The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-05-03

!
 in the group was Henry I. Harri- man, retiring president of the chamber, who presided at the con- vention.
 H. P. Kendall, chairman of the advisory council, said after the
 White House meeting that there is no politics back of this report" "We are here to uphold the presidents hand in the fight against the depression" he said. Certain of our members are mem bers of the Chamber of Commerce, but we are not spokesmen for the chamber or any other organiza- tion."
 Roper added that most of the members of the committee also
 were members of the chamber, and said that "they are delighted to
 tell the president they were for his
 program"
 Included in the council group were such powerful liberal leaders as Gerald Swope, head of General Electric; Winthrop w. Aldrichr, banker; Lincoln Filene, Boston de- partment store magnate; W. A. Hartman, rail magnate, and James H. Rand, manufacturer. Resolution Adopted The MIRA resolution of the coun-'
 ell said:
 "The National Industrial Recov- cry Act has not been in effect long enough to demonstrate whether or
 not it will be effective for its pur- pose. It's accomplishments in con-
 nection with Child labor, maxim um hours, minimum wages and collec- tive bargaining are noteworthy. We believe that further progress will
 best be brought about by it's con- tinuance for further period of
 two years, rather than the enact
 ment of different and alternate leg islation."
 The resolution added the coun-
 cil believed that extension of MIRA for a briefer period than two years
 would Head to a period non-com- pliance, uncertainty and confu-
 sion.'
 Difference of Opinion Harper Sibley, newly elected president of the chamber, said that
 organizations stand against admin istration measures was ''an honest difference of opinion" Declaring that the business emergency has
 passed. he said it is time to re- view the emergency measures" There is no reason why we should follow the will of the pres- ident'' he said.
 Although President Roosevelt broke precedent by ignoring the | chambers 23rd annual meeting, Sibley said he hoped i've will be
 able to express these opinions across the table with the adminis- | tration."
 The White House lent encour- | agement to this hope by minimiz-
 ing reports Of an open break be- | tween business leaders and the ad-
 ministration. No affront to the con-
 vention was intended it was said. Sibley. farmer-industrialist with
 liberal tendencies, did his utmost
 to dispel the impression that the
 chamber was antagonistic to Pres
 ident Roosevelt.
 we do not question the motives
 of the new deal. but rather it's
 haste in part of its methods" he said.
 o. of c. Steam Roller | Charges of "steam-rollering" at
 the closing session were followed
 by threats of some members to re- sign.
 Peter Van Horn, president of the i National Federation of Textiles.
 said that if the chamber continued to oppose two more years of NRA,
 he would quit.
 Horn charged the chamber was
 influenced by a minority and that
 ''it is being used as a catspaw by a
 small group of members with sell | fish political and business interests
 who seek to accomplish through the chamber purposes which they
 could not attain alone" Francis E. Powell, head of the U. s. Chamber of Commerce in
 London, said he was shocked" at the attitude of the convention. "It
 couldn't have happened anywhere
 else in the world" he said. American business will have to
 cooperate with this administration in the new era about us or get som mething Worsen he said