The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1918-12-05
BUSINESS WANTS
REPRESENTATION
At Peace Conference. Think
Business Should Receive
Consideration in
SHAPING WORLD AFFAIRS

AtlantlC Clty, N. j., DEC. o.-touT
thousand men representing virtually
every branch of business and indus
try in the country assembled here
yesterday in reconstruction con-
gress, listened to messages on read
justment problems delivered by Sec.
reeary Rdfield, Charles M. Schwab
| Director General CT the Emergency
Fleet Corporation and President
Wheeler, of the Chamber of Com
merce of the United States.
| Mr.. Wheeler urged that American
| business should be represented at
| the peace conference in France. MI.
| SchWab made an appeal for a great
merchant marine, and declared that
labor should be permitted to organ
ize in individual plants and share in
the country S prosperity. Secretary
Redfield said that no rash hands
should be laid on wages; that the
proper spirit of trade is not exces-
sive profits, but service.
There was some talkk here last
night that committee of American
business and industrial men might
60 to Europe during the peace nego-
tiations.
Secretary Redfield prefaced his
speech with the statement that his
remarks were not to be taken as an
official announcement. II am more
and more impressed" said Mr. Red
field, "in reading current discussions
and refiecting upon them with the
truth that readjustment is very
largely a state of mind-that re-
quires not so much program Of a
mixed line of procedure as an evo
luton"
Mr.. Schwab said a great merchant
marine is essential for the ultimate
success of the United States, and
its successful operation is not for
the benefit of any one man or class
of men or any one branch of bust
ness but for the good of every citi
zen of the contry.
Taking up the question of labor,
Nj. Schwab said:
Il am one of the men who believe
in the fairness of American labor. T.
am one of the men who believe that
the only foundation upon which any
thing can permanently rest is the
economic use of everything, whether
it be labor, material, manufacture
OF. what not. Any foundation of or.
ganized labor or capital, that is on Il
false basis must fail.
II am not opposed to organized
lavor l believe that labor should
organize in individual plants or
themselves for the better
of labor and the protec-
tion of their own rights; but the or
ganization and control of labor in
individual plants end manufactures
to my mind, ought to be made rep !
resentative of the people in those
plants who know the conditions.
"In the years gone by I seriously
doubt many times IL labor has re-
ceived its +fair share of the prosperi-
ty Of this great country. We, as
have got to open our
eyes to a wider vision ofahe present
and the future with reference to our
workmen. We have got to realize
that many unjust demands will be
made by labor as they probably have
been made by capitalists and en-
ployers In the past. That Is one OF
he lessons this great war has
.aught us--true democracy"
Mr.. Schwab said that he had tel
sgraphed the President few days
lgo begging to be relieved of his du-
les as head of the Emergency Fleet
Corporation, important as the work
s, to take up what. he believed to be
more important duties. 6 felt that
having 10000 employees. of my own
md a payroll of twenty-five million
lollars month, could be Of great
,r service to this nation and this
country by retiring from the work I
lad in Philadelphia to the study Of
important questions that would
rise in connection with this transit
ion period in the various industries
n the United States"
Thirty-six related industrial
groups met last night and consider
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