New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-21
u. S. Commerce Chamber
Seeks Drastic Leg
islation
Speakers Denounce
Slackers in, Trade
Convention Will Urge Reg
ulation of Prices
of Labor


of the War Conference of the Chamber
Of Commerce Of the United States
which will close its sessions here TO-
morrow with the adoption of recom-
mendations for drastic Legislation
against these Two classes.
Congress will be called upon to work
out a more complete control o. the
prices of raw materials. labor and
transportation, not only of munitions,
but Of all Of the needs of civil life az
means Of battling the prolitcers. The
business Stacker" as the man who rG-
fuses to cooperate with the government
has been characterized during the dis
cussions here, will be forced into line
according 70 the proposed plans,
through closer organization among the
present commercial bodies.
Just what form these recommenia-
tions will take is not definitely known
as vet. The chambers resolutions
committee tonight is wrestling with
the numerous suggestions that w,'l he
welded into specific measures 20 be
passed upon by the convention to-mor-
row.
Recommendations Favored
Among the more important recon-.
mendations expected TO be reported
favorably by the committee are these:
Passage Of the Webb bill, now
pending before Congress, which
would lcgalize industrial comblna-
tions for the purpose OF carrying
on trade campaigns IN foreign
countries after the war.
Federal regulation Of the cost OF
labor entering into the production
of all articles upon which the sell
ing price is fixed by the govern
mcnt.
Creation of n central war board,
the duties of which. broadly speak,
ing. would be TO direct all indus
trial activities to avoid present
conflict Of authority, and to super
wise all government buying
Cooperation Is Offered
1t is possible that this last rec
ommendation may take the form of an
indefinite suggestion only, 10 be worked
out by the Administration if it is
deemed advisable. Action here would
carry only the approval Of The nations
business men and the assurance that
they would cooperate with such plan.
William b. Wilson, Secretary of
Labor; James A. Farrell. president of
the United States Steel Corporation;
Alba b. Johnson, president Of the Bald
win Locomotive Works, and many
bankers and trade experts were
among those who to-day denounced
profiteers or outlined means of bring
ing about the closest cooperation be-
tween business men and the govern
ment in the prosecution of the war.
Secretary Wilson is credited with
sounding the keynote of the convcn-
ton after announcing that working
men who were demanding higher pay
we're simply showing that they de-
sired 20 get their part of "the war
swag."
My rosition is that there should be
no swaS TO diyid" between you,' he
said.
After enumerating many Of the war
problems that have come before his
department, Mr.. Wilson said that he
had repeatedly urged that no attempt
be made 20 set new standards. either
for capital or labor, because war con-
ditions made such changes possible.
Unions that had failed OF recognition
in times of peace should not disor-
ganize industrial conditions by de-
manding recognition now.
Wilson Warns Employers
But" the Secretary continued, 81
also want TO say 10 you employers
that this is no time to stand upon
-. i .tt,,g to fflz. at
profiteering. If you have been unable
10 gain big profits in normal times
YOUR should not take advantage of
your country's necessities by Insist
ing on abnormal profits at this time.
"Narv Of YOU arc wondering why
there is a spirit Of unrest among the
workers OF the country Many of the
troubles which have come from this
unrest we have been able 20 adjust be
fore they reached the strike stage by
negotiating along the lines | have out
lined 70 YOU. Did II ever occur 10 you
that the greatest reason for the unrest
that exists among the workingmen OF
this country is that the story has gone
forth that corporations engaged in the
iron and steel industries, for instance
are making a profit Of from 200 to 400
ner cent That corporations engaged
in the shinbulding industry arc max
ing enormous profits?' That corpora
t;ons engaged in the mining and lum.
bering industries arc making enormous
profits?
Workingman's Attitude
"In other words, did it ever occur IL
YOU that the story has gone forth that
business men are not patriotic? ina,
they have been 'profiteerlng And
did il ever occur to you that the work
ingman has said to himself that he
will insist on getting his share of the
'swag'?'
Mr.. Johnson said that the war had
proved that the nation had for years
been worshipping false god, the
Sherman antitrust act. The principle
of unlimited destructive competition
he said. would not stand the test OF
the present crisis. The government
already had recognized this fact, he
said. and is providing for It.
"The future of American business
to-day is not clear ne added The
necessities Of the war have expanded
the capabilities of the American bust
ness man far beyond his own eXpecta
tions. The result is that after the wal
he will face two alternatives:
First. meeting a tremendous over.
head such as his business will hardly
carry.
Second. extending his business to
foreign countries TO meet this overhead
expense"
Farrell Describes War Needs
Mr.. Farrell told of the ever incrcas'
ing demand for steel 20 meet the gov.
ernment's shipbuilding plans and Other
necessities of the war. Men must be
trained. shpyards constructed anc
practically every trade stimulated e
meet these demands, he said.
Fred |. Kent, vice-president Of th'