Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-09-18
u. s. TO PROVE
DEMOCRACY CAN
WIN in WAR
Every Resource of Great Ma
ton Will Be Used, Says
Secretary Lane

Atlantic City, n. j., Sept, 1S.-
Business men asking their duty to
the nation in war were told by Sec
retary Lane, addressing the war con-
rention of the Chamber of Commerce
of the United States here to-day, to
change the word from duty" to "op-
portunity" and seek the answer from
the khaki-clad American boys who
are crossing the ocean. we have
come upon new day and a new
philosophy" he said. I'VE are to
judge men henceforward not by what
they have but by what they give"
The secretary declared that the
United States having determined to
night Germany's efforts to master the
world with high explosives and low
intrigue" was making full steam
ahead.
Rapid Progress
IF anyone doubts that" he added
let him look at the record of Con-
gress, which has come in for so much
of derision and reproach. l presume
to say that no other parliamentary
body in SO short a time ever passed
so great volume of we'll considered
and prophetic legislation as has our
present Congress in the past five
months.
We have supplied money for our
and quarter, inaugurated a new in
dustry-that of making aeroplanes-
revived dead industry-that of
building ships-placed powers over
exports and prices over industries
and resources in the hands of the
President that will give him the
weapons he needs. made laws to
punish domestic enemies and cour-
ageously placed the burden of taxa
tion upon those who can best bear
up under it-thiS is a record that no
nation has eXcelled. 1t is a record
that shows purpose, an unfiinching
purpose.
I'VE of America, 1t is conceded,
know how to make money, and we
will prove that we know how to
make war, whole-hearted resoIute
war. War that means organization,
machinery, science; war that means
men by the million and money by
the billion; war that means heart
breaking, ruined hopes, little glory,
perhaps, certain Self-respect, a
world that men can grow in.
I'VE shall make war in earnest,
for we know that If Germany wins
the world will turn aside from the
system of law and liberty which we
know and cXalt that military caste
and system which is the historic
enemy of personal liberty. We make
war in France that we may not be
compelled to do battle here. Let
Germany have Canada or Mexico, or
even Cuba, and we would go to our
daily work like the pilgrim fathers
with our guns in our hands.
American business has no inten-
ton of profiting at the expense of the
government in the sale of war sup
plies" r. G. Rhett, of Charleston,
). c., president of the Chamber of
Commerce of the United States, de-
clared in opening the convention.
There undoubtedly have been
cases where selfishness and greed
have outweighed patriotism. but the
cases have been exceptional" he
said. And the great body of busi-
ness men have invariably stood
squarely behind the government in
its plans and proposals.
The business men of America will
let the world know that whatever the
cost, whatever the sacrifice, they pro-
pose to place every resource at their
command behind the government
and its allies in their determination
to sec that liberty, democracy, civ
ilization and humanity prevail"
The war convention called by the
Chamber of Commerce to plan closer
cooperation between the government
and industry heard speakers to-day
discuss the problem of obtaining suf-
fcient war supplies at fair prices.
Among others on the program for
addresses are Secretary of War
Baker, Frank A. Scott, chairman of
the War Industries Board; George NJ.
Reynolds, of Chicago, and at the
night session Boris Bakhmeteff, the
Russian ambassador.