Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1915-02-18
Senator From Kentucky Is
Adverse To Taxing People
To Raise S4O,OOO,O 1000
SAYS BILL IS UNOEMOCRATIC
Ship Purchase Bill An Economic Blum.
der and Cannot be Defended as a
Business Proposition-Would Com
NIT the Democratic Party to Pster
nallsm and State Socialism.

Washington, d. c. CSpeciaD -Sena.
tor J n Camden OF Kentucky made u
speech In the Senate upon the ship
Purchase BIN that has attracted an
unusual amount OF attention Senator
Camden Is opposed to taxing the poo
pie OF Kentucky .4O.0OO,00O until they
have been heard. aud defined his posi-.
tor on this important legislation IN
h!s speech before the United States
Senate. February I. 1915. as follows.
Sir Camden. Mr. President, would
Ike TO state my reasons for voting 10
recommit this bill consider II undl.
sested. half baked. and full OF falIacIes,
and thoroughly undemocrauc In prin.
eipls and theory.
obIee, to Government Ownership.
To my mind there are several serl.
Gus objections 10 the enactment into
law Of this bill, almost any one OF
which would be sufficient In Itself 10
compel me TO cast my vote against IL.
Viewed from the standpoint Of time.
honored Democratic doctrine and pru.
clple, II Is most alarming. oblectlona.
bic and dangerous feel that / do
lot eIaggerate when | say that the
policy Of true Democracy viii be fun.
damenially changed by the passage
Of this bill. II IL becomes a Law. the
Democratic Party will be irreyo,ably
committed TO the theory OF patcrnal
form OF government. which. freely
translated. means state socialism.
This IL the entering wedge for Gov.
eminent control OF other forms Of
trades and industries Personally
am far from convinced that the Demo.
cratic Party OF this Nation 10 prepared
for this great leap into the dark And
] do not feel that this country should
BE- committed TO this new and radical
policy without having II thoroughly
discussed before and digesied by The
rank and fle OF the party and the p.o-
pie and have their seal OF approval or.
OF least. their Endorsement " the un.
dertating before they are irrevoeably
committed 10 this doubtful govern.
ssntal o-nerhip and operation OF q
merchant marine.
President Wilson, In his mes,Age to
Congress on January "a vetoiug the
immigration bill. recently passed by
both Houses, and which passed the
Senate by q vote OF 80 10 Z end the
House by . vote OF 2s4 TO IL. said:
n the people Of this country have
made up their minds 10 limit the nun.
Der OF immigrants BY arbitrary tes,,
and 90 rsver" the policy Of all she
generations OF Americans that have
sone before them. II 10 their right to
10 90. ! am their servant. and have
no license TO stand In their way but
] do not believe that they have I
respectfully submit that no one can
quote their mandate TO that eject
Has any political party ever svowsd
. policy OF restriction IN this funda.
hsNAFNt kghF w NV NVhslNN 0U
T. and been commissioned TO control
its legislation Does thi, bill rest
upon the conscious and universal ~.
ssa, and desire Of the American PEG.
ple' doubt f. II 10 because I doubt
II that make bold to dissent from "
am willing TO abide by the verdict.
but not until II has been rendered
Let the platforms OF parties speak out
upon this policy and the people pro.
nounce their wish. The matter 10 too
fundamental 10 be settled otherwise 4"
This terse and iaelle language OF the
President expresses my We've OF the
shipping bill so much clearer and
more emphatic than could that I take
pleasure In adopting and applying u
10 this bill. II II be true that the liter.
aey test OF the immigration bill would
so reverse the policy OF all the gen.
erations oi Americans that have gone
before" what reversal OF policy do We
End In this shipping bill. which com.
mi,s the people unheard. consequently
without an opportunity to make up
their minds or render their verdict on
an undertaking 40 revolutionary that
the business world must stand ashast.
alias any political party ever avowed
policy on this fundamental matter,
gone to the country on Il and been
commissioned to control It's leglsla.
tom Docs this bill rest upon the con.
i,ious aud universal assent and desire
Of the American peoples doubt II.
II is because doubt Il that make
bold TO dissent from Il, am willing
" abide by the verdict. but not until
/. has been rendered Let the plat.
forms Of parties speak out upon this
policy and the people pronounce their
wish. The matter Is too fundamental
to be- settled oiIhand or In any other
way" Mr.. President. | am willing to
be- guided by the wish Of the people
when expressed on this great funda.
mental question and even surrender
to the will OF the majority my clear
conviction" but | am not willing To
surrender that conviction and my
tense OF duty until the people have
spoken. For these reasons par,lci
pated In none OF the so.called confer
snces, afterwards denominated eau
euses. by which II was sought to bind
Democratic Senators TO support his