Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-07-31
OPPOSE WILSON'S
US. PATERNALSM
Danger of His Legislation Be-
ing Enacted Is Pointed
Out
Seeeial 10 The Teleerahh

Washington, D. c., July 81. The
tendency towards governmental pater-
nalism as evidenced by the legislation
enacted by the Democratic party con-
stitutes one of the most serious evils
of political history, according to an an
nouncement by the Republican Pub
licity Association. Destruction of initi-
ative, according to the statement, is the
principal drawback of governmental
ownership. The statement follows:
"Deplorable as is the record of this
administration in the destruction of
American enterprise through the en-
actment of a tariff-for-revenue-o only
law a far more serious feature OF
! that record is found in the marked ten
dency toward paternalism. The Demo-
cratic party has evidently lost conf
dence in the integrity or ability of the
businessmen of America, for that party
seems to deem it wise for the Govern
ment to assume the ownership and
heretofore conducted by private con-
Germs.
tendency canot be measured in terms
OF money. We can make a fairly ac
curate computation of the destructive
effects of the Democratic tariff law. but
we shall never be able to compute, in
money values, the injury which the
American people will sustain through d
policy of paternalism The. destroying
influence of public ownership upon the
creative. constructive spirit OF enter
prise among the most active and cap
able of our people, will be felt not
merely in this generation, but in all
Sets Forth Chief Evils
The chief evils of Government, own
ership are two: Its effect upon the in
dividual, and it's effect upon the Coy
ernment. When the present relatively
small number of Government employees
has been increased to more than 3.000,-
OOO-more than the plurality by which
our Presidential elections have been
decided in the last half century-there
will be at the command of the admins
tration a political machine sufficient to
establish bureaucracy not FAR remov-
ed from autoeraey The manner in
set aside the civil service regulations
leaves little room for argument that
misuse of Government patronage can
be prevented.
THE higher salaries paid for public
work and the shorter hours of labor
would create an insistent demand for
employment in the Government service,
resulting in a political subserviency on
the part of the employe which would
deprive this Government of it's present
character as a real republic. The indi-
Vidual citizen would be encouraged to
look upon the Government, not as an
institution which he would support. but
an institution which should support him
AN institution to which he should
look for every service he may need.
THUS would be destroyed that spirit
of patriotism entertained by the citi-
zen who regards himself as a supporter
of the Government rather than its de-
pendent. Men engaged in creative en-
terprise would necessarily look upon
the Government not as an aid, but as
rival, since the Government would be
competing against them as an en-
ployer and producer.
Plausible Pretexts in Use
Plausible preteXts may be advanced
in defense of Government purchase of
ships, the construction of nitrate
plants, and the operation of armor
plate factories. We can easily go a
step farther and attempt to Justify
Government ownership of the telegraph
and telephone. The logical step beyond
that is Government ownership and op-
can justify Government ownership of
building plants, locomotive works,
steel works iron mines, saw mills and
all other enterprises largely connected
with railroad maintenance and opera
tion.
Although advocates of new Govern
ment projects now being undertaken
deny Intention to extend that policy
as thus indicated, the natural and in
eyitable consequence is the substitution
of paternalism for individual initiative
the deterioration OF the individual,
and the consequent decline of the ma
ton.
Among other questions the American
voter must decide in the coming cleo
tions is whether he will register ap-
proval or disapproVal of the paternalis-
tie tendency-the present administration
has manifested"