Evening star., 1937-04-26
BUSINESS URGED
TO|NCREASEJ Jobs

Tightening OF nelle1 Load
| Advocated by C. of c.
| Speaker.
Business men were called on today
by one. Of their own members to see
what can be done toward increasing
employment and tightening the ma
tional relief load.
Addressing the national councillors
of the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States, Colby M. Chester Of
New York, chairman Of the General
Foods Corp, pointed to the 1000, 900
still on Works Progress rolls and said
ut might be . good immediate move
II every manufacturer, every merchant
and business man, every industry were
to set about studying the existing
methods of operation-to see what
more can be done to employ many Of
those on relief"
Those now without jobs, he admon-
ished, will add to the welfare OF the
Nation rs . whole when they are get
ting paid through productive business
enterprise rather than from taxation" ."
Labor Dominating Theme.
In touching on employer-employe
relationship, Chester struck the theme
that, from all indications, will pre-
dominate the convention, particularly
in view Of the Supreme Court deci-
sion invalidating the Wagner act.
In this connection, major atten-
ton is being directed to . speech to
be delivered Wednesday morning by
Assistant Secretary Of Labor Edward
F. McGrady, who is expected to out
line the administrations viewpoint.
The issue came before another
group meeting today, when the Amer
ican Trade Association executives con.
vened for their semi-annual gather
ing and heard Assistant Secretary Of
Commerce Ernest G. Draper and other
speakers discuss the part of these as
sociation1 in fostering industrial
peace.
Two Suggested for President.
As the chamber delegates we're
gathering in what will probably be
their largest meeting in Washington
with about 5000 expected, two names
were heard as possible nominees for
president to succeed Harper L. Sibley
George Davis Of Kansas City is most
prominently mentioned. He has ex-
tensive farming and banking interests
in Kansas and is looked on by his
friends as striking a middle ground
between conservatism and liberalism
There is talk also of Fred H. Clau-
sen, farm equipment manufacturer OF
Horizon, Wis, who is perhaps the
outstanding authority In the chamber
of taxation.
The nomination, which is tanta-
mount to election, was hardly expected
| to be made before the Nominating
Committee gets together Thursday
and some observers felt that the ulti-
mate choice would AFFORD q test OF
strength between liberal and conserv-
ative factions in the chamber.
Convention Opens Tomorrow.
The National Councillors met here
this afternoon preliminary to the
opening of the twenty-ffth annual
convention Of the chamber tomorrow
for three-day appraisal Of the prob
lens OF industry and agriculture and
Government relationship to these.
They also will nominate directors
from . slate submitted by the con-
Stituent units Of the chamber they
represent The terms OF l8 of SO
directors are expiring, and there may
be other vacancies, but only 4 small
turnover was expected.
Chester, as spokesman for the Ma
tional Association of Manufacturers,
praised the progress business has
made in the field of wages, hours
and employe relations" He depre-
Gated the public's lack Of under
standing" and said that management
could not remain passive in the face
OF this. He warned business men, too,
against alarming ourselves over
ghosts that probably won't bite"
At the same time urging co-opera-
ton Of workers in meeting common
problems, the speaker said that labor
needs to visualize a bit more the
predicament facing management"
Election Is Task.
The chamber faces an unexpected
task In naming a president to succeed
Sibley, who, according to custom,
would have been reelected for his
third year had not the press Of official
business forced him to step out
This morning DR.. Arthur T. McCor-
mack, president-elect OF the Amer
lean Public Health Association, pre-
sented awards for 1896 in the city
and rural health conservation con-
tests, and Joseph W. Evans Of Hous-
ton, Tex, vice president Of the
chamber, made the presentations for
the fire waste contest. These winners
were announced earlier this month.
The city health contest, in which
there were several group winners, Il
sponsored by the chamber, and the
American Public Health Association,
while that for the rural areas, which
are classed by districts, is financed by
the w, K. Kellogg Foundation. The
Fire Waste Council co-operates with
the chamber in the fire waste contest
for which the principal award went
to Philadelphia.
At 1880 O'Clock tonight at the May
flower Hotel the American section OF
tn International Chamber Of Com
meroe will hold its annual dinner
Thomas ]. Watson, chairman Of the
American Committee, who is presi-
dent Of the International Business Ma
chimes Co., will preside, and Secre-
tary Of Agriculture Wallace will be
the guest Of honor. The speakers viii
be John Foster Dulles, New York law
yer, and Eliot Wadsworth of Boston
former Assistant Secretary OF the
Treasury. Dulles, formerly in the
State Department, will discuss the in.