The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1919-03-14
/, DEMOCRATS VIEWS
HIS PARTY'S POLICIES

G. Arthur Howell. of Atlanta
writes as follows to the Atlanta Con-
stitution, of which a relative, Clark
Howell, is editor:
Editor Constitutions: / read with
interest a recent editorial in the Con-
stitution regarding gains by the Re-
publican party in the last election.
Your remarks were very timely and
met, | am sure, with the approval of
your readers.
In addition to the explanation in
your editorial. there is something
deeper in the hearts and thoughts of
the people all over the country that
contributed largely towards the Re-
publican success, and that is the
growing fear of business men every
where that the seeming encourage
ment of paternalistic schemes on the
part of various bureaus, boards and
some executive officers will prove
ruinous to the welfare of the country.
do not believe that the taking
over or private business by the gov
eminent is right, or that it meets
with popular favor. do not refer to
the operation of the railroads by the
government-that was, no doubt, a
war necessity, and it migth be best
for it to continue so long as the nee
essity exists, providing the govern
ment is operating them more eff
GENTLY than private interests could.
One of the most prominent United
States senators, in a recent address
that ! was privileged to hear. made
the statement that the efficiency of
the avrage worker was reduced 80
ID per cent when such worker got on
the government payroll, and that
self-satisfactiOn, inertia and indiffer-
ence at once replaced the qualities of
ambition energy and interest.
Witness the telegraph system now
any business office notices the diff
ference and hopes and prays for COM
petition in service under private own
ership and operation, rather than
government monopoly. The govern
ment operation is efficient only in de-
lays, making errors and causing gem
eral dissatisfaction. The business
interests of the country are entitled
to service and are willing to pay for
service, Business, however, is pay
ing the bill and not receiving the
goods.
Many other lines of business have
been and are threatened with gov
eminent absorption. and some have
had Strenuous fights for existence.
Certain individuals, appointed to bu-
reau positions, have tried to advance
and promote pet schemes and theo-
ries whereby private business would
be taken over by the government
using the war as a pretext-claiming
ii to be a war necessity, when none
such existed When business in
terests rightly and properly exposed
such schemes. they were met with re-
Elections on their patriotism.
II is the seeming encouragement
of things like this that is making bus
mess men all over the country sit up
and take notice and wonder what
they must do to prevent an auto
cratic government resulting.
The proper function of govern
ment is TO govern, and through wise
laws TO encourage its citizens in the
production and distribution OF goods,
i'm commerce, in finance and the pro-
fessiOns. No government should en-
gage in any business that can be un-
dertaken successfully by its citizens
The handling Of business by private
encouraged individualism
These traits are killed by politically
business
This country has always encour-
aged indiyidualism Why should we