The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-04
Business Men to
 Meet Big Problems
Nv HOLLAND

ANCW OIh, IhdICIt o.--topcSldi.J <AililOSt a year after the Congress declared that Ia state of war existed between the
 United States and Germany, the great
 body of business men of the United
 States will be represented at the sixth
 annual meeting of the United States Chamber of Commerce, which is to be held at Chicago on April 10, il and 12. Certainly as many as 500,000 business men in the United States are to be
 represented by delegates who, as whole
 will be able to speak for every state
 in the union and for every one of the large cities and good many of the small cities in the land. A body of that kind whose purpose is to discuss the most important questions of the day, these being grouped into four--one the financing of the war, another the rail- road situation, third. the neutralized control of industries and the fourth our Ishipping-is likely fairly well to convey ! to the President and to the admins tration at Washington convincing idea of the prevailing and probably unani- nous business sentiment throughout the United States regarding these subjects. The business men are to consider and discuss these questions from two points of view. One of them reflects the ade- quate filling by business of all of the requirements of the government and the other the manner in which this may be accomplished, not merely with the least disturbance of private industry, but also with substantial and reasonable stimu- lation of private industry so that this can be remained and be in excellent position to meet the conditions which will arise immediately after the close of the war. At about the time of the meeting of
 the United States Chamber of Commerce at Chicago, the organization of industrial leaders who are occupied in maintaining now, and after the war in increasing our | foreign trade will be in session at Gin cinnat. There two gatherings should fairly well reflect American sentiment and provide a basis of public opinion l upon which the government at Washing ton can rely.
 Mid April is likely to be a convenient | or expedient time for the meeting of these two groups of representatives of | American business men, for in about six weeks there should be demonstration of the magnitude of the preparations which are now under way in the United States 1 for maintaining the war until peace | through victory can be assured. If senti- ment in other parts of the country Is i similar to that which is noticeable in | New York then there will be general manifestation of public approval were President Wilson completely to ignore peace talk from Germany and instead of that set forth in brief, concise and
 emphatic language, the single war aim of
 the United States which is to conquer a victory in order that we may save
 our country's life.
 PREPARATIONS FOR WAR
 1 Ar
 magnitude of the preparations that are now under way Leaders of the great industries do know something about the extent of these almost inconceivably
 great preparations especially those which l may be made visibly manifest in the I course of a few weeks. There is hardly one of the great industries which does not carry orders upon it's books, the | fulfillment of which will require at least I a year, for war commodities, the aggre- gate money value of which in each in- stance or for each industry, reaches high up into the millions. Yesterday the Iead- CTS of one of the largest American in- dustries reported informally that the cor poration is now carrying upon it's books l orders for material needed in the war (which must be made and delivered before | l919 which in the aggregate reaches the \ money value of about $35.0O0,000
 l The steel industry finds that if 1t were not hampered by certain transportation 1 difficulties and other troubles it would not be carrying upon it's books orders to be filled within the next 12 months the aggregate of which in money value lis estimated at $30O. 100000.
 The great workshops where rifles and large guns are manufactured are seek ling earnestly for additional skilled labor
 so that they may more readily meet the I demands not only of our own govern
 ment but of foreign governments and al this time, especially France. The Secre'
 :, tary of War announces that we are te
 have supremacy in the machine gun nelc
 and within few weeks after these two
 conventions. one in Chicago and one IT
 l Cincinnati, meet the production or ma
 chine guns will reach point which vii
 l make it impossible to report that from
 5000 to 1000 guns of this kind will be
 manufactured and ready for delivery ir
 a single week, this production to be con
 tinued while the war lasts,
 Presumably the railroad situation vii
 have been well sironed out by mid Apri
 for there remains ncening but the neces
 a " legislation by Congress which tht
 director general, MT. McAdoo hoped
 would De seqrFed by March l, ir
 order to perfect &nd thoroughly systeina
 1 tixe the operation of the federalixed rail
 I roads Of the United States
 Jt n uosaible and perhaps probable