The Washington times., 1922-10-23
BUSINESS, NOT .
POLITICS, NEED.
IN EUROPE NOW
D. c. Commerce Leaders Urge
Common Sense to Aid
Rehabilitation.

are united in the opinion that
economic stability in Europe and
establishment Of normal interna-
tional trade depends solely upon the
efforts of public-spirittd CONNER
cial interests. and not on the activ.
tiles Of politicians.
The local men also are unaiii-
nous In declaring themselves for
national conference of representa-
tives Of the country's great business
enterprises. TO crystalize opinion
and plan the rehabilitation Of the
world Of trade.
"The world, and Europe in partic-
ular, has come to the point where
1t must be guided by the advice of
real business men," said Thomas
Bradley. president of the Washing.
ton Board Of Trade" The fads and
fancies OF visionaries and dem.
agogues~ must be displaced by
plain. old-fJJhioned common sense.
Urges Conference.
Europe faces the fundamentals
OF economic law in that continents
present disordered condition. and II
now must pause and consider the
elementary principles upon which
all business Is based. and be 30
guided. That American business
men should come together to dis
cuss this important problem and
seek its solution is a project which
cannot be too highly praised. Out
of the minds OF many experienced
business men should come sugges-
tions that may lead to the era Of
light for which the world is look
ing"
+. c. Graham. president Of the
National Electrical Supply Company.
member OF the Board Of Education.
and prominent in various business
organizations. voiced the opinion
that considerable preliminary work
should be completed before the con.
ference was called.
IL think that every business man
In this country realizes that we can.
not disregard Europe" said Mr..
Graham. I'm the present state of
affairs. ii would be foolish for US
us or extend further loans TO them,
as long as their people are taxed
for military operations.
If Europe wants 20 he helped. il
must first help itself from within.
One Of the first phases of this prob
lem, and one to be considered oy
the financial heads OF this country.
should be the establishment Of an
understanding among nations as %
a currency basis, to repair interna.
tional exchange.
"A big question for the CONNER
cal men lies in an insufficiency Of
unskilled labor in the United States.
There was a time when We had q
large percentage of this kind OF i'm
migration.
"It was necessary then to levy
high tariff TO protect our own
workmen. Such is not the case
now. There Is no competition in
labor. and there is no apparent dis
position on the part Of immigration
officials to do their part in taking
care OF the ever-expanding business
Of the United States.
"Any plan for a national con-
ference must necessarily begin with
a consideration of the financial aues-
ton. When this matter Is settled,
there will be plenty of time to talk
about the rebuilding Of Europe. /
believe that, in the meantime. Europe
would be rebuilding itself, II merely
through the moral influence Of this
nations policy,
Should Be Discreet.
Gen. Anton Stephan. president
of the Merchants and ,Manufac-
turers' Association, completing a
comprehensive symposium Of opin-
ions in the membership Of that
organization. said that the United
States should assist Europe in a
friendly. but discreet manner. and
save now impoverished countries
from bankruptcy and financial
chaos.
my opinion. coinciding with
those expressed by members Of the
association, Is that while this
country should not form entangling
alliances. under whatever name
they masquerade, II should fix In
Europe a feeling Of confidence and
certainty that our country can help
the world. II the world is willing
to make good.
1.-The best step to take. we believe,
would be the calling Of conference
by the United States Chamber Of
Commerce, or a similar body from
it's own membership. in which the
ideals and purposes Of American
business would be concretely ex
pressed.
This, we feel, would be safer than
trying to get a unity OF thought
from a widely diverse body Of men.
"For our own national good, 1t Is
necessary that we keep Europe
from-toppling over the brink into
bankruptcy. We can help by an
alyzing the merits and defects OF
the European situation and deter
mining whether those countries are
worthy of our help"