The New York herald., 1921-04-28
NOT FIGHTING UNIONS
SAYS U. S. CHAMBER
Head of Business Organization
at Atlantic City DiSclaims
Secret Fund.
1000 DELEGATES GATHER
A. C. Bedford Says lnterna-
tional Thinking Is Needed to
Hold Foreign Trade.

ATLANTIC Cry, April 27.-The ninth
annual session Of the United States
Chamber OF Commerce began here TO-
day with discussion OF the tariff laws,
foreign trade, immigration and housing
problems and the general industrial sit
uation. More than 1000 delegates were
present and the speakers included many
men widely known in financial and in
dustrial circles.
Joseph II. Defrees. president Of the
chamber. in his opening speech declared
that all sincere Americans should CO
operate to bring about a return 10 nor
mai social and industrial conditions
Strikes and lockouts, he said. have re-
suited in disastrous economic losses and
some way should be found TO eliminate
them. All agencies should work Wig
orousy, he said, to build up our for
etgn trade and more firmly TO estab-
lish the American merchant marine. He
denied that the organization is con-
Quoting a drive against labor unions by
means Of secret funds and insidious
propaganda.
II. T. Watkins. president Of the Penn
sylvania Coal and Coke Company. said
the price of coal cannot be reduced until
sponsfbility for lower coal prices he laid
to the United Mine Workers alone,
the operators have generally reduced
their prices to very narrow margins, in
many cases below the cost OF produc-
tom
Operators having contracts cannot
honorably refuse to carry them out,
said Mr.. Watkins. "but they can ask for
discussion and modification of the con-
tract. My particular criticism Of or
ganized labor to-day is that il has
fallen into the hands of radicals. The
activities OF Howat, the Kansas radical,
are but mildly condemned by the ma
tional organization. Nobody seems to
be reliably informed on the amount Of
Bolshevist funds distributed in this coun-
try to carry out the vicious propaganda
OF the miners"
A. @. Bedford. chairman Of the board
OF the Standard Oil Company. said that
the future or American greatness in
foreign trade depends upon our ability
TO think and act internationally.
John McHugh, chairman OF the organ
azation committee of the Foreign Trade
Financing Corporation. declared that
the increasing paralysis OF foreign trade
cannot be checked unless facilities for
long term credits are extended TO for
eign buyers
% -. I1utDUSi, IrpIcStAlAhH liib 1hittA
States Shipping Board, advocated the
maintenance in this country OF "a ma
tional marine insurance institution capa-
bIs of remaining independent OF foreign
domination"
Other speakers were Willis II. Booth,
yfce-president of the Guaranty Trust
Company of New York: DR.. Van IA.
Manning, director OF research Of the
American Petroleum Institute. and Ed
son S. Lott, president OF the United
States Casualty Company.
Mr.. Booth and Mr.. Bedford said that
this nation had an interest in the Ger
man indemnity. Tho former suggested
that the United States Join the Allies. IL
practicable, on a non-political basis FOR
settling the indemnity. and that the AL
Hes Indebtedness to the United States
should be postponed until Germany had
settled her penalties.