New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-02
Submarine Crisis StirS
Convention Of Business
Men at Capital
BAKER AND WOOD
TOO BUSY TO SPEAK
Industries Must Be Organ
lied. Delegates Are
Told

Washington, Feb. THE gravity of
the international situation forced itself
upon the attention of the Chamber OF
Commerce of the United States conven-
ton to-day, when the delegates learned
that Secretary Of War Baker and General
Leonard Wood. who were to have adj
dressed them. had been prevented, as
President Rhett said, "by eXigencies Of
the situation" from being present. The
morning session was devoted wholly 10
national defence problems, and an
rourcemcnt that Secretary Baker and
General Wood would speak on the sub
jcct drew a throng that packed the
large assembly hall.
Howard +. Coffin. Of the Naval Con-
sultiug Board addressing the Chamber
on national defence. presented start
ling facts about the military unpre-
paredness Of the United States. lie
declared that any one who believed
that the United States was prepared
because Congress had voted for battle
ships and a larger army should consult
q brain specialist He spoke Sarcas-
ticAlly of chow we advertise to the
world our extremely businessllke plans
for national defence
Mr. Coffin presented figures, which he
asked should neither be recorded nor
published "That nation is most nope
less which most sincerely decelves IT.
self declared Mr. Coffin as he eX-
planned easy possibilities Of Landing
troops on American shores by foreign
powers
Auto Industry Best Prepared
Speaking of industrial preparedness,
Nr. Coffin said: "The automobile IN
dustry is the best organized industry
nm the country. After a declaration of
war not more than 10 per cent of the
industry would keep on with its regu-
lar work All other industries would
be affected in about the same proper
ton Close observance Of the expert
once ir foreign countries has shown us
the vital necessity for a prearrange-
me.t in an industries. Wars as now
wagcd involve every resource of ma
ton Every factory, every man, wOm-
an and child is affected. Every sinew OF
transportation. industry and finance
must be hamessod for the common
good.
at is upon organized industry that
we I'm the United States must base any
and an our plans for military defence,
and In the event of trouble with any OF
the first class powers; between 80 ana
90 Der cent Of our Industries would be
centred upon the making of supplies
for the government
"From one 20 two years of time and
effort are needed to peIsnit any large
manufacturing establishment TO change
over from its usual commercial peace
time work 10 the supplying of war ma
terials After two years Of dlllgent
work twenty thousand inventories are
low on file in the Council Of National
Defence.
Munitions must become our one
great national undertaking. and we
must make our plans accordingly.
Every manufacturer owes it 20 himself,
70 his stockholders and to his work
men TO insure against prolonged
shutdown of his plant
All Interests Common in War
THE ability to swing quickly from
the commodities Of peaceful commerce
20 the production Of the emergency ma
tcrials of war viii constitute the
greatest insurance against government
control. against disruption Of organl-
zation and against months Of commu-
nifty chaos which cannot but spell
physical suffering and privation TO
labor and money loss TO the business
itself. The interests Of government.
capital and labor are common interests
iu war. ard it Is only through pre-
arrangement as TO productions, profits,
wages and relations that The national
welfare may be safeguarded.
The report of the committee on ma
t.oral defence which was adopted,
urged the National Chamber 20 20 on
record 20 'plcdge the unqualified sup
port Of the business interests repre-
.crtcd within us membership 20 the
Council Of National Defence and 10 the
active contamination Of It's plans
Tho committee further asked the
delegates 20 90 on record 20 'reaihrm
thc Chambers hearty support OF the
principle of universal military tram
irQ. as laid down in the proposal Of the
Nato ual Chamber referendum.
'HTour committee the report con-
fnucd. "dcigus 90 hope that the nation
generally VIII bee brought 10 realize
fha. no principle is more ln accord
with republican form Of government,
no doctrine more truly democratic
than that which asserts that every
ablcbodied male citizen owes military
service 20 bis country
Purchase Of Islands Urged
RcGltflIg tIal lAt pAitHa0N VI Nii'
Danish West Indies by the government,
eliminates ore possibility Of our be
5nE drawn into European political
d -crerccs," the Committee on Foreign
Relations. boz lbs report. recommends
tho acquisition By purchase or other
friendly agreement OF other islands
Ilng in or near the Caribbean Sea
which arc now the property Of Euro
rcau countries. Such action, the COM
mittee believes, would cost us less
tran a week or so Of modern war
ferc' as well as materially advance the
s.,rrity Of American commerce and
that or "our Latiu-Americau sister re-
pubIics."
Tac committee. Of which Charles II.
Sheriff.. o. New York City, rs chair
man. also recommends:
D. The cstabl hment Of an American
commercial museum in Paris for the
de.clopmcu. Of trade between the
United States and France.
- The Dc .ra5i.ity Of securing the
benefit % our foreign trade Of most