New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-13

WASHINGTON. Dec. 12.-To-day the
government kissed and embraced busi-
ness without touching it. The GER
emony took place in the ballroom NJ
the New Willard. Viewed effectively,
il was a dry. uninteresting perform
ance. Underlying it was the tragedy
Of a gross misunderstanding for which
no instant relief is in sight.
To sense it in full measure one must
90 back TO the War Convention OF
American Business, held in Atlantic
City last September at the call oil the
United States Chamber OF Commerce.
At that time and place business deiiy-
cred itself headlorg TO the government
in the following historic declaration:
"Assembled on the call Of the
Chamber of Commerce Of the United
States and representing more than
haT a million business men and
egey.y industry IN every state m the
Union, this contention promises to
orr people that business aciH do all
in its poicer TO preUeat lcaste OF
men end material and tCW dedicate
to the nation euery facility it has
derrloDed and every financial re-
source il commands OF such terms
and under such circumstances as
orr qorerament shall determine to
be jnSt."
Government Dstrusted Business
Still. the government distrusted
business and co6perated with 1t in
manner so perfunctory and suspicious
that the war committee OF the united
States Chamber OF Commerce, as al
act of protest, severed its relations
with the Council of National Defence.
On doing this it formulated a pro.
gramme for unifying the industrial
management of the war, wrote out 1T
full it's reasons for believing that the
country was moving in the direction OF
disaster and asked for conference
with the President.
The directors of the United States
Chamber of Commerce asked this. lhey
represented American business-all the
business there is. They were ASKING
only TO be heard on the subject OF now
the nations resources could be more
effectively requlsitioned for purposes
of victory, on "such terms and under
such circumstances as our government
shall determine to be just"
Mr.. Wilson refused to see them. MI.
McAdoo urged him TO reconsider that
decision, but he would not, and asked
that American business submit its re-
marks in writing. Ii did so, and re-
ceiyed i'm reply brief note saying that
its suggestions were interesting, Dut
that ali of the things proposed would
he ACCOMPLISHED in due time BY other
means i'm the governments own way.
The militant representatives OF busi-
resx were for few hours on the point
Of LAYING the case before the pubic,
hut conservative counsels prevailed,
and besides. Daniel Willard, who had
lust been appointed chairman OF the
War Industries Board, pleaded with
business to give him a chance. lie
thought nc could bring order out OF
chaos. So the thirty-tive directors OF
the United States Chamber OF Com
merce went home and waited.
Service Committees Organized
Meanwhile it was resolved to pro
ceed with the organization of war ser
vice committees in every industry
through the land. To-day the chair
men of these war service committees,
representing every important INDUSTRY
in every state of the Union. met here
M the call of the war committee to
learn if unlimited cooperation with the
government had yet become possible.
Members of the Administration came
and talked. e.,
". s. Clifford. director Of the Council
of National Defence, was the first. he
complimented the war service COM
mittees on their existence. He had no
doubt Of their being very useful. lie
rad heard some complaint on the
ground that they were not to be recog-
nized by the government As TO that,
il seemed to him better that they
should not write on their stationery
Recognized BY the government IL ]