Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-04-28
CLIFFORD THcRNE y DECLARES
THERE is NOT roo MucH BUT
TOO LITTLE REGULATION.
OPENS CAMPAIGN FOR
CONGRESS IN FIRST
Big Issue Declared to pc Whether Big
Business Shall Rule America or
America Ruls Big Business--Ta lakes
Rap at Railroads, Oil Trust and
Other Large Concerns.
Special to Times-Republican.

LES MONIES, April 2S.-Cllff ora
# Thorne, of Washington, chairman of
the Iowa board of railroad commits
siOners and candidate for the repub-
lican nomination for congressman in
! the First district, declared in an adj
I dress at Keokuk today that instead of
too much regulation of big business,
as has been claimed, there is too little.
I He says the big issue now is whether
big business shall rule America, or
America shall rule big business and
that the problem at stake is whether
democracy can successfully cope with
organized wealth. His address, given
before the civic club of Keokuk, was
+. in part as follows: a.
Hawkeye said: .E WV
eft is pretty well understood that
American business has already been
Its own good and the consequent good
of the American people, - 49, e
"1e4lat statement has been studiousiy
circulated by the corporation press of
the country, until many of our ablest
and wisest men have come to accept
4 as true. 1t has been repeated in
magazines and books and speeches
Z from one end of the continent to the
other. fss,s>-.>- ,zs-s..sFs Z,
1T is time to call a halt to this
movement which bids fair to paralyze
efficient government regulation OF
business turnout the United States.
Have we had too much regulation?
Let us consider few facts. r
"a few months ago Judge Gary, the
president Of the United States Steel
Trust, stated on the witness stand
under oath. that he would welcome
government regulation of the steel in
dustry Certainly here is one man
who believes in more regulation. $40. =
Seeks State Regulation. =.
"Two years ago the American Tele-
phone. and Telegraph Company sent
emissaries to different parts of the,
state OF Iowa interviewing prospective
members Of the state legislature and
trying to secure their pledges in favor
OF state regulation of the telephone in
dustfy.
Last yer was riding on Pull
man with tho general counsel for one
of the largest corporations in this
country. In the course of pur CONVEX,
sation I asked my friend what he
thought of the trade commission bill.
His reply was substantially as follows; 4
" sThorne, that anti trust legislation
is God-send to- ms. Then. as an ext77,,
plantation of this amazing declaration.
he continued: 7 helped prepare those
laws. Let me show you how different
things will be. Today I am on the
anxious seat, constantly Worrying
about some employee, or agent, that
may violate the laws, in his zeal to
svNynf fs IN
i cautioning. and warning them daily.
Ii some fellow makes slip. we are
called up before some court or jury,
and somebody is liable to a large fine,
or possible Imprisonment. 1t makes us
TOO careful. When the new law be-
comes operative. all those things will
be changed. can ST back in my office
chair in peace and safety. II some
person claims we are violating the law,
that fellow is called up before a COM
missioner The lime Light is turned
mon the accuser. II he be wrong, the
commissioner says tgo hence and that
ends that fellow. II he be right the
commissioner whacks me gently on the
wrist with his pencil, and says: Now
don't YOU do that again!' That law is
Ia splendid thing for u.s.
! Boon to Corporation Chiefs.
aThere is some force to my friends
argument. The law, as It has been IN
The past, has been of special service to
the blackmailer. The head officials
~ any great organization have much
&difYiculty In watching the acts Of their
employees In, all corners of the country.
But one 5ans2ersto this will be, that
!: is one OF the burdens which should be
assumed BY any company Of such q
colossal size. 4 s
"The results Of such Legislation must
inevitably be that the chief officials
will lessen their caution and watch
fulness, Just as my friend on the Pull
man frankly admitted to me.
However. my chief objection to the
present situation does not relate to this.
paternal protection on the part of the
government, in keeping q trust from
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