New-York tribune., 1917-12-17


Atlantic City convention.
Dedication OF
Business to War
There may be some OF you who were
not present at that convention. an
sure that no one who was there failed
TO get the spirit which permeated 1t al
through its week of sessions. AT th'
risk Of a repetition to some Of you'
am going to read the declaration o.
the business men Of this country. be-
cause therein is contained the spirit
which ought to thrill you in your
deliberations here to-day:
The people Of the United States IN ae-
rance Of the Republic and the principles
upon which this nation was founded are
nov. taking their part in the world war
with no lust for power and no thought OF
financial or territorial gain.
Tho issues ct stake in this stupendous
struggle involve the moral ideals ana con-
ception Of justice and liberty for which our
forefathers fought. tho protection OF the
innocent and helpless, the sanetity OF
vomanhood and home. freedom OF oppor-
tunity for all men and the assurance or the
safety o, civilization nnd progress to all
nations, great and small.
Speed Of production and the mobilization
If all national power mean the saving OF
human life. an earlier ending OF the de-
signs Of autocracy and militarism and the
ret,irn 10 the peoples of the earth OF peace
aad happiness.
I-ndismayed at the prospect Of great
+ov.. facing the consumption Of its ac-
cumulated savings, American business with
out hesitation pledges our government i's
full and unqualified support in the prosecu-
tion Of the war until Prussianism is utterly
destroyed.
Assembled on the call OF The Chamber Of
Commerce Of the United States and repre-
senting more than half a million business
men and every industry in every state IN
the Union, this convention promises to our
nAople that buginess will do all in its
power 10 prevent waste Of men and ma
terial and will dedicate 10 the nation every
facility il has developed and every financial
re5ource It commands on such terms and
under such circumstances a, our govern
ment shall determine TO be just.
That is what the business men have
declared they would do, and that is
what the great body OF the business
men have been doing, in spite Of the
fact that here and there We find those
who will profit.
In that convention We thought the
should use the established
agencies through which there should be
this purchasing power, the
priority power, this distribution OF fuel
and other things which the government
had to do. The business men at the
same time thought it was essential that
the industries of this country should
organize. They believe, and We be-
Iieved, that the time for :he individual
dealing has gone by, and that indi-
yiduals must cluster together. The
government will want to know what an
industry can supply it with in order to
win this war, not what an individual in
tends 20 do. The government will want
10 find out what industries are least
essential. not what individuals. For
your own protection, as well as for the
nelp OF the government, it 10 neces-
,ary that you should get together and
know your own industry first. find out
all OF its resources, what IL can do and
what il cannot do, what il can convert
itself into in order TO help the gov
eminent, 30 that in case any question
arises as to whether your industry IL
mere essential or less essential than
others you will have some one or some
body who is here 10 present that in
iustry 20 the man who is charged with
L. not ar individual, but an industry, TO
say: well, il we are unessential in
this way, We can, Is an industry. do
this; or, "What can you suggest that
,ye, as an industry. do" The time has
tome when that can be done.