Evening star., 1938-05-02
CHAMBER UNIT
SAySU. S. POLICY
|SBUS|NESS BAR
Governmental Actions Are
Greatest Handicap of
Trade, Is View.
ADMONlSHED
NOT TO BE 'AGAINSTERS'
American Section of international
Group to Hear Watson and
Adrich Tonight.
BY ]. A. FOX.


Uncertainty over future govern
mental policies is the greatest handi-
cap under which business is laboring
the National Council of the Chamber
Of Commerce was told today.
The council, composed of repre-
sentatives of 1000 constituent trade
bodies, gathered preliminary to the
26th annual meeting of the chamber,
which opens tomorrow and is expected
to bring more than 1900 business men
representing a million in the Uni7ed
States.
The views of the speakers today
were presented at a session designed to
sound out sentiment on the business
conditions generally throughout the
country.
F. P. Heffelfinger. Minneapolis
grain operator, said, In the main,
Our business men are optimistic.
think the most concern of business
men in our community is the uncer-
tainty of Government policy. They
don't know when they are patted on
one cheek if they are to be slapped on
the other"
The same view was expressed bv
Walter A. Draper, president of the
Cincinnati Street Railway Co., who
said, The element of uncertainty as
to where we are going is holding us
back in our community"
IF they would do the worst that
can be thought of. then we would
know know the worst and know where
we are going" he added
Sees Business Battle.
Charles F. Palmer of Atlanta, rep
resenting the construction industry,
admonished business men not to be
"againsters."
Business conditions in the South
east" he said, ARE better than in
other sections of the country and
think that is because we have stopped
being 'againsters' and have started
working for things"
Mr.. Palmer said the Southeastern
section was trying to build itself out
of the depression, taking a leaf out
Of the British book.
He added that he believed the slum-
clearance plan fostered by the United
States Housing Authority would be of
material assistance in remedying con-
ditions and that the 80 cities in II
States in the South had gotten 500
100000 earmarked for slum clearance
and proposed to seek more.
Earlier the council had been told by
John w. OLeary of Chicago, chair
man of the Executive Committee OF
the chamber, that freedom of enter
prise must be safeguarded in this
country.
Upon initiative in business depends
new enterprises, improved products,
better methods. reductions in prices of
every kind of goods and services.
higher wages and additional employ
ment," he said Every limitation
upon initiative is detrimental to pub
lie and private interest alike"
The councillors represent the trade
groups that make up the chamber
membership, and Mr.. OLeary praised
the part these groups play in preserv-
ing free enterprise.
AWdTuS are presented.
The meeting of councillors was pre-
ceded by the presentation of awards
previously announced in the annual
fire waste and city and rural health
contests conducted by the chamber.
This afternoon, directors are being
elected
The concluding preliminary will
take place at 7:30 o'clock tonight,
when the American section of the
international Chamber of Commerce
holds its annual dinner at the May
flower Hotel. The speakers will be
Thomas j. Watson of New York, pres
ident of International Business Ma
chimes Corp, who is president of the
international chamber, and Winthrop
w. Aldrich, chairman of the board of
Chase National Bank of New York.
who was one of the 16 signers of the
recovery aid pledge recently drafted
by business leaders.
The opening session of the conven-
tion proper, at which Spokesmen for
business will offer their views on
measures needed for recovery, will
be held IN the chamber auditorium at
10 I'm. tomorrow.
Executives Will Dine.
Luncheon discussions on foreign
trade, labor problems, taxes, agricul-
ture and insurance will be held at
the Mayflower, Willard and Washing
ton Hotels.
AT night, the American Trade As
sociation Executives will hold their
dinner at the Mayhower, and the
National Association of Commercial
Organization Secretaries at the Will
lard.
The final business session will be
Thursday afternoon when the cham
Der adopts resolutions guiding policy
for the next year, and elects officers.
President George H. Davis Of Kansas
City Is slated for another term, as is
customary.