The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-08-13
HE IS AGAINST
GOVT OWNERSHIP
AND THE LEAGUE
HON. LESLIE M. SHAW GAVE
ARGUMENT AGAINST GOVT.
ENGAGING IN BUSINESS

Hon. Leslie M. Shaw, former cecre-
tary of the United States treasury.
In his debate with DIR. Chas. Zueblin
at the Redpath Chautauqua, Tuesday
night pleased his hearers greatly
with his able arguments, a part Of
which was as follows:
First answer this important ques-
tion: Are governments instituted
among men for the purpose of taking
care OF its citizens, or to enable citi-
zens to take care of themselves? So
cialists quite generally, and children
often, would say that governments
should provide everything needful
and do everything essential to the
citizens happiness. But they are
wrong. The mission Of government
is to safeguard liberty while the citi-
zen takes care of himself. II this
proposition be true, then it was al
ways true and will be true to the end
of time. Fix this fundamental truth
firmly in the mind, act consistently
Herewith and America is safe. An
our dangers have their root in err
roneous conception rather than in evil
purposes.
At the Constitutional convention,
George Washington warned against
needing the wish of the people. He
urged and his council prevailed that
government be formed at which the
wise can gather. In his farewell adj
dress he expressed doubt concerning
the perpetuity of the Republic and
warned against changes "lest we un-
dermine what cannot be overthrown."
This major premise being admitted
it. follows logically and irresistably
that the government should discharge
no function that the citizen can rea-
sonably perform. 1t is as unfortunate
for the citizen to have his govern
ment do for him what he can do for
himself, as it is for the child to have
his parents dress him, wash his face,
direct his play, and buy for him his
bat and ball after he is old enough
to do these things for himself and to
earn his own spending money.
We have the best form of govern
ment known to man. We have kept
farther than any ether from imper-
ialism as illustrated in Germany, and
from Democracy as illustrated during
the Reign of Terror in France, and
in Russia today. This is a Republic.
The people do not rule en- masse. We
choose our rulers. We pursue the
middle course of safety.
We have also pursued the wisest
policy of any government in the
world. The United States of Amer
lea was not organized as business
concern, but as a liberty institution.
LESS of government and more of IL
berty" has been our universal slogan.
The government has no business in
business. Business is not a govern
ment function. Governments have
enough to do outside of business. Of
necessity governments must do what
citizens cannot accomplish. Citizens
cannot dredge harbors or streams or
dixie big rivers for they could not
control, or reap the rewards of their
efforts. Citizens cannot maintain a
fire department. They cannot compel
safety appliances, fire escapes in
buildings or protection from gas in
mines. Public highways and public
schools, of necessity, must be estab-
lished and maintained by government
Governments must prouecr their ci-
tizens from murder, from robbery,
from extortion, from fraudulent man
ipulation of corporations, from ficti-
cious stock issues, and from freeze
out schemes against minority stock
holders. Oh! there is plenty to keep
government busy without encroach-
ing upon the legislature any exclusive
prerogatives of the citizens And
hauling freight and passengers for
hire is the greatest business prop
osition in which American have ever
engaged. If it be a government func-
ton as socialists contend to furnish
transportation from station to sta
ton, from city to city, from depot tc
tide water, and from tide water to the
ends of the earth, then it is equally
government function to furnish the
transportation from the farm to the
depot, from the depot to the store and
from the store to the consumer.
But government ownership and op-
GRAFTON of railroads is no longer an
experiment. 1t has been tried. The
state of Georgia builded much need
ed railway; but recognizing that she
could not operate it efficiently, she
rented it for $50, 100000 a year. The
state of Texas also builded much
needed road but being less wise than
her sister state, she operated it and
now offers to sell the entire road and
equipment for the debt which has re-
suited from inefficient operation.
Germany owns most of her rail-
roads. There is not tunnel in all
of Germany and her terminals are In
expensive compared with many Of
those in this country, and her labor
Continued on Page Five)