New-York tribune., 1921-04-27
Encroachment on Private
Enterprise Denounced as
y. S. Chamber of Com.
merce Congress Opens
Demand Voice in Affairs
Attacks by La Toilette and
Organized Labor Resent
ed by E. HI. Goodwin
Fro,, q Sfaf Corresrondent

.t the general sessions of the ninth
annual convention of the Chamber of
Commerce of the United States. which
will open at Young's Million-Dollar
Pier tomorrow morning, unified note
of protest against the encroachment of
the state into the provinces of private
enterprise will be sounded.
Representing 1,400 American trade
organizations the chamber will tell the
American people to throw off the bar
riers of restrictive legislation on COM
merce.
"In the public interest more business
methods in government, less govern
ment management" is the theme which
will tie together three days of delibera-
tions on all the varied problems that
affect industry.
Demand Business Principles
The message is only in part negative.
The chamber, on the positive side, calls
upon the government to apply efficient
business principles as the only prac-
ticable means of slashing taxes. More
over. the organization ciamors for the
right of men of the market place to be
heard in Congress and iii legislative
bodies throughout the world
This insistent demand that business
be permitted to articulate its prefer
ences in regard to national policies
without arousing suspicion as to
motives was voiced this afternoon by
Elliott H. Goodwin, resident vice-presi-
dent, in an address before the National
Council, an integral part of the cham
ber Ordinarily the proceedings of this
body are routine, but Mr.. Goodwin the
man who runs the machinery of the
national organization from headquar-
ters at Washington, lifted the discus
sion into the realm of widespread pub
lie interest By replying to the critics OF
the chamber. Mr.. Goodwin, who has
been with the chamber in profes-
sional capacity since its birth some
nine years ago, in appraising the ac-
complishments of the body, quoted the
adverse opinions of Senator La Fol-
iette, who recently characterized the
the American Federation of LABOR,
which has charged the chamber with
being anti-labor. and of spokesmen for
the farm organizations. Senator La
Toilette was the only foe named, but
it was explained that Mr.. Goodwin had
in mind specifically the criticisms of
Matthew Woll, vice-president of the
American Federation of Labor, and G..
+. Barrett, head of the National Farm
CTS Union at Washington.
Replying to Senator La Follette's as
sertons recently in a speech in the
Assembly Chamber at Madison that
There are more than twenty eight
powerful lobbes maintained at Wash
iugton at the expense of millions of
dollars to influence legislation against
the great mass of citizens" and that
there is the United States Chamber
of Commerce, the most dangerous or
gsnization. the most prejudicial to the
interests Of democracy recognized
by Abraham Lincoln that was eve,
made in the United States" and tina
"the United States Chamber of Com
merce is sordid to it's soul" Mr.. Good
win explained in detail how the or
ganizaLion functions.
Replies to La Toilette
"When we come to consider tn
weight of the charges brought agains
u.s." Mr. Goodwin said "and particu
larly the charge of having established
great lobby for American business
we must go further back and analyz
our conception of a popular body in 1
democratic country and upon wha
views and impulses it should theoreti
caly act.
"1s the Congress of the United
States a court of justice, as to which
all recognize the impropriety of at
tempting to influence the opinions o.
the Judge with testimony or facts no
OF record? Is it again the conception
that tho Representative, once elected
from his district enters the Congress
OF the United States, there to be basct
upon what he knew or what he dit
not know before he entered the sacret
precincts upon questions affecting th
country's welfare, its great politica
and economic issues, which he neve
had considsEed or had chance to con
slider before he left home? Would no
this theory be arrant nonsense an,
one which, if carried out. could no
possibly lead to sound legislation? II
his representative capacity, is he t.
shut himself entirely from the ex
preston of recent thought of his con
stituency, or vote upon great issue
without knowledge or opportunity t
secure knowledge of how his decision
may affect great economic interests
and consequently the prosperity of tn
country?
When we once admit, as we ar
forced to admit, the Congress mus
keep itself abreast of the times an,
must concern itself with the lates
and best developed thought on the is
sues before the country, then it follow
that criticism can only apply to tn
method pursued by individuals and or
ganizations in bringing their views an
s'S'A ''iSSAS w ttS dtVCutiOA VI tIi
Legislature. Two successive President
voiced publicly the need of the govern
ment for national expression of bust
ness opinion, both interested them
selves in the creation of organization
through which this expression could b
gained. One such organization faile
because it was not based on sufficient
ly broad foundation of democracy. TIL
other is your own, which has reache,
its present position because of tn
methods it has employed in securing
national expression of business opinion
and presenting it for the consideration
of the Legislative branches"
Reply Is Welcomed
Mr.. Goodwin's speech was receive,
with much satisfaction. Members hav
finched under the attacks of critic
and welcomed a public reply. Eacl
~ train brought new hordes of delegate
and Mr.. Goodwin's remarks we're passe,
on with eagerness to the late arrivals
When the formal opening is declare,
tomorrow by Joseph H. Defrees,
Chicago attorney, the President, it il
expected that at least 5000 delegates
will be in attendance.
After analyzing in his speech VIII,
lobbying has bad name, Mr. Goodwin
declared:
eve start from the premise tha
business has a right to present it,
views, that these views ought to hav,
consideration for what they are worth