Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-08
WARNED AGAINST
GUESSING POLICY
IN BUSINESS LIFE

Washington, Feb s. - Warning to
American business men to place less
dependence on the ''proverbial Ameri-
can guess" and to do constructive
thinking, to become less partisan in
dealing with great economic questions,
and to Systematically discourage the
prevalent disparagement of the efforts
of men in public life, was voiced by
John H Fahey, president of the Cham
Der of Commerce of the United States,
at the opening of its fourth annual
convention today.
Il am convinced" said President
Fahey, that if we are quite frank
with ourselves we must realize that for
many years we have been very poorly
informed as to the real facts involved
in great questions before the country
of special interest to US. The workmen
in their organizations and the farmers
in theirs have been far better posted
on questions Of Importance to them
than have the business men in their
field. but we have now come to the
period in the history Of America when
less dependence can be placed on the
proverbial American guess, We must
begin to do constructive thinking.
81 believe also that American bust
ness men would be much more useful
if they were less inclined toward par
tisanship in dealing with the great
economic questions which so vitality
affect their interests. A number of our
most important problems would have
been disposed of in congress years ago
but for petty politics.
Another thing we business men
should set out Systematically to dis
courage is the altogether too prevalent
and continuous disparagement OF the
efforts of men in public life. When
the business man himself has little
experience with holding office or when
he comes to understand congress or
the average state legislature as it
really is, he usually begins to change
his views about public servants If he
is at all fair minded.
"If congressman or senators do not
understand business questions, fair
share of responsibility rests with the
business men for until we formed this
organization we never employed any
method for advising them that they
could be expected to accept as repre-
senting the business view. | am salts
fled that congress is glad to be fair to
business and to cooperate with us in
the advancement of the common well
fare. Business will never get fair
consideration Of its just claims in con-
gress by employing roundabout meth
DDS. The day Of indirection passed
long ago. l know / reflect the senti-
ment of the business men of the ma
ton when | say that all we want is to
| have our causes considered dispassion-
ately and we are confident that the
right kind of a verdict will usually re-
suit Believing this, we should be alert
to call to account any business man or
business men, who by other methods
would discredit business as a whole
President Fahey said that 700 COM
mercial bodies are affiliated with the
chamber, which in membership and in
the widespread character of repre-
sentation, far exceeds in size any
similar organization in the world"
Reports of officers occupied the re-
mainder of the opening session. The
convention will continue throughout
Thursday. with national defense as the
chief topic of discussion on the closing
day. President Wilson will speak at
The annual banquet Thursday night.