Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-20
Myron T. Herrick Tells Cincin-
natl Club Nation Needs
Commerce Chambers. .
THEIR INFLUENCE BIG
IN THE GOVERNMENT
Says President Wilson Proved It by
Asking Their Help on His
Preparedness" Tour.

CINCINNATI, Ohio. February 10
Public opinion gains force and Of
fectiveness when expressed through
organization" said Myron T. Herrfck.
former ambassador to France, before
the Commercial Club here tonight
Public opinion may be translated
into action through the commercial
clubs, chambers of commerce. boards
whatever name.
"A few days ago President Wilson
sought the chamber of commerce in
several cities as the means OF awaken
ing the public mind on preparedness"
continued Mr.. Herrick. What public,
man would have sought this medium
ten years ago for. creating public
opinion?
Business and government ought to
work in absolute harmony and under
standing, and in this world upheaval
it is absolutely essential that they DO.
has been the stronger organization
ever since the civil war.
Business Should Have Voice.
TT is not only right and proper. but
necessary. that business men should
have a voice in government and an in
iuence in the direction Of governmental
affairs. Formerly they did not exert
any great influence there. largely be-
cause business was the stronger force
and dominated the weaker. But 1t fs
regaining its place through a Quickened
and awakened public conscience. and
that is the new hope Of modern poll
tics.
81 believe in tariff protection scien-
tifically devised to begin where efh-
cheney of production leaves on. So far
as the application of laboratory meth
DDS and OF scientific processes Will low
er the cost OF production to our manu-
facturers. they do not need and should
not ask tariff protection. But when
improved methods have done what they
can then a protective tariff must do
the rest to keep our industries going.
Common Sense Alone.
Regardless of my party Affiliations
or prejudice. that application of COM
mon sense alone is necessary to prove
| that If we would meet conditions after
| the war we must at once adjust the
tariff to avoid recurrence of the de-
| plorable Industrial situation which ex-
listed just before the war.
| There is now pending in Congress.
| with Strong pFoUADlHly VI pAoedSe,
| rural credit measure, committing the
United States to a system of state-aid-
| ed, government managed and directed
| rural credit banks.
THE passage of this bill would de-
| termine a question most vital to the ma
| ton. committing it to a policy on
| subject which the great agricultural
and business interests have hardly be-
gun to study and understand. The
measure in it's present form is un-
sound and should wait at least to an.
| other session. but political expediency
| is likely to determine the fate of the
measure rather than economic sound
ness.
In all this progress the good sense
and judgment of business men must
now play its part. The country needs
their brains. their trained ability, their
large vision of the future. A democracy
can rise no higher than its citizens
demand. We are in position to play
a greater part in the world than ever
a nation did before. IL we will show
Yourselves competent"