The Washington herald., 1922-05-19
New Era Dawning, Presi.
dent Predicts to Cham
Der of Commerce.
MERCHANT MARINE
DEEMED PEACE AID
Secretary Hughes and
Chairman Lasker
Also Speak.

, Commerce with conscience"
and Hess government in business
and more business in government
were salient features of President
Harding's address yesterday after
noon delivered before the general
session of the Chamber of Commerce
of the United States in Convention
Hall. Secretary of State Charles +
Hughes, speaking at the night ses-
sion, drew a comprehensive picture
OF the functions of the State De-
rartment, with particular reference
TO the Diplomatic and Consular serv-
Ices and their relations to interna-
tional commercialism.
From the viewpoint of one in au-
thority." said President Harding. Il
think there is a consideration need
ful OF mention and that is that com
merce inds its place in all our con-
alterations. Undoubtedly IL had much
to do with bringing about the world
war. and think / can say. just as
confidently. that IL was never once
forgotten in the peace negotiations.
IL Is so inextricnbly associated with
all We do that commerce Is always
foremost in the life OF any people"
Asks Business Conscience.
while ] am speaking very brief
ly, continued the President sI wish
TO speak for a commerce with a
conscience. III l were to bring only
one admonition to you. I would like
10 charge you men and women of
influence and responsibility with the
TASK OF eliminating from American n
commerce those who do not have a
conscience and whose unconventional BILE
practices bring that criticism which
sometimes attends our American ac-
tivities"
In hts reference to the relation
snip between government and busi-
ness the President said, Some
thlng has been said. and think op-
portunely said. that we want a ne
rlod in America with less govern
ment In business and more business
IN government. II the commerce. of
America were always conscientious
there never would be a single excuse
Tor government in business"
Sees Prosperity.
Striking a note of optimism. the
Ihlef Executive said. AT this mo-
Eeht We are on the threshold Of a
new era and there is more than a
mere business revival in sight. Our
country is finding itself again. We
are fundamentally right and we do
NOT ever intend TO be discouraged
Tor long time"
president Harding called upon
tne members to constantly be
mlndful of highest business and
moral ethics. II do not think auy
business cam permanently succeed. :
he declared. unless It is an honest
business. I do not think any bust
ness ought to succeed that is not
honorable. If you will combine
honesty and honor. that enterprise
which abides by such a slogan
VIII stand unchallenged before the
world"
Pleads for Merchant Marine.
Touching upon the question Of q
merchant marine. the President de-
clared IL to be a vital matter and
exceedingly essential for American
defense. I hope the day will never
come" he said. when we will have
TO resort again to war. do not
believe we would have been drawn
into the last war, I do not hesftate Q
to say I doubt if there would ever
have been world war, IL America
had. prior to the war. commanded
a merchant marine commensurate
with our commercial Importance in
the world"
Tariff legislation. said the Presi-
dent, presents a difficult task, and
In support of his opinion he pointed
out some hypothetical instances
that had come under his observa.
tions. One instance of which he
spoke related to an article that was
imported from abroad, the first cost
Of which was % cents, and with
tariff added on that article II was
priced to sell to the American con-
sumner at IS. That" he declared
"is commerce without a conscience. /"
Lasker Speaks.
In concluding, President Harding
said: IF we may have in America
conditions under which men may
produce and enjoy life with some-
thing of luxury as well as the ne
cessities, We shall have a contented
citizenship. and out of contented
citizenship comes patriotic citizen
ship. In the combination of these
Continued On Page Three.