New-York tribune., 1918-04-15

body to the board Of directors, was a
plea for the naturalization of bust
ness, not only in the present emer
gency, but forever afterward, and the
elimination of local jealousies and of
local interests where they conflict with
national affairs. This, he said, was the
simple restatement of the original pur-
pose of the national chamber. Fortu-
nately there were among the council
lors men who were able to give SUBJ
stance to this statement, as l learned
in many conversations. which are far
better methods of getting the real
spirit Of the convention than are set
speeches.
What Rochester, N. Y. has done in the
way of mobilizing and equalizing its
labor supply, so that the government
munitions plants shall always have
workers, no matter what happens to
private manufacturers, is 100 we'll
known to need recital. A manufacturer
from the Central West told me of an
agreement, between him and his COM
petitors in similar line, of complete
interchange with each other of quota
tions made to customers. For he said
that the customer was the one to be
feared, not the competitor; also, that
the scheme works, and is profitable.
There was large concern also which
has always large fund of reliable in
formation about business conditions,
and this was made common property
for the benefit of their fellow members
in the chamber. There were likewise
prominent in big business who are in
government employ at 81 "per" and are
not making any capital out of it.
Seeing the Light
Some of these same men are on the
War Finance Committee, which recon-
manded the excess profit tax on busi-
ness earnings and the graduated tax
on incomes, which is disconcerting to
those doubling Thomases, who bark
back to the inability Of the leopard to
change his spots. In sober truth what
has happened is something this conven-
tion made evident-that business has
seen a great light in the fast growing
conviction that the new ideas are likely
to be better business policies and more
profitable in the long run than those
which prevailed in the days of the
predatory plutocrat and the malefactor
of wealth.
How common sense and sanity were
the controlling elements was succinctly
evidenced in the debate on the pro-
posed recommendation of requesting
Congress to prohibit the printing of
papers or periodicals in any alien Ian
guage. That was the first broad prop
osltlon, amended and further amended,
until a general calm discussion brought
out all the complexities and difficulties
OF the situation, and the motion was
hnally tabled. Contrariwise, there was
no dissenting opinion that we needed
Etr1Nf0r
roofing of sedition in our midst.
The economic problem of the day,
especially how business shall be CON
Quoted so as best to assist in winning
the war, were discussed almost entirely
from the standpoint of practical eS
perlence. There was little or no at
tempt to apply untried theories. but
rather to be governed by the nature
OF each problem and the conditions of
the times.
Most of those with whom I talked
were not SO much concerned about the
future as the immediate present. bejne
anxious to get clear idea of the een,
eral drift of things, that thew mipht
accommodate themselves accordingly.
AKIN to this direct form of speech and
pollcy was the economic sentiment
against Germany in the future. which
carried so overwhe elmingly in the ref
crendum on this subject and which
warned Germany of the trade boycott
which awaits her at the end of the war
unless She mends her ways.
Consideration to Labor
a fruitful subject of conversation.
rather than of set speeches. was the
sreatiy altered relations of EMPLOYER
ana an employe and what it all portends.
mere was scant tendency to grieve
over the situation, but rather reneral
desire to comprehend and analvze the
new drlit, so as to handle it intell;
gently. One large employer summed
up MS observations and experience to
q small group that the initial thinr
vas TO pay the cmploye living wage.
II ne was to be held and to be made
ioyai, and all else was secondary TO
that one policy; that the average en-
ploye wanted principally a square deal
and resented charity and condescen-
sion; furth ermorc. that domestic com
munlty work among employees was all
right, provided the employees had
mana IN its management, and also a
living wage was paid, otherwise it was
1lme and money wasted.
Another of the group said that if
was to be had EMPLOYERS
must train their men to their duties
as minutely, patiently and intelligentlv
as soldier is trained for his profes-
SION, and there was no other way to
obtain 1T. kindred subject came out
much IN general discussion, which was
mat education and intelligence among i
.he many were quite as necessary as /
business assets, as they were as the
foundations for democratic form Of /
government. This, in turn, means that
the employe must be taught to take
interest in his job, and made to feel
that he has some hand at least in run
ming the show.