Evening star., 1922-05-19


consciehce was urged upon those OF
infusnce In the business world by.
President Harding, in his addrscs
Yesterday afternoon before the annual
meeting Of the Chamber Of Commercs.
Of the United States In Convention
Hall. He frankly told the delegates
that II the commercs Of America were
always conscientious there never
would be . single excuse for govsrn-
ment in American business,
He told the convention that DOM
mercs cannot be adjusted alone to the
fortunes OF the captains OF industry,
admonishing them that there must
always be q thought Of the great
mass without whom there could be
no productivity on the one hand. and
little consumption on the other"
Honesty Essential.
NO business can permanently sue
ceed that Is not honest, he said, and
no didn't think any enterprise ought
to succeed that IL not honorable.
Speaking Of the merchant marine,
no said that there was not . nation
In the world that ever maintained
eminsnoe In trade without its being
eminent a. q carrier Of trade. He
said that he hoped Congress would
pass law that would put the govern
ment out Of the, shipping business,
and at the same time put America
conspicuously on the pathway Of the
seas: an essential not only for ex.
panding commerce, but exceedingly
essential for American defense.
Commerce vital Pursuit.
/. Commerce" said President Hard
ing. nnds its place In all our con-
siderations. Undoubtedly, 1t had much
to do with the bringing about Of the
As confidently, that 1t was never once
forgotten In the negotiation of peace.
~ IL so tnextricabIy associated with
1u we 90 that commerce 10 always
foremost in ths life OF any people.
;, We IN IN Amsrica.l y, am sure i !. not
2 great people. and we ought ia be.
God blessad US most b6untifulIy In.
resources. In tho citizenship Of this
republic 10 the blend of every people
,ax IN the sss.cs: swnria: .lmost. and ! HE to
genius, We are. Incompatible In our
industry, snd weshave, the talent and
the sdetermination-the righteous de-,
terminatioh---to be commercially one
or the foremost nations OF tho world
This aspiration to excel IL. ever an
,mpeiiine one. because we have
learned from. our observatiens: of ao-
cial and civic life that front fns errest I
golden stream OF commerce flows
everything In life worth white. :: It
II were not for this golden streats,
ductivityy and exchanges. there wSuld
be little OF education, there would be
less OF art, there would be few Of the
inner attatnments. which make life
worth while. a.
Commerce with Conscience. >
While am speaking very briefly,
| wish to speak for commerce. With
a conscience.
IF were to bring only ono adt-
monition to you 1 would like to
charge you men and women Of In
fiuence and responsibility with the
task Of eliminating from American
commerce those who do not have
practices bring that cri.icism which
sometimes attends our American ac-
tivities.
Some thing has been said-and, I
think. opportunely said-that we
want period In America with less
business In government. II the COM
merce of America were aiways con-
scientious there. never would be a
single excuse for government In
American business. p
There Is not an agency In Ameri-
can life which can so quickly put an
end to abuses and offenses in Ameri-
can commerce. as those who are con-
spicuous In the leadership of that
commerce.
s. "It will not do to pursue the activi-
ties with which we Americans are
30 eminently connected without a
mindfulness Of everybody involved.
Commerce cannot be adjusted alone
to the fortunes of the captains of
industry. There must always be a
thought Of the great mass, without
whom there could be no productive
ity, on the one hand, and little con-
sumption on the other.
War Brings Changes.
"And beg to remind you that the
great world war, like every other
war which preceded it, but more
notably the great world war, be-
cause of Its incalculable irnm mensity,
has left state In human affairs
quite different from any that ever
preceded 1t. The war would have
been q complete waste, 1t would have
been an utter sacrifice Of every ef-
fort, II we did not find the great
human procession on . little higher
plane than that which 1t followed
before. And American commerce
must keep that In mind. There never
will be a time when you can go
back completely to the old order of
american industry and exchanges in
trade.
ment we are on the threshold Of a
new era, Undoubtedly there is more
than a mere business revival in sight.
our country is finding itself again.
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