Evening star., 1940-04-29
Chamber Gets Plea
For Business 10 Repe|
Government Attacks
Unity Of Action Asked;
Assault on One Is Held
Thrust at All Business


men from all sections of the coun.
try today to prevent "continuou.
retreat" of private enterprise.
Warning against permitting emer.
gency delegation of power by Con.
gress to "distort our concept of rep.
resentative government" John w
OLeary, chairman of the Executive
Committee, told the opening session
of the 28th annual meeting of the
United States Chamber of Com.
merce that Government assault or
"any one sector of business is ar
indirect attack on Others"
Isolated infractionS on the part
of individuals or corporations in a
single branch of business have been
emphasized and magnified to point
where general reform is demanded
he declared before the chambers
national council, comprising rep
cations.
Legislation is enacted which
strangles all in that branch of bust
ness to correct the few who, in most
cases, could be reached by enforce
ment of existing law. This punitive
practice is accomplished with the
passive approval of other branches
of business"
Sees Far-Reaching Effects.
These attacks on individual types
of business must eventually reach
every sector, according to the plans
of zealots for new system, SO that
professions are included and state
medicine proposed. AS each single
sector falls back through lack of
support by other units, the whole
line falls back, and the undermining
process of the new concept is COM
plete."
Mr.. OLeary, head of steel firm
In Chicago, declared that with the
coming of 1910, and assembling of
Congress, there was added to the
confusion of war the confusion of
a coming presidential election" and
business is passing from optimism
and pessimism to skepticism.
1T is because we have become
accustomed to think of current prob
lens always as emergencies to be
met with delegation of more power
to the Executive that we concentrate
too much thought of who is to be-
our next ruler. Rather, should we
give our first thought to those who
make our laws, who appropriate our
monies, who create our taxes, VINO
develop our reforms"
Offers Suggestions.
He counseled businessmen not to
fear criticism from negative forces"
adding: When we fail of being
attacked or criticized by these forces,
we must needs watch our step for
fear that we are not doing our full
part in protecting the business sys-
tenn which has made this Nation
great"
To prevent loss of our system of
free enterprise, he said, businessmen
should concentrate. on legislation
which will result ins
Economy in government-tnat
our taxes may not kill the goose that
lays the golden egg; that our budget
may some day be balanced; improve
ment of our national defense-that
our Nation may keep out of war by
virtue of its strength; restoration of
the teamwork between employers
and employes-that our productivity
may increase and our national in
come and standard of living be ad-
vanced; employment-that jobs may
be found for those who are able and
willing to work, through freeing OF
enterprise and flow of capital"
The national council heard reports
from six geographical sections of the
country on "How's Business"
Discusses Southeast Outlook.
Reporting on "How's Business" in
the Southeast, Porter w. Carswell,
planter and president of the
Waynesboro (Ga) Chamber of
Commerce, declared:
I'm view of the fact we have so
few industries in the Southeast, we
have been on the receiving end of
the New Deal program, but the
more farsighted business men in
that region know that we must pay
through the nose in the long run for
all the benefits which we are now
receiving, simply because you can
not get away from the fact that it is
impossible to get something for
nothing in this world.
1t seems "paradoxical" that with
millions unemployed I'VE are ac-
tually short of labor in our cotton
fields" he declared. I'VE have been
driven to use more and more ma
chinery, not because of our desire
to do so, but because it is virtually
impossible to secure the necessary
labor to produce our crops other
wise. This, in turn, is part OF a
vicious circle which removes more
jobs that would otherwise be avail
able. We are wondering how busi-
ness can absorb surplus laborers
when they are absorbed in their
thoughts while leaning On shovels
and drawing taxpayers money"
Despite the 1888 revolt" against
the New Deal in Georgia, he said,
the people now are for it. I'VE
are average Americans down there"
he said, land the average American
doesn't have sense enough to get
out OF the shower OF Government
checks" Since the rebellion in
1888 "a great many Government
checks have flowed over the dam"
He said the Government is break
ing up the plantation system and
even tenants are beginning to re-
sist it,"
Business "has declined about 6 per
cent on the Pacific Coast during
the first quarter of 1910, but is still
per cent above last years first
quarter, Russell K. Smith, executive
vice president, Bank of America,
San Francisco, declared.
"All business activity except de-
partment stores show decline, al
though they are still above last |
year." he declared. Business indices
are highest since 1881 except for