Evening star., 1934-11-16
ELECTION RESULTS
FORCE BUSINESS
TO AID ROOSEVELT
Spokesman for Industrial
Leaders Says Co-opera.
ton Is Dictated.
POSITION is REVEALED
AS c. OF C. BOARD MEETS
Many Reported to Have Already
Approached Administration
With Recovery Ideas.
Nv thu Assnriated Press.

An important spokesman for in
dustrial leaders said today that busi-
ness men felt the congressional elec-
ton results-giving the adminiStra-
ton a vote of confidence-made it
necessary for them to cooperate with
the Government in its recovery efforts
regardless of their own desires.
Declining to have his name used at
present, he gave his observations as
the Board of Directors of the Cham
ber of Commerce of the United States
met to discuss the business situation
There were indications it would de-
vote considerable time to the question
of what business itself can do to ac-
celerate recovery as a means of head
ing of legislation industrialists do not
desire.
Definite action by industry would
be in line with the desires of Presi-
dent Roosevelt. Time and again he
has said that Federal activities would
be curtalled as soon as business itself
starts functioning satisfactorily.
ClteS Inree opinions.
Some business leaders were reported
already to have approached admins
tration officials with their ideas about
recovery.
he said were held by even the most
conservative of business leaders. They
were:
/. The election showed the Presi-
dents great popular strength, al
though there was not the slightest
evidence that business itself had
voted for the President.
2. The President thus is definitely
entrenched for two and probably six
years, and business therefore must
make every effort to see that sane pro-
posals are indorsed by the administra-
ton.
3. Business generally has failed to
unite in any social or economic pro-
gram. The election situation and the
strong Left" members in the admin
istrationA force business to propose
methods Of cc-operatlon.
Has Met Business Leaders.
Apparently the Chamber OF Com
nnerce itself has not approached the
administration with any proposals,
but it was known that individual busi-
ness men had conferred with the
President and administration leaders
on the general situation.
Whether the President had person.
ally made any commitments to busi-
ness was not known. 1t was recalled,
however, that the President had
talked with great many business men
privately in recent weeks and some of
those leaders have asked for an op-
portunity to show what they could do.
In general, businessmen were said
to oppose the 30-hour week, unem-
ployment insurance which embraced
Federal taxation, old age pensions, re-
enforcement of the antitrust laws and
other proposals they thought tended
to place a burden on business enter
prise.
Oppose Federal Spending.
However business men were urged
today by directors of the chamber to
reject the idea that the Government
sshould continue on the present level
or even lower level Of expenditures, in
order to increase purchasing power OF
to create business"
In urging that definite plans be
made to keep any deficit next year tc
an irreducible minimum, we oppose
any policy of Government spending
for spending's sake" said report
from the Federal Finance Committee
approved by the directors.
Nevertheless If tolerable deficit of
limited amount or an absolute balanc-
ing Of the budget is impossible through
a restriction of expenditures, some
forms of taxes that will in fact add
to revenues without real impeachment
to recovery might well be sought out.
I'VE doubt if they can be found.
Balanced Budget Urged.
Sustaining confidence in Govern
ment credit is not a matter of words
but OF definite, measurable actions.
An immediate program to decrease
expenditures and to shape a positive
and early approach to a balanced
budget is indispensable to real recovery
and, as We earlier stated, should be
placed by the administration and by
the Congress at the head of public
questions"
Assuming deficit is inescapable,' -
the report said, "it would appear that
II its amount were limited to a portion
OF the expenditures occasioned by
direct relief grants, it would not create
the uneasiness that would result from
new large appropriations for public
works and for other emergency ac-
tlvitles that do not provide repay
ments.'