The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-01-29
BUTLER SCORES
FEEDER TRADE
COMM|e -: !
Prosecuted Business, Says Head
of Columbia University
SOUGHT CHEAP APPLAUSE
Presidential cand date Warns Against
Construction Of Huge Political
Machines

Philadelphia Jan, 28-An attack CT
the federal trade commission was
made before the Philade phia Cham
Der OF Commerce today by Nicholas
Murray Butler, president OF Columbia
university and an aspirant for the Re
publican nomination fer President.
Discussing he necessity OF clear
Ing away uncertainties in public pol
Icy that hamper business, he said:
We nave az he present time g
federal trade commission appointed
pursuant of the provisions OF a
statute which might easily be SO
administered as to do great good
The Federal Trade Commission has
however, utterly m.sconstrued its
: proper functions and has preferred
to persecute business rather than
to protect and develop it. The
cheaply wen applause which is
sure to follow the violent denuncia
tion of somebody or something for an
alleged wrong has been preferred tc
the much more solid and lasting ap
proval OF an intel igent people that
would follow under cons ructive acts
which should indicate how the bust
ness CT the country might be better
and more wisely developed.
1t is little short or pathe ic after
some of the best brains in the nation
have organized and set on foot O
great indus rial undertaking which
engages the cooperation of thousands
of men and women, reduces the cost
of production of some staple artic e,
and begins to extend American trade
into new ands, to find them summari-
ly brc cugRt to book as Grim nails by
the attorney general of the United
States or by the United S ates dis
trict attorney In some judicial dis
trict. ~ K
The course OF wisdom and of pro-
gress would be for the ccmmiss on
to hear the plans OF hose who pro
pose to develop an undertaking Of
this sort; tc point out in advance
what would be considered unfair bust
ness practices and what would no
to indicate the line where monopo y
would be held to begin and which
therefore must net be crossed, and
then to send the new under aking on
its way with the full, knowledga and
cooperation of the Federal Trade
commission. with which, thoreaf er,
the undertaking should stand in the
closest possible relations.
Such policy by the commission,
DR.. But er said would simply repea'
in the field Of industry he precise
policy which the government has TO
lowed with extrac rdinary success in
the case of national banks.
Besides doubt as to what might be
done withou prosecution under the
Sherman or Clayton act, he added,
business was confro nted with uncer
tainty as to labor To remove this
he suggested the establ shment a
Washington of commission on in
dustrial relations to represent the
public alcne. which shou d make
findings and recommendations In
labor disputes The doors of this
commission, he sad, shou be open
to wage workers, employers, or to
the attorney general OF the United
States.
Arguing that public opinion would
De Sumclent 10 ENFORCE the commits
sion's recommenda icns, he said, the
United States Supreme court could
not enforce its DEGREES against a
state, but nevertheless such decis-
ions had been obeyed and thas the
rules OF internationa' law, except in
time of war. had wide application.
He expressed warning ncte
against he building up of huge po +
tical machines In order to maintain
and increase the points of contact
between government and business"
He said:
The unchecked development of
such tendency would in time com,
pletely alter the American fern of
government and revolutionize Ameri.
can business. It is perfectly easy by
following such course. as out ined to
transfer the democracy into an auto
cracy Of officeholders and inspectors.
Nominally this autocracy would rep
resent and carry out the wish of the
people, but actually it would be a
tyranny CT an Office holding c'ass.