Manufacturers' Convention

In Manhattan, the annual convention of the National Association of Manufacturers "resoluted" on an unusually wide variety of topics. Its "Platform of American Industry, 1924" advocated freedom for individual initiative and a halt in governmental control of business; deplored "dishonesty in high places"; defended the Supreme Court; condemned unnecessary taxation; favored the compilation and distribution of current trade information; declared tor complete freedom in making and maintaining voluntary employment agreements, without respect to compulsory membership or nonmembership in any organization; urged fair treatment for the railways and continuance of the Transportation Act; stood for the admission of immigrants economically needed, subject to the highest selective tests; supported the World Court idea; frowned upon any change in the present tariff; endorsed the development of U. S. foreign trade; pointed out the need for a privately controlled U. S. merchant marine; and after praising the stabilizing influence of the Federal Reserve System opposed the entry into it of political considerations.

Perhaps the central theme of the sessions, as is usually the case, was an unqualified demand for the "open shop," for which the N. M. A. has been fighting for years. Yet there were many interesting side issues, such as sympathy for Japan for the recent earthquake, and regret at the tone of Congress' recent stand on Japanese immigration. Apart from a general condemnation of "politicians", Gifford Pinchot was especially attacked as "not the only political coward in the country" and the chief reason for the high price of anthracite coal.