New-York tribune., 1920-04-26
y. S. Chamber
To Frame War
OnHigh Prices
Greater Production To Be
Cry as Leaders in All
Classes of Business Meet
This Week to Form Plans
Ceddes To Be a Speaker
Four.Day Conference in At
lantic City; World Trade
ConventionE EnvoysNam

ATLANTIC CITY, April 25.-Envoys
from every group that contributes to
production in this country will meet
here this week under the auspices of
the Chamber Of Commerce of the
United States to frame platform for
reducing the high cost of living. To
suggest an end to the present regime
Of ascending prices and shrinking pro-
duction without the intervention of a
disastrous panic is the object of the
eighth annual convention Of the or
ganization that claims to speak with
highest authority on business matters.
Increased production will be the
dominant note at the parley, at which
the voices Of organized labor, finance
and industry, transportation and agri-
culture viii be heard. Because of
the conflicting Interests that will be
represented among the speakers at the
four-day conference, which will open
tomorrow, it is expected that many
opposing views will be presented.
Geddes to Make Speech.
Secretary Meredith and Secretary
Alexander will represent the Admins
tration. and Sir Auckland Geddes, the
new British Ambassador, Will make his
hrst formal address since his arrival
in this country on Wednesday night in
Young's Million Dollar Pier.
Homer L. Ferguson, president Of the
Chamber Of Commerce and head
of the Newport News Shipbuilding
and Dry Dock Company, in conversing
with newspape spondents tonight
at the Traymore, warned the hunters
after fads and novelties not to expect
much fun out of the convention.
I'VE shall be able to correct the
situation" he said, IF everybody works
little harder and economies a little
more. l think the overalls movement
is symbol Of a healthy sign. You
will achieve results by producing more
or by using less. OF course, increased
production is the real thing to be per-
manentiy desired
81 don't think it will be easy to ac-
complish, but it would help nightly if
everybody agreed 10 waive standards
for twelve months to allow supply to
catch up with demand. If for only one
year every one who is not now working
more than eight hours agrees to work
an extra hour a day at the normal rate
Of pay it would get somewhere.
II can see signs already of labor be-
coming more efficient, and I think we
shall make progress. 1t was natural
after the war that we should have re-
action
In Summarizing his suggestions for
attaining better production the chief
executive of the chamber, with which
1895 trade organizations are affiliated.
said the country needs a substantial
Improvement OF the physical equipment
and credit Of the railroads and a new
suppy Of common labor, since our old
common labor has in recent years be-
cone uncommon labor
In commenting on the present liter
acy test Mr.. Ferguson expressed doubt
whether literary Europeans" will be
the ideal means Of overcoming the
shortage OF ditch diggers.
Help for Railroads
Regarding the railroads Mr. Fergu-
son said the business men of the coun-
try ought TO take large part in help
ing the roads 70 finance their pur-
cnases 20 keep up maintenance and bet
terments and to make necessary extern
sions and repairs. The business man
IS ready to provide for the side track
o. the railroad that comes up to his
factory. Why should he not take the
same interest IN the main track from
The business men Of the country
should make the necessary sacrifices to
build up the railroads, which in their
present state are the main bar to in
creased production. At present men
are thrown cut OF work because the
railroads are unable to deliver the raw
material necessary for them to work,
and such men have legitimate cause
Tor complaint
p-<~~
workers to stop the influx of lifes
necessities into great cities, Mr.. Fer
guson sad that. though he believed
labor was entitled to the economic
! power Of organization, he did not be-
lisvs i was justified in capitalizing the
.ears of the community.
He added that If such tactics con-
.iaued communities would take an in
yentory OF their technical men and
would have a reserve 10 protect the
community against anti-social strikes.
such reservizts, he said, would not be
strike breakers, and need take no sides
between the parties to the dispute.
with Increased production and the
asvslopment Of an international credit
mechanism, the delegates hope that
America VIII be able to play more
sssful part IN the rehabilitation Of
aurope Delegates. vino began arriv-
sag on the varlous trains to-day, are
sspecla'ly interested in the matter Of
,orsign trade. 1t is expected that 1000
as'sgeses VIII come to the meetings.
World Trade Convention
IN connection With international
.sads, plans for the holding Of the
r.ss meeting Of the new international
.aamner u Commerce were revealed
ine world trade association was
11acned acrs at the international
sads conference last October by rep
ssenfar.yes from Great Britain,
...Anes, Belgium, Italy and the United
sfs arm he first sessions will be
sla IN parit N june. One hundred
sa1 seTentT-ave American dciegates
~ sS;aa3cinZ many prinnates ~ industrs
~ s@l on June j on the steam.
ne new eaam her will be a perma-
80 ofsaa.za'ion AID maay delegates
srs are OF the opinion that IL will be
more vitai Influence In world affairs
80. 80 'os Ieaxue Of nations. At the first
ss4sn new Instruments for financing
80 20 countries wnoze exchange has
~ ~ enoing viii be forged, IL possible,
n - Ins subject of 4 return to the
III fsfHtL{Ts grlrCtnl~x ~ bsersar 40 a