Evening star., 1938-02-02
Roper Called to Quiet Dele
gates as Storm of Ora
tory Breaks.
CHOICE OF CHAIRMAN
BRINGS HOT DEBATE
Meeting Finally Breaks Up Into
Smaller Divisions After Hear
ing Roosevelt Message.
BACKGROUND

mention has been made OF de-
STABILITY for cooperation betueen
Government, industry and labor.
To achieUe this, several conferences
haze been held between President
and representatives of labor and big
business. When point Uas raised
that interests OF big and little bust
ness are separate. delegation OF
spokesmen for small enterprises
tDere inrited here.
BY j. A. FOX.
An opening session so. uproariouS
that Secretary of Commerce Roper was
pressed into service to get order,
launched the small business confer
ence" here today.
With large group of the 800 dele
gates who filled the Commerce Depart
ment Auditorium striving simultane-
ously to get their views before the
gathering, Fred Roth. president of the
Whitney-Roth Shoe Co. of Cleveland
who had been named as temporary
chairman. gave it up as a bad job and
Secretary Roper stepped into the
breach.
Shouting to be heard over the tu-
mutt, Secretary Roper called attention
to the fact a l0-point program had
been devised for group discussion pre-
liminary to a conference with Presi-
dent Roosevelt tomorrow and urged
that the men and women get to work
on this. He drew majority support
and then, when he asked if the dele
gates desired another hour of discus
sion, a roaring no" indicated the way
would be cleared for the group meet
inos to begin.
Some delegates insisted or being
heard, however, despite shouted oppo-
sit.on. delaying actual consideration
OF the program.
The meeting got under way quietly
with talks by Secretary Roper and
Jesse H. Jones. chairman of the Re-
construction Finance Corp, botn of
whom pledged the assistance of the
Government and laid stress on the
fact that this meeting is designed to
let small business men work out their
plOUkCIlo W WllklOuC OuCSlNO 1AllCA AC4SAlSCs
The Storm Breaks.
Then with the question of organi-
cation coming up, the storm broke.
Mr. Roth had been named as tempo
rary chairman by Assistant Secretary
of Commerce Ernest G. Draper, who
was instrumental in getting the con-
ference together. and as Mr. Roth
concluded his opening remarks, a
delegate from the floor suggested that
the permanent organization of the
gallery then another delegate, obtain
ing attention. proposed that Mr.. Roth
be made permanent chairman.
There were several immediate shouts
Of dissent
Il think it occurs to some of us that
our temporary chairman has been
hand-picked and might not be salts
factory" came shout from one dele
gate.
From another quarter of the hall
another delegate demanded that Mr.
Roth explain just how small his
business was. give further details.
Il have spent my whole life in my
own business" Mr.. Roth began
How many men do you employ?"
came another shout.
Il employ is people," Mr.. Roth said
with smile
Assistant Secretary Draper. presid-
Ing, then called for a standing vote
and declared Mr.. Roth had been desig-
mated as permanent chairman.
There were shouts of disapproval,
but the Cleveland shoe man took
charge while many of the delegates
were on their feet shouting for recog-
milton.
almost Forgotten Men,"
A man who said he was William
elple OF Philadelphia, representing the
National Council of Independent
Business Associates. then was recoy-
nized and launched into speech. He
described the conferees as "the al
most forgotten men" and added the
little business man gets little when
supping at the Government table.
He usually gets only the neck"
1t had been agreed earlier that a
hve-minute limit would be put on
speeches and as Mr.. Siple continued,
audible objection to his continued
presence on the platform began to be
apparent.
Give that speech to the news
papers" one delegate shouted.
Il think that organization was born
just a week ago." said another dele
gate, referring to Mr.. Siple's group.
There was a momentary lull and
then another delegate shouted, This
Is Gods country: we have not started
this session with prayer. That is the
trouble with this country today. Satan
has ruined it."
Tnere was no prayer as other dele
gates began raising their voices and
then Secretary Roper stepped In.
It was at least IS minutes, however
between the time that the delegates
announced they were through discus
sion and ready to go into group meet
tnes until the main meeting dissolved
In that period several attempted to
gain the speakers platform. but were
shooed away by guards
The groups into which the confer
ence eventually resolved itself are
taking up these subjects: Loans to
small companies. unemployment, fair
trade practices and price legislation
social security. government research
for small businesses, wages and hours
= housing, installment selling, develop
ment and location of small industries
. and finally miscellaneous subjects.
MT Roper explained that these sub
(See BUSINESS, Page A-3D