New-York tribune., 1922-05-19
President Tells Chamber
of Commerce Govern
ment Should Interfere
in Business to Protect
No Hope for Russia
In Communism
Hughes Warns Against
Crooked Trading and
Lasker Pleads for Pass.
age of the Subsidy Bill

By Merryle Stanley Rukeyser
WASHINGTON, May 1S.-Presi-
dent Pearding made plea for a
commerce with a conscience" this
afternoon in an address before the
delegates of the Chamber of Com
merce of the United States. Coupled
with this plea the President declared
this country was on the threshold of
new era of prosperity, with bust
ness reviving and more business
revival in sight" The country was
finding itself again, he said, and it
was necessary to keep in mind "the
new state of human affairs and the
awakened aspirations of men"
Something has been said" the
President said, 'and I think oppor-
timely said. that we want a period
IN America with less government in
| business and more business in gov
ernment. If the commerce of Amer
ica were always conscientious there
never would be single excuse for
government in American business.
There is not an agency in American
life which can so quickly put an end
| to abuses and offenses in American
commerce as those who are conspic-
uous in the leadership of that com.
merce."
In asking for conscience in business,
Mr.. Harding was not simply inventing
a phrase. The Administration is in
the midst Of series OF conferences
with business Aen ard in the matter
of war contracts and inquiries into the
proposed steel merger partly in puai-
tive role. Tonight the President ell
terta ined at dinner a group of leading
steel men, and Saturday night will have
/ a group of railroad executives at the
White House. The President reiterated
the suggestion in his address that ne
personally believes in giving complete
play to the free initiative Of enter
prses, and that he Will use his inlu-
ence to keep the government out OF
commerce and industry except in SO far
as is necessary to protect the pubic
! from the malevolent
Guarded Talk on Europe
Joseph H. DeFrees, the retiring pres
ident of the chamber, after Mr. Hard
| ing spoke, assured the delegates that
the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States stood for commerce
with conscience
Those present at the final days ses-
sion of the convention, whose main
theme is European conditions and
their effect OF American business"
hoped the President would shed addi-
tional light on the attitude of the
Administration toward active co-opera-
ton with countries of the Old World
to improve conditions abroad. But MIR.
Harding was disnclned to add any
thing to the intimation which came
from the White House on Tuesday, that
the door to negotiations leading to
conference in which the United states
would participate was still open sec
retary Hughes, who addressed ths
chamber tonight, abstained from ais-
cuseing relations with Europe.
President Harding was conscious OK
the interest of his audience in the Eu-
ropean situation. ~ know" ne re-
marked, "you are interested in world
restoration So is your government.
But / beg to-remind you we must al
ways be right at home before we can
be very helpful abroad. We do not
mean to hold aloof; we want to play
great nations, aye, great people >:
part in the world. / do not know of
anything that would help more than to
give the world an example of COM
mercial nation with an abiding con-
science"
} The Presidents advocacy OF honor IN
business was at each repetition greeted
with q storm of applause. Mr.. Hard
J ing spoke from the platform in Con-
yention Hall, which was decorated gayly
, with hundreds of American flags. A
full representation of the delegates and
guests, including many women. crowded
into the auditorium to hear the Presl-
dent convey his message to American
business.
The Story of Russia
Regarding Russia, Mr.. Harding re-
vealed his attitude by telling story.
mot SO long ago." the Chief Execu-
executive offices a very distinguished
2 visitor whose homeland is Russia. Ns
3 was talking of conditions existing there
a and expressing hope for its restora
;, ton, to which we can all very cordially
!, subscribe, and he said:
:, "'Mr. President, it will never b
s brought about until the existing sys
tenn Is abandoned. l know peasants o.
v simple honesty and ready industry WIN
t have heretofore always been eager 4
i work and produce, but under system
where they retain only that which Il
r necessary for their subsistence, AM
h the surpluses are taken from them, tn
e inspiration to produce has been de
s stioyed. Russia can never be restore
It until the communistic idea is put aside
d and the rewards for righteous huma
activity are restored to the citizenshi
l. OF that land"
W The keynote of the final days SET
le sion was advocacy Of the ship subsid
ID bill, on which hearings by the join
r committee of the Senate and the Hous
will be completed tomorrow. Albel
id D. Lasker, chairman. of the Shippin
f. Board, analyzed the proposals an
urged their adoption, and Presidef
is Harding followed with an earnest pie
s. for the measure to save the nation
L