New-York tribune., 1918-12-12
Trade Boycott
Idea UnsOund
Says Wheeler
U. S. Chamber of Commerce
Man Asserts 1t Would Gre.
ate Unrest in Industries
Addresses n. Y. Merchants
Would Send Commission to
Peace Congress to Ad.
wise on Needs of Nation

If America is to solve its reconstruc.
ton problems and maintain commerci,,
supremacy, the cardinal principle for
the guidance of our industrial readius,
ment must be cooperation. This was
the burden of addresses at luncheon
given at the Hotel Astor YESTERDAY
under the auspices of the Merchants
Association of New York for the dis.
cussion of the imminent changes in tbis
country's business affairs.
The speakers included Alfred :
Manning, president of the Chamber of
Commerce of New York; William Fal.
loves Morgan. president of the Wer-
chants Association; William c. Breed
chairman of the mem bers council Of
the association, and Harry A. Wheeler
CT the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States. who was the guest Of
honor and delivered the principal aJ.
dress.
Mr.: Wheeler insisted that our com
mercial relations could be strengthened
considerably by the introduction of
frank and open diplomacy and the
scrapping Of the Old World variety.
'The economic boycott he con-
tinued. "cannot be agreed upon in this
country as a sound principle 1t drives
the world further apart and creates ill.,
dustrial unrest. If we share with tie
nations Of the world those commodities
that we hold in surplus then we shall
again be able TO lead in the rationing
of raw pre- duets and so give other
countries an opportunity TO restore
their industrial life and social order,
with the understanding that the United
States as custodian for steel and cot
ton and copper shall not hoggishlv
hold them at home We must go a
step further and say that the elements
of transportation shall be used in the
common service of all nations during
this period of readiustment"
Must Protect War Industries
Mr.. Wheeler then took up the mat
ter of internal policy pointing out
that the President and the Secretary
of War have given assurances that
the question Of the cancellations of
war contracts will be handled gener-
ously. The railroads, he added. must
be handed back and the numerous
lines restored with their pre-war earn
ings, so that the credit of these lines
may not be destroyed.
The industries created during the
war; he said. "of which there are
about 400, must be protected or they
will gradually disintegrate We will
then be compelled to trust to other
nations again for the supplies which
are the keys to our major industries
"And we have learned the lesson,
too, that under sympathetic and con-
structive guidance combinations may be
made and cooperation may be permit
ted, and the good things that have
arisen out of the war may be retained
in the days of peace and shall not
come within the inhibitions of the
Sherman antitrust law, the Clayton
law and the Federal trade law
The adjustment of the relations be-
tween capital and labor, he said, should
be carried out in give-and-take spirit
and the eight principles enunciated at
the Atlantic City conference.
Wants Industrial Commission
Finally, he said. the restoration Of
normal conditions involves the send
ing to Europe of commission rep
resentative of all American industry
and the need of a central control,
through which this nations business
shall be able to speak its mind.
I'VE should have an industrial conf
mission" he explained, that shall be
truly representative of Americas in
dustries in Europe. there to sit close
at hand and subject to the call of our
representatives ct the peace congress-
SO that they could be wisely advised
of Our needs.
"We have need, too, of a central
power here, through which legislation
and executive policy may be responsive
when 1t comes time TO speak the mind
of American hnSiDaSe ~
necessary for our readjustment.
And then, if we shall have the world
vision to understand that it is our
duty to support and care for the weak,
and have consideration for those
nations that are just beginning their
Aves, We shall have taken full ad-
vantage Of the opportunities that our
industrial rearrangements offer"
William C. Breed, who presided,
touched on the closer relationship that
has been brought about by the war be-
tween capital and labor, asserting that
only the shorts ightedness of the legs-
lators in failing to adopt policy of CO.
operation can hinder the progress OF
the nation.
Morgan Pleads for Service
Alfred Z. Marling emphasized the
human sympathy that must exist be-
tween the worker and employer, point
ing TO Charles NJ. Schwab as an exam
pie of this type of successful manager.
Mr.. Morgan disregarded the advice of
his physician to attend the luncheon
and point out to his associates that the
idea of service should be uppermost in
their minds
Business everywhere should be will
ing to serve, and serve means to help
the other man. We should not go out
to any peace conference or to any
commercial conventions with an idea
of grabbing it all. We should go there
with an idea OF helping the other man
TO be established in such a way that
we both can profit by the transaction,
and therefore l say our motto should
be Service )"
f. H. Outerbridge,. chairman of the
Committee on Foreign Trade and Ship
ping After the War, of the Chamber
of Commerce, announced he had ap-
pealed yesterday to the War Trade
Board TO have certain import restre'
tlons removed so that large numbers
OF American steamers now lying u
Atlantic ports may resume salings 10
South America. He set forth that
there are not less than twenty vesse.s
in the port of New York laden win
about 10000 tons of export freight
IN respect to which South Amsricah
merchants are likely to cable cancer.
lations because of the long delay III
shipment.