The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-30

of trade organizations. under the aus
pices Of the Chamber Of Commerce OF
the United States.
Speakers of national and interna-
tional reputation, including three
members of the cabinet, the Russian
am bassador, the head of the British
purchasing mission, the president OF
the Standard OIL company. the prest-
dent of the United States Steel cor
poration, addressed the meetings: talks
were given on every phase of the re-
lations of business and Americas
share in the war, and In group con-
ferences with general discussion OPP
portunity was given for the Individual
business man to express his own views
on what ought TO be done and how
the business men of America ought
to do it.
Ons of the resolutions adopted on
the final day of the session called on
the men who had heard and seen at
the convention to go back to their
own home organizations and as soon
as possible call war meetings to tell
everybody else about 1t. And this is
only one phase OF the great work
which the Chamber of Commerce Of
the United States is undertaking tol
stir the spirit, stimulate the inventive
faculty, and organize the EFFORT or
every business man of the country.
/
suit Of the conference VIII be the or
Eanization of every one of the princf-
pal industries of the country for the
explicit purpose of cooperation with
the government in meeting war needs.
In a statement made to the New York
Times at the close of the convention.
II. Goodwin Rhett. president of the
chamber. declared that the organiza-
tion OF committee OF the leading
men In each industry would be one
/ of the most important activities of
business in America in the coming
months, and might ultimately displace
to a very large extent the advisory
committees OF the council OF national
defense.
The idea OF the advisory commit
tee for the various Industries" he
said. was excellent, but in practice
1t has not worked out with very salts
factory results. There are doubtless
a number OF reasons for this. Per-
haps a certain lingering distrust In
the minds of some congressman to-
ward business is partly responsible
Undoubtedly, too. in one or two in
stances the advisory groups which
conferred with officials of the admin
istration on the question of price fix
ing had made up their minds before
| hand TO get more than they were
Justly entitled TO ask under the condt-
lions OF the war. This happened very
infrequently. but the knowledge that
1t had happened AT all intensified the
lAtent distrust and led to the require
ment that no business man should
pass on contract in which he was
personally interested However de-
sirable this might be in theory IL had
In practice tina effect of deriving the
government OF the advice Of men who
were apt to be the best informed on
the particular matter under discussion
Another factor leading to the de-
cline of the value of the committees
has been the fact that there is no
compulsioT on administration officials
to refer anything to them. In the be-
ginning 1t was undoubtedly expected
| that they would be consulted on all
| industrial questions. but of late the
| practice OF referring matters to them
! has been followed in fewer and fewer
| cases. So with the best informed
men often debarred from considera-
ton, and with officials of the war and
navy department frequently entertain
fnF the theory that they could get
what they wanted by their own efforts
without consulting the committee, this
institution which began with poten-
TALLY great value has ceased to have
very much effect.
4 Best Means for Giving Aid.
The Chamber OF Commerce OF the
United States has been in close touch
with the situation at Washington ever
since the war began. and this sftua-
ton very soon attracted the attention
I of our members and officials who were
studying the best methods of coop
Grafton between business and the adj
ministration. Waddill Catchings, chair
man Of the chambers committee on
cooperation, was also assistant to w.
+ S. Clifford. director of the council OF
national defense. and through him
and his committee 1t became evident
TO us that the machinery which had
been constructed for the cooperation
of the government and business was
not getting the results desired.
I business men who came to Wash
i ington often came with a quite in
adequate knowledge of war conditions
and war needs, and when they came
they were not handled most efficient
( w. Conditions of actual production of
given business might perhaps be
fairly we'll known. what IL could do
under normal conditions; but the or
ganization was lacking for most eff
fective utilization of its capacities and
extension of it's facilities in the enor-
nous strain or war. The constant
! contact with these problems led Mr..
! Catchngs. and through him other Of
ficials of the chamber, to the belief
ton as to actual conditions today, and
that the organization of industries
| needed radical Improvement.
The plan which Is now contem-
plated involves the careful organiza-
ton OF every industry with the hope
/ of getting every han in It into the
trade association or whatever body
represents the business. The vehicle
manufacturers. under the leadership
/ of william Butterworth, of Moline.
ILL.,. have made an excellent beginning.
and their organization is setting
very good example for other industries
| to follow. Then when this work of
organization is completed let it he rep
| resented by a committee which Is
/! really representative, and let this COM
mittee deal with the government IN
/ every question connected with the gov
ernmants war needs from that par
| ticular business
Let Government Make Terms.
! THE Chamber of Commerce of the
United States will be glad to estab-
/ lish a connection between the business
men and the government wherever 1t
! can be valuable. Now this dealing
directly with the government. does not
mean that the business men are to
| get together and nx terms on which
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