Evening journal., 1916-03-09
BULLDOnING RusINEsS MEN.

n UTE number of delegates TO the recent annual
" meeting Of the United States Chamber Of Com-
merce in Washington highly incensed at the
ner In which Of their recommendations in re-
gard TO the upbuildine OF our merchant marine and
other economic subjects. have been by
Democratic leaders. They are especially aroused at
the treatment accorded one Of the Chamber officials
Dr. William A. Douglas of New York, by Chairman
Alexander of the House Committee Merchant Ma
Fine and Fisheries
II is reported that the administration strove TO get
an Endorsement Of its policies from the Chamber. The
Chamber embraces 100000 business men and corpora
tons throughout the United States and insular
possessions Naturally, if the President and his satel
lites could have received expression Of approval
from this great body, il would have made interesting
campaign literature. Secretary Redhed the busi-
est man in Washington during the meetings. lie bowed
and pirouettod like a French dancing master in his
efforts to sweeten prominent members Of the Chamber
and induce them to praise the work Of his department
Daniel c.. Roper first assistant postmaster general,
and of the chief dispensers OF Democratic patron
age was also present az the meetings, and Mr. Roper
is chuck full "pemlcous political activity" But
whatever the individual members might nave thought
and the private remarks Of many of them We're not
at all catering TO Mr. Wilson-the Chamber
coedingly tactful and escaped without political COM
promise It categorically refused to 80 record
indorsng the administration explaining that body
IT non-partisan.
very few days after the meeting Dr. Douglas was
called before the Committee Merchant Marine and
Fisheries which considering President Wilson's
plan to authorize The government to invest $5OOOOOO0
little ships for son-in-law McAdoo to play with.
Dr Douglas chairman of the special committee of
the L. S. Chamber OF Commerce which delved deeply
into the subject of government ownership Of merchant
Marine and the report which he read to the Chamber
denounced the Wilson-NlcAdoo ship plan in every de-
tail The Chamber had held a referendum the
subject time previously. which resulted in an all
but unanimous condemnation OF government owner
ship merchant ships. Or Douglas read his report
before Mr. Aiexander's committee. Mr. Alexander was
decidedly rascibe throughout the hearing. and when
Dr. Douglas pointed the result Of the referendum
vote Al Alexander declared yehementy that the whole
proposition was frame-up from start to hnsh and
that the business organizations who recorded their
votes against the Presidents plan did in absolute
ignorance the significance of the matter; that the
referendum, had been drawn they didn't know what
they were voting about
Business men of the country have many times be-
fore heard from Democratic leaders that they were
ignorant leN and ncompotent But declaration such
as Mr. Aloxandcrs thrown in the teeth man of the
integrity and standing OF Dr. Douglas put about the
finishing Touch 90 their disgust with the party now i'm
powor Many Of them trace it to resentment of the
Democrats because tEey failed 10 get tho Chambers
Endorsement Of their actions. The business men de-
clare that their turn will in November.