New-York tribune., 1921-04-28
u. S. Business
Men Deny War
Against Unions
President Defrecs Says at
Convention Chamber of
Commerce Is for Open
Shop in True Integrity
More Wage Cuts Predicted
Atlantic City Assembly Is
Divided Into 9 Groups to
Discuss Trade Problems
Fros~ a Stat Correspondent

ATLANTIC8CITY, April 27.-Out Of
the Offices, workshops and counting
rooms Of the nation 5000 ENJOYS of
trade have come here to attend the
rnth annual convention of tho
Chamber of Commerce OF the United
states, which opened TODAY at
Young's Million Dollar pier. Dedicated
20 the view that the complex maladiust-
nents in world commerce can be un-
tangled by the free initiative of bust
ness men, the delegates forthwith be-
gan to suggest ways and means of
restoring prosperity and stability.
Joseph H. Defrees, Chicago at
torney, the president of the chamber
declared the sessions formally omen
this morning, and. after the theme of
The tSree-day conference was sounded
the gathering disintegrated into nine
separate congresses. The group ar
fangement permits of specialized eff
forts. Tonight the representatives of
the third estate met once more as
committee of the whole in the rrea.
pier off the Boardwalk
Into the caldron of unrestricted CON
ference some thirty set speeches were
poured. Through them all the recur-
rent note Of more business methods in
government, less government manage
ment of business" pervaded and gave
coherence TO decentralized meetings in
the various hotels here.
Forecast of Trade Events
In the matching of intelligence the
debaters are the men who run the ma
tion S business. Their EXPRESSIONS of
opinion to-day therefore on foreign
trade, taxes and tariff, relations be-
tween employer and employee, trans
portation and allied problems may be
regarded as in measure a forecast of
what will be done in the arena of trade
in the months that lie ahead.
Mr. Defrees. in his address, laid the
basis for the discussions, and, although
he was retlcent on many mooted uues-
tons. his remarks reflect prevailing
sentiment here. His speech to his con-
stituency was received with warm ap-
proval. and after he concluded every
delegate rose to his feet to register
Endorsement. Although reiterating the
demand that business be unshackled
and be left free in the hands of it's own
executives. the president emphasized
the public veal and warned business
men that unless they consider the pub
nc good they cannot permanently sue
eeed. q
Mr.. Defrees alse took pains to dis
avow imputations that the chamber was
hostile to organized labor.
ut has been said in certain of the
labor and possibly other press of the
country" the presiding officer ex-
planned "that the Chamber of Com
merce Of the United States is sponsor
Tor and is agitating a movement under
the label of the open shop for the
destruction of unionism. Perhaps no
better opportunity will occur to meet
such statements. They are absolutely
false. The chamber has no relation
to any such effort. 1t stands for the
principle of the open shop in its true
integrity"
Answers A. +. of l.. Charges
The reply to the criticism of the
in its open shop agitation stirred
t.. delegates to profound enthusiasm
and they interrupted the speech at
this point with applause.
Wherever delegates gather. formally |
or informally, the question of relations !
with labor bobs up, and although there
is some divergence of opinion The gen
eral belief is that wages in many in
dustries will have to be reduced.
homer l.. ferguson, ex-president OF
the chamber and head of the Newport !
News shipbuilding and Dry Dock Com
pany, at the meeting of the fabricated |
production group, voiced the dominant
sentiment, saying: Lowering of wages
IS necessary as the consequence of !
economic law. 1t is going to be done /
whether we favor doing it or not, and /
those of us who wish to retain our
businesses will have to do it,"
j. V. O'Leary, former president of
tie National Metal Trade Association,
participating in the same discussion,
asserted:
"As employers we have very ua-
pleasant task to perform"
He was skeptic of halfway measures
designed to readjust the cost Of labor,
and referring to reduction in wages
OF from to 10 per cent by the mems
clothing makers in Chicago he added:
That is not meeting the issue; it is
prolonging the agony. We must meet