The Washington times., 1915-02-04
Opposed to Government Sitting
Still in Face Of a Crisis, He
Tells Convention.
SENATOR BURTON DIFFERS
Secretary Of Treasury Claims
U. S. Is at Mercy Of Foreign
Competitors in Commerce.

Vigorous defense Of the ship purchase
bill and of the course Of President Will
son. was made by Secretary OF the
Treasury McAdoo before the Chamber
Of Commerce Of the United states at
the willard today. In a speech which
lasted an hour and a half and was one
Of the greatest efforts ever put forth by
Secretary McAdoo since his appoint
ment to the Cabinet.
As the report of the chambers conf
mittee on merchant marine openly op-
poses the shipping bill, Mr.. McAdoo's
audience was none too sympathetic,
but he was accorded every attention,
and frequently interrupted with ap-
plause. On the platform with the
speaker sat Senator Burton Of Ohio,
who has probably done moro than any
one else to defeat the bill which was
being defended. At the conclusion Of
the Secretary's speech the Senator was
introduced. and at once launched into q
speech in which he took issue with the
preceding speaker.
Tells of Private Capital.
"I am not welded to Government
ownership and operation Of anything"
said Secretary McAdoo in the course
of his address. Il do not want to see
the American Government engaged IN
any activity where private capital. upon
reasonable terms, will come in. but l
am opposed to the American Govern
ment sitting still in the face OF crisis
when our vital interests are at stake,
and waiting for the benevolence Of pri-
vate capital to come in and rescue us
from q situation, when, for more than
fifty years. private capital has refused
to do anything to relieve the situation.
the whole seas today have the en-
tire power to destroy American COM
merce or to retard 1t, as they see tit
because they can lift the rates over
them. They can stop any export they
would you say that the Revenue
Cutter Service should not be maintained
because it costs the Government money Hs
ests Of this nation are at stake. where
the lives Of its citizens are involved
where the property Of Its citizens II
put in peril by the seas or otherwise
it is the function of Government. re
Of its people.
When American commerce today il
in jeopardy; when, through acts Of bel
lgerent nations in which the innocen
American people had no part; wher
freight rates are soaring to impossible
points. hampering our commerce. af
fecting our material as we'll as ou
financial interests, affecting in larg'
life Of the nation, I must confess that
have no patience with the idea that tn,
American Government must sit her
with fettered feet and tramelled hand
business man and the American pro
ducer under circumstances Of this kind
Should Protect Property.
There are times in the life of ever!
nation when it is necessary that ever!
power of the government should be ex
ercised to protect its property, it.
rights. and the lives of its citizens. ant
this Is time when We must face thi
issue squarely and where We must not
because Of any hidebound dogma o.
any academic theories. or any fear
that this or that thing may happen, g.
straight forward in the path OF duty
and do the things that are necessar!
to be done. and do them at the tim
that It is necessary to do them; becaus
remedies are not worth a continenta
unless they are applied when the dis
ease is at the acute stage.
What Is government for? Is
something In straight-;ackct' Is i
sitting in the corner like thing o
palsiod hands afraid to act. or Is
something vital: Is it neXIble IN
strument in the hands OF the people O
this country to be used within constitu
tional limitations for their relief an
for their benefit? Is it intended to h
something to act in this emergency
something to come to the front and d
things for the American people whel
private capital cannot be commanded o
commandered or persuaded for tina
purposes Why, my friends. 1t does no
seem to me that there is room TO
argument
Prolonged applause followed the con
clusion of the Secretary's address. an
President John II. Fahey at once intro
duced Senator Burton, who said il
part:
IT realize that 1 am placed under