Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-10-17

the administration for the enactment of
the law. closing his speech with it, The
crowd stood, waved flags and cheered
1T Is time for taking account OF
stock and ascertaining what is really
for the best interest OF the American
people, Mr.. Hughes said. When We
attempt this critical examination we are
met with various pleas. / confess tha,
] am not only surprised, but amused at
the character OF some of these pleas. For
example. it is now said in substance that
il am elected to the position OF execu-
tive responsibility for which l have been
nominated it will result in installing in
visible government. The fact that I was
an opponent of invisible government was
my title to public confidence and 1t was
because I was an opponent to invisible
government that. not according to my
liking but indeed against my desire. I
was nominated for the presidency OF the
United States l know that we are in
constant danger of subversion of the
principles OF government, and desire &c
say that as there was no invisible gov
eminent in the state of New York when
] had the honor to hold executive respon-
sibility there will be no invisible govern
ment in the United States if l have the
honor to hold the position of President.
Il believe in government through con-
stitutional agencies. l believe in govern
ment through the recognized offices of
government according to the intent Of the
Constitution and the statutes. 1 think,
indeed, 1t might be said that the pres
ent administration has been in large
measure an administration of unofficial
spokesmen OF mysterious influence. and
] can say in entire good humor that l de-
sire government through two houses and
not three
Il meet with the suggestion that the
present administration has done a great
deal for business 1t Is said-I believe it
was said in this city-that it had unshack-
this has been accomplished am referred
to the antitrust act
1T is said that business was heavy
with uncertainty because of the lack of
clear definition OF the wrongs described
in the antitrust act and that this admin
istration had come to the relief of bust
ness and had secured adequate definition
of law
Il know something of the statute.
and l think I know what they declar-
cd and what they mean or at least
what it can be said they do not ac-
complish and I am free to say that l
am amazed at any such claim as has
heen put forward. There has been
Qualification Of the antitrust act.
What has been done is the addition
of phrase to the law, the contents
OF which no lawyer knows. refer tu
the phrase unfair competition or 'un-
fair methods OF competition which has
been introduced into the law through
the federal trade commission bill, a
term of unknown purpose.
1T is said the matter is referred to
the federal trade commission and here
is another extraordinary falsity The
federal trade commission cannot define
It's own powers or the legel meaning
of the terms which confer those pow
ers. What has been accomplished by
the introduction of this fake phrase is
tho invitation to years Of litigation il.
order that in some way we may find
out what it means.
Then it is said that business has
been aided by the government shipping
bill. Now that is the kind Of aid to
business which it does not seem to me
business can afford to have. l do not
believe in introducing the government
into competition with private indus
try in this country. II we desire to
ascertain what is the real attitude Of
the administration to business we have
little difficulty iri ascertaining the fact.
We saw at the very outset OF the ad-
ministration great opportunity for
this nation to participate. l mean for
certain bankers who had taken up the
work really I believe at the sugges
ton Of former administrations in great
loans which were to be made for the
development Of China.
Here was a legitimate basis for the
extension Of American enterprise. II
the administration really desired that
we should have American enterprise
cxpanded throughout the world and
that we should have our just influence
in the Far East, there was an oppor-
stead of that II was discouraged, and
the result was that the proposition
was not taken advantage Of.
lone Of the most distinguished sup
norters of the administration, DR.. Eliot,
president Emeritus of Harvard. exam
ined the record Of the administration
to the conclusion that its record with
respect to Mexico meant this: That
hereafter We did not propose to afford