Evening star., 1941-05-02
u. 5. Chamber Adopts
Defense Production
Right Of Way Policy
A. W. Hawkes., Known
As q Liberal on Labor,
Is Elected President

Resolved to give defense produc-
ton the right of way" delegates to
the 29th annual meeting of the
Chamber of Commerce of the United
States we're leaving for their Offices,
factories and stores all over the
country today, with a new set of
policies for business while I'VE are
in very real sense at war"
The annual gathering of industrial
and business leaders came to a close
yesterday, with election of Albert w.
Hawkes. of New jersey as president,
and a banquet last night at the
Willard Hotel.
The declaration that the United
States virtually is at war came
from w. Gibson Carey, jr., of New
York, former president of the na-
tional chamber, who warned those at
the banquet to help avoid the
disaster of France
Comparisons are often unfair and
not exact" he said. Yet in broad
outline the similarity of trends in
America and France for some years
must be startling"
Tremendous Production Urged.
Senator Brooks, Republican, of
Illinois praised the part of industry
in making America great and called
upon it "to produce as it has never
produced before" Industry wants
and deserves the appreciation OF
government, he said, not its enmity.
Il for one will be for my country
no matter what the decision" he
said, but my thought is that the
blood of Americans belong in Amer
lea and to Americans"
The banquet. closing function Of
the four-day meeting of the Ma
tional Chamber. drew a capacity
attendance, which filled even the
gallery. Guests of honor included
leaders in government and in busi-
ness. Presiding was James S.
Kemper of Chicago, retiring presi-
dent. The invocation was by the
Rev. DR.. Watson Christie of Will
mington, Del.
Chambers Policy Resolutions.
Resolutions adopted yesterday
brought out three major differences
in chamber and governmental
policy:
/. Whereas administration off,
cials have declared that normal
business activities must give way
before the eXigencies of defense
production, the chamber, while ad-
vocating the right of way" for
defense, spoke of "superimposing
the program of defense production
on our normal conditions"
2. Against Treasury proposals for
heading off imitation by reducing
consumer purchasing power through
taxation, the chamber proposed that
imitation be prevented by increased
production (of non-defense goods
to keep pace with consumer de-
mands."
3. Against the administration
plan to raise S3,5O0,0O0,000 in new
taxes to help meet defense costs the
chamber proposed that non-defense
expenditures of the Government be
sIashed $4,000 100000 so that ''the
taxation then necessary to provide
for defense will be proportionately
less and, to that extent, better borne
by our people"
The Washington Board OF Trade
was largely represented by its own
official delegation to the annual
meeting and other members. A fea-
ture of the banquet was tribute
paid by Mr.. Carey to Silas Strawn
of Chicago, a veteran leader IN
chamber affairs.
Fleming Renamed Treasurer.
Election of officers by the Board
of Directors yesterday afternoon re-
suited in the remaining of Robert
v. Fleming, president Of Riggs Ma
tional Bank, as treasurer OF the
National Chamber, and OF John
w. OLeary of Chicago and Wash
ington, as chairman of the Execu-
tive Committee. Six divisional vice
presidents also were elected as fol-
lows: George S. Hawley, Bridge
port, Conn; Glen D. Johnston,
Roanoke, Va; Thomas S. Ham
mond, Harvey, Ill: 1. N. Tate. st.
Paul; James F Owens, Oklahoma
City; Eric A. Johnston, Spokane.
Mr.. Hawkes., 62, the new head
of the National Chamber, is pres
ident and chairman of the board
of Congoleum- -Nairn, Inc. of Kear-
ny, N. j., and president of a num-
ber of its subsidiaries.
Cites Task for Democracy.
In a statement to the national
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