New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-27
N. Y. Chamber of Com
MERGE Urges Use of Naval
Guns and GunnerS
WANTS WARNING
GIVEN TO GERMANY
Pledge of Business Mems
Aid in Event of War
Is Made

The immediate arming Of all Ameri-
can mail carrying steamers with naval
guns and gun crews and the notifca-
ton of the Imperial German Govern
ment that an attack upon these vessels
will be regarded as a cause of war, are
urged in resolutions adopted yesterday
by the Chamber of Commerce at spe'
cial meeting called to consider the IN
ternational situation.
Another resolution pledging the sup
port of the business men OF the coun-
try in furnishing supplies and AID 10
to the government at moderate prices
in event of war, and a report by Spe-
cial committee advocating universal
military training for all young men be-
tween the ages of eighteen and nine
teen also were adopted.
Elihu Root was applauded loudly
when he arose to read the latter report
He congratulated the body on the TACT
that President Wilson had gone before
Congress to ask the right to do the
very thing which the chamber was urg-
ing. the arming of American ships.
Among those present were Henry r.
Dawson and Jacob II. Schiff, who occu-
pied front seats with the rev Dr'
Manning. rector of Trinity Church' Inc
armament and profit restriction resoiu-
tions were presented by the executive
cd
Ring. Eugenius II. 0uterbridge, Frank
A, Vanderlip, Willard Straight, Samuel
W. Fairchild, Irving 7. Bush, Howard u
Smith and A. Barton Hepburn.
Nations Business Threatened
The report Of the executive commit
tee. after referring TO the Germa1
note and the severance of diplomatic
relations. which met with the instant
and unhesitating approval of all the
Deonle of the United States points
out that nearly a month has elapsed
and that the business OF the entire ma
tion is threatened.
I'VE understand it reads, that IN
critical times like these the govern
ment cannot publicly discuss every
pending question. but in democracy
il is imperative that the people should
know at all times and beyond perad,
venture that certain great underlying
PRINCIPLES will be maintained at any
cost: and. therefore, we respectfully
suggest that the government should
LET the public know how it intends TO
maintain and enforce our rights at
sea and what arrangements it proposes
10 make for the safety of our ships
and the lives of our seamen and citi-
h. har
at is the opinion of your committee
that the government Of the United
States should Immediately equip all
American steamers carrying mail TO
and from Europe under contract with
naval guns and gun crews for their
protection. and that il should notify
the imperial German government Of
It's action and that any attack upon
these ships will be regarded as a
casus belli."
Against Excess Profits
The other resolution pledged the
support of the Chamber of Commerce
Ito the principle that the business
men of the country shall supply all
services. commodities and inventions
required by the national government at
prices which will yield a profit no
greater than would be received in SINH
lar transactions with private GUS
toners"
The report urging compulsory mill
tary training was signed, besides Mr..
Root. by Robert Bacon. Herbert l..
Satterlee. Jacob W. Miller and Arson
W. Burchard. In closing it says:
I'VE ought to be driving with all our
force in the manufacture of submarines
and aeroplanes and cruisers and large
calibrc. high power guns and shells
and field artillery and rapid fire ma
chine guns and rifles, and ammunition
of all kinds, and hundred other things
necessary or useful in modern warfare
Manifestly. we are not doing it,