 the Chamber of Com
merce by each individual member was
given by Wheeler as the keynote for
its ultimate success. All jealousies
and indifference must be avoided. he
said. "For a chamber of commerce
pulling together as one loyal organi-
zation is the greatest asset a city can
have TO safeguard IL from the dangers
that continually confront it."
Wheeler named three dangers that
oftentimes confront "A commercial or
ganiZatiOn after its inception. The
first he named as indifference after a
membership is paid in. THE respon-
sibility of the organization has only
begun after the campaign is over" he
said. ''and part OF this rests on the
shoulders of each individual member.
No director, president or secretary
can make a success of the organiza-
ton unless ne has the undivided sup
port of every single member Each
mem Der must consider himself as q
sub member of the directorate work
ing for the Alterest of the OrganiZa-
tion and the city
A second danger he held as that Of
selhshness. the one in which mem
bership taken out with the sole idea
OF how much can L get out OF this
thing personally The motive be-
hind n mem berShip." he said, must
he civic patriotism. Any other mo-
tive doomS the organization 10 fail
ure."
In closing Wheeler called attention
10 the great work done by the organ
izations over the country in getting
some real business legislation. The
amended clause in the federal reserve
act calling for an advisory board he
said was secured through Gntiring ef-
forts OF the national commercial clubs.
He held t~s one of the greatest bits
OF legislation ever enacted and hoped
for the appointment OF such body in
every legislative commission hereafter
appointed.