The Washington herald., 1918-11-07


The Chamber of Commerce of the
United States represents the busi-
ness men of the United States-the
hard-working. intelligent. helpful
business men without whose aid
we would have been irretrievably
lost In this war.
But when that chamber seeks to
gather expressions on national poll
icy by a referendum among its
members II should be careful to
gather a widespread expression, not
merely the opinions of less than
$500 business men scattered in
twenty-five or thirty States of the
union.
There should either be a real and
representative expression of the
business men or there should be
none at all A vote of not less than
100000 business men representing
every State OF the union should be
gathered and efforts should be made
to have small cities as well as the
large asked for their expressions.
Such vote would be truly helpful
to the law-givers here and might be
seriously considered by, them.
Many members of Congress, par
ticularly when real business prob
have an indication of what the peo-
pie Of the nation think about legis-
lation before it is finally enacted.
But hardly any of the members
give serious thought to the vote
OF few score business men from
their own State. particularly when
they happen not to know just what
business men are speaking. II the
chamber of Commerce of the United
states would gather it's question:
naires from the larger group and
interest would be taken in the bal
loting by the business men of the
nation wholesome effect could be
observed on the Hill and many of
the members would like to have
such an experience as a possible
guide in enactment of various busi-
ness relief measures.
The character of legislation which
the members are asked to express
themselves upon is shown in the
results which have just been made
known to members here. There
were about 1.600 votes represented
ana the sentiment in favor of eleven
propositions was overwhelmingly in
to one.
The people of Chicago had sew
eral interesting questions to vote
upon at the late election and upon
some OF them the people of the en-
tire State voted too.
The propositions were:
The traction ordinance,
Ihe SoO.O0O,0O0 road bond issue, .
regulation of private banks.
constitutional convention.
The boulevard link bonds.
Inc traction ordinance sought to
make better preparations to handle
the Dig crowds the Windy City
must now handle and the likelihood
Is that 1t is adopted. All the evils
we nave had in Washington are null
tlphed in Chicago and this legisJa
tion was suggested as a means Of
bringing revolutionary change.
Ine road bonds issues pertained to
roads in Illinois and about Chicago
lhey comprised a forward look which
II approved by the voters will be
distinct help to the great State
and its great city and which wifi
make IL easier to handle the prob
lems or transportation after the war.
Inc constitutional convention prop
osition was call to voters to gee
how badly they want to exchange
their archaic constitution for a really
workable. up-to-the- moment funda-
mental set of laws. Many States voted
on the same problem and many
i others should have done so.
The extension of the State banking
laws to include regulation of private
banks was step other States had
found beneficial. and Illinois thought
it we'll to try the same plan.
| All of the measures are forward
looking; all of them should be shown
to have passed by overwhelming ma
jorties. II there were objections to
them it came because of ignorant
campaigns and the desire of bad in
terests to deceive the people.
THE OBSERVER.