New-York tribune., 1918-04-28
escape from too much government cor
troll and direction of enterprise.

a Dissenting
Opinion
The great mass of opinion at Cincin-
natl and at Chicago also was in favor
Of the view that merchant marine
would minister to our foreign trade.
A note Of dissent was struck by G. L.
Duval, who declared that it was not
possible to harness a merchant marine
to foreign commerce. Mr.. Duval also
took a shot at foreign branch banking,
declaring that it's Importance was
! greatly overrated. w. II. Knox, COM
menting on this paper, stressed the
Importance of making goods Of the
United States worth 100 per cent.
This brings one naturally to the
vigorous and unpopular view of Frank
w. Taussig, chairman Of the Tariff
Commission, who, speaking at Chicago,
declared against export bounties and
lower duties on American goods in for
egn countries secured by negotiation
and treaty, and only less strongly
against special transportation rates on
export traffic and special reduced prices
seemed to think all of these con-
fession Of inferiority.- He was for good
goods and cheap. This, will, the open
door, would give US security in the
worlds markets. This view was vigor-
ously criticised as based uron a world
at peace and assured Of rcace-it was
Utopian in a world at wa: OF with war
in possibility. Nationalisin persists and
will persist. DR.. Taussig, replying to
this criticism, declared his belief in
bargaining tariffs.
Webb Bill
Is Approved
Immediately after this discussion J.
G. White presented on behalf OF the
Merchants Association Of New York a
series of resolutions looking toward
the establishment of something similar
to the Ministry of Reconstruction Com
mittees of Great Britain. These reso
lutions did not get tho imm ediate ap-
proval of the Chamber of Commerce,
but were referred to it's directors for
consideration.
Cincinnati over the passage of the
Webb -Pomerene bill which gives to
merchants the right to combine for
foreign trade, right in doubt under
the Sherman act. Both bodies seek
further action since the Sherman act
is practically abrogated to-day, and
also because it is doubtful whether the
Webb bill will give exporters all the
freedom necessary there. Mr.. Nichols,
of New York, declared that the Sher-
man act existed only to prevent un-
fair competition; there was nothing
now to prevent cooperation. Mr.. Hur-
ley has continually preached it, and it
does not destroy individualism.
The labor problem was interestingly
discussed by Professor Leon G. Mar
shall, recently Of the Department Of
Labor. Many of the things he said
would have been resented deeply few
YEARS dSO. ~ Is sigh VI tuG LlIlcS
that he was listened to sympathetic
cally. He declared that American bust
ness had never yet treated labor as
real factor in production, and this is
crucial. State bureaus do not admin
lister labor in production, but rather
labor welfare. We have neither a ma
t;onal labor policy nor national capi-
tai policy. Labor must be treated as
human, not inert. 1t will be exceed
ingly sensitive to interference with it's
safeguards.
The two great bodies l have dis
cussed have rendered most valuable
service. Now it is up to the govern
ment to use this mine of information
and of social force to evolve a national
policy which shall be more than poll
tical. If labor can be induced to speak
as clearly and intelligently, there is
hope for the emcrgence of national
policy which will guarantee peace at
home as we'll as abroad.