The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-08

witnesses summoned for the Defence Of
American N usIness

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN--Sir: Presi-
dent Wilson proposes that the United
States buy or build merchant ships and
engage In the transportation OF commerce
upon seas In competition with ships owned
by individuals and companies Congress
at his dictatlon has placed much of the
important business of the country under
the control Of Federal officers. More has
been done by this Administration TO CEN
trallze power In the Federal Government
than by all the WING and Republican Ad-
ministratlons combined. one Is led to
ask whether the party OF jefferson Is not
extinct and whether the so-called Demo-
cratic party OF to-day Is not pure Bryan
ism masqueradlng In Democratic colors.
over the entrance to the White House
should be engraved this maxim from
Thomas Jefferson's Autobiography"
Were we directed from Washington when
10 sow and when to reap. We should soon
want bread.
Members OF Congress might also be re-
minded that:
There II no one so At to conduct any bust
ness. or to determine how or by whom II
shall be conducted, as those who are person
ally interested In IL. This principle con-
demns the tnterferences. once so common
OF the Legislature or the officers OF Govern
ment with the ordinary processes OF In
dustry.-"on Liberty" j. s. MIL.
President Wilson OF Princeton Univer-
sity understood why the United States
Government cannot successfully conduct
a merchant marine or other business:
A at present constituted. the Federal
Government lacks strength because it's pow
ers are divided lacks promptness because
It's authorities are multiplied, lacks wieldl-
ness because Its processes are rounda bout.
lacks efficiency. because Its responsibility IL
indistlnct and its action without competent
direction.
Nobody stands sponsor for the policy OF
the Government. dozen men originate It.
dozen compromises twist and alter It; a
dozen officers whose names are scarcely
known outside OF Washington put II into
execution. Gong rossional Government"
Woodrow Wilson
Those who have attempted to do bust
ness with the Government will agree that /:
Every business transaction that the Gov
eminent undertakes Is encompassed BY de-
tails and technicalities. The brisk snappy
methods OF the commercial world are en-
t!rely lacking. In many cases antiauated and
ridiculous requirements being Imposed 49,
The Federal civil Service as Career" r.
h. X. Foltr.
Prior TO 1860 ships built in America.
manned by American seamen. sailing un-
der the American flag, carried the COM
merce of the world. Acts OF Congress
made II impossible to buy and sail under
the American flag a foreign built ship. and
made the cost OF ship building in Amer
lea 50 high that an American built ship
could not compete with a foreign built
ship. Congress destroyed the American
merchant marine. II Congress will leave
American men ana American capital I'M
trammelled there will be no lack OF a
merchant marine. What was said by
hacaulay in respect to England and Eng
lishmen is true OF America and Ameri-
cans:
1t IL not by the intermedillnE Of Mr.
southey's Idol. the omnisclent and omnipo-
tent State. but by the prudence and energy
OF the people that England has hitherto
been carried forward in civilization: and Il
Is TO the same prudence and the same en-
ergy that we now look with comfort and
good hope, Our rulers will best promote
the improvement OF the nation by strictly
oonhning themselves to their own legitimate
duties by leaving capital to ind Its most
lucrative source, commodities their fair price
Industry and intelligence their natural re-
ward. ideness and folly their natural pun
iehment' by maintaining peace. by defend
Ing property by diminishing the price Of
law, and by observing strict economy in
every department OF the state.
Let the Government do this. he said,
and the people will assurediy do the
rest. JrSo
NEW YoRK, January 7.