Evening star., 1917-09-18
POINT OUT THE DUTY
Of BUSINESS MEN
Secretaries Lane and Baker
Discuss World Conflict
at Atlantic City.
WAR CONVENTION MEETS
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
ATLANTIC CITY, N. j., September
1S.-The war convention, called by the
Chamber of Commerce of the United
States to plan closer cooperation be-
tween the government and industry,
heard speakers today discuss the prob
lem of obtaining sufficient war supplies
at fair prices. Among those on the pro-
gram for addresses were Secretary Of
| War Baker, Secretary of the Interior
Lane, Frank A. Scott, chairman of the
war industries board; George NJ. Rey-
nolds of Chicago and Boris Bakhmeteff,
the Russian ambassador.
| Business men asking their duty to
| the nation in war were told by Secre-
| tary Lane to change the word from
duty" to opportunity" and seek the
answer from the khaki-clad American
boys who are crossing the ocean. I'VE
! have come upon a 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
Making Full Steam Ahead"
The Secretary declared that the
| United States, having determined to
fight Germany's effort to master the
world with high explosives and low
intrigue, was making full steam
ahead
"1f any one doubts that" he added,
let him look at the record Of Congress,
which has come in for SO much of deri-
sion and reproach. 1 presume to say
that no other parliamentary body in so
short a time ever passed so great
volume of well considered and pro-
phetic legislation as has our present
Congress in the past five months.
I'VE have supplied money for our
friends. raised an army OF a million
and a quarter. inaugurated a new in
dustry. that of making aeroplanes; re-
vived a 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
placed the burden of
taxation upon those who can best
bear under it-this is a record that no
other nation has excelled. 1t Is a rec
ord that shows purpose, an unflinching |
purpose.
Know How to Make War.
I'VE of America. it is conceded. know |
how to make money. and we will prove |
that we know how to make war, whole |
hearted. resolute war. War that means |
machinery, science-war |
that means men by the million and |
money by the billion: war that means |
ruined hopes, a little |
4 world that men can grow in.
I'VE shall make war in earnest, for |
we know that IL Germany wins the |
" orld will turn aside from the system
exalt that military caste and system
which is the historic enemy of per-
sonal liberty. We make war in France
that We may not be compelled to do
ada or Mexico, or even Cuba, and we
would go to our daily work like the
Pilgrim Fathers. without guns in our
hands.
our war, for we claim proudly that
we gave the impulse to Europe which
turned its face toward democracy. and
FOR that reason in fighting with Eng
light for those who follow in the way
we led, true children of the American
of government as a servant,
not master.
Caesars Message to Germans.
TT is now nineteen hundred years
since Caesar defeated the Germans in
France When they came asking terms
ne said to them: Go back whence you
came. repair the damage you have done
and give hostages to keep peace for the
future.
ut was the ancient and barbaric
custom to take princes and high men
as hostages. and this custom Germany
when she entered Belgium.
But the world does not ask such
hostages today. 1t is the problem of |
world craftsmanship to discover what |
kind of hostage Germany can give
when she has been convinced that her
dreams of world overmastery cannot |
come true"
American business has no intention Of
profting at the expense Of the govern
rnent in the sale of war supplies, r. G. /
of af s. c. ss
States, declared in opening the conven-
ton.
"There undoubtedly have been cases
weighed patriotism. but the cases have
been exceptional" he said And the
great body of business men have invari-
4 bly, 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 propse to
place every resource at their command
behind the government and its allies in
their determination to see that liberty
democracy, civilization and humanity pre-
vail
President Rhett's Address.
President Rhett in his address said:
Business has been cropping in the
dark because 1t finds the very founda-
tions of commerce have been upturned
Demand and supply can no longer be
permitted to control prices. because the
extraordinary demands of the govern
ment have completely unbalanced the
scales. Something else must be found
to take its place for the time being
The government is now searching for
that something.
THE President has well said that this
war is not a battle of armies but
conflict Of nations in which every ma
tional resource must be called into
play.
Let me emphasize the primary and
paramount purpose of this convention.
Our countrymen want to know Just
how the business men feel about this
war Our allies. likewise, want to
know.
Conditions of Peace.