Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-17
USIlVEN
WAR CONCLAvE
sntic City Conference to
\ petermine Commences
n Duty to Government
PRESIDENT TALKS
Declares Industry Must Give
World Example of Unselfish
and Unremitting Service
ATLANTIC CRY. SAINT 1;

y ATLANTIC CITY. Sept. IL.
q american business is to meet the Ameri-
IN Government here this week in the
1herEenoy war convention OF tho Chamber
u Commerce Of the United States TO de-
fernine exactly what business must do In
erder not only to make II possible for the
Amerfcan people 70 win the world conflict
xor democracy. but to put such a punch
inso the task that It viii be concluded in
4 the shortest time possible and with the
\ last possible sacrifice of life and money.
That, IN brief. Is the purpose of the most
Aonontous meeting American business ever
h &aa held Prasident Wilson has deputizcd
9sorstary Of War Baker. Secretary Of the
Z nca 10 speak for him. but II Is not certain
0a& he will not come from Washington
hlUself to speak for himself. to unburden
his hart and tell two thousand Americans
Al powerful In the business world how they
can best heip to do the things which must
~ done to make the nation wholly At for
me trumendous work before n.
President Wilson did not refuse the in
v,tation pressed upon him. He said he
would come to Atlantic City II IL was pos
e1bie Tor him to get here, This morning
me belief prevails among those in charge
81 the convention that Mr.. Wilson will
como to Atlantic City on Wednesday, even
II 10 for only a few hours. one OF the
BoArdwalk hotels has made arrangements,
despite It's crowded condition. to provide
quarters for him on the chance that he
does come to the shore
Final details for the big meeting, which
u to be held in the Moorish Palace. on
the Garden Pier, we're concluded last night
at . meeting Of the Board Of Directors of
the National Chamber. The presence of
bankers manufacturers and big business
men from every part of the country attests
the Importance which business attaches
to the impending gathering.
This afternoon the national council, COM
prising one member each OF the nearly 1000
oommercial and trade bodies affiliated with
the national organization. met with Presi-
dent r. Goodwin T,hett, of lrleston,
s. c.. presiding.
John II. Fahey. of Boston. a former
president of the National Chamber. ad-
dressed the council, speaking in part as
follows:
This war is fundamentally a struggle Of
nations in which control of materials and
machinery is as necessary to victory as
the mobilization and training of men. The
speed, ingenuity and efficiency with which
the United States provides transportation.
munitions. food and equipment for the use
Of the fighting men on all battlefronts will
measure the length of the war and limit
the terrible sacrifice of human life.
THE service our business men have
rendered in preparation for our part on the
nring line is already large, but we have
now passed the first period of confusion
and excitement incident to early days fol-
lowing the declaration OF war. We now
have time to pause for brief survey and
to realize that we have only made a be-
thinning.
Quick and sure success will only come
As result of the most thorough organiza-
t1on. We may congratulate ourselves on
the excellent start made by gaining from
our own experience and that of our Allies !:
We must perfect our organization of indus
try to n point never before euualed,
The members Of this council available
At austimes for immediate call constitute
the Shock troops of organized business in
this country and the opportunities pre-
sented to you for real service are without
limit
What is already done is well enough,
Dut business must now give to the world
an example. of unselfish unremitting, per-
sistent service which will bring to ali of
US new satisfaction and inspiration
Heal success In business Is now to be
rsckoned only In terms of what We con-
tribute without thought of ourselves to the
preservation of the splendid ideals for
which Americ. stands and for which II will
now fight to the last drop of its blood"
BAKER TO SOUND KEYNOTE
Secretary of War Baker is TO sound Che
keynote OF the convention at the opening
session tomorrow morning at which time
George NJ. Reynolds, president Of the Con-
tinental and Commercial National Bank. of
Chicago. also will deliver q message from
the bankers OF the country
Secretary of the Interior Lane and Frank
A. Scott, chairman of the War Industries
Board, will tell the commercial represen-
natives at the afternoon session what
American business may do TO further aid
In winning the war Boris Bakhmetiefr,
the Russian Ambassador, and tho Rev,
Newell Dwight Hills. of Brooklyn, who re-
Gently returned from the trenches, will
speak at Tuesdays night session.