The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-01-29
Butler DenOunCeS the
Alleged Prosecutions
Of Trade Commission

PHILADELPHIA. Jan. @S--An attack
on the federal trade commission was
made before IN" Philadelphia Chamber
Of Commerce today BY Noch"las MURRAY
EuIl,r. president Of Columbia Un:Ncr-
stty and an nspirant for the Republican
nomination for president.
Discussing the necessity Of clearing
away uncertainties in puollc poIiSS that
hamper business, he said:
We have at the present timN red
eral trade commission appointed puV
suant 10 the provisions OF statute
which might easily be 30 admln'stCrSso 60
Commission has. however. utterly ms
construed rs proper functions ana mas
preferred 10 prosecute business ratneI
than to protect and develop II. Inc
follow the violent denunciatton Of some
body or something for al alleged wrong
has been preferred 10 the much more
solid and lasting approval or an lnteIn-
gent people that would follow upon con,
structive acts which should indicate
how tho business OF the country might
be better and moro wisely developed.
1T is little short of pathetic. after
some OF the best brains in the nation
have organized and set on foot great
industrial undertaking which engages
the cooperation Of thousands or men ana
women. reduces the cost OF production
OF some staple article, and begins 10
extend American trade into ne" ianoS.
as criminals by the attorney genera! OF
the United States or by tho United
States attorney in some judicial district
The course of wisdom and OF prog
ress would be for the Commission to
hear the plans OF those who propose TO
develop an undertaking Of this sort; to
point out in advance what would be con-
sidercd unfair business practices and
what would not; TO indicate the line
where monopoly would be held TO begin,
and which therefore must not be cross
cd: and then to send the new undertake
ing on its way with tho full knowledge
and cooperation OF the Federal Trade
Commission. with which, thereafter. the
undertaking should stand In the Closest
possible relations"
Such a policy by the commission. DR..
Butler said. would simply repeat In the
field OF industry tho precise policy which
the government has followed with ex-
traordinary success in the case OF
national banks.
Besides doubt as TO what might be
done without prosecution under the
Sherman or Clayton act, he added. ousl-
ness was confronted with uncertainty
as 10 labor. To remove this he sug-
gestcd the establishment At Washington
OF a commission on industrial retations
TO represent the public alone. which
should mako findings =nd recommends
tions in labor disputes. Tho doors OF
this commission, he said. should be open
70 wage workers, employers. or to any
body OF individual citizens or to the
Attorney General OF the United States.
Arguing that public opinion would be
| sufficient 10 enforce the commissioner
recommendations he said the United
States supreme court could not enforce
its dcrees against q state, but neverthe-
less such decisions had been obeyed
| and that the rules OF international Law
except in time Of war had wide applica'
ton.
lie expressed a warning note against
the building up OF huge political ma
chimes in order 10 maintain and increase
the points of contact between govern.
ment and business"
The unchecked development OF such
| tendency" he said. would in time
! completely alter tho American form Of
! government and revolutionIze American
! business. 1t Is perfectly easy by fol
lowing such a course as outlined tc
! transfer democracy into an autocracy
! Of office holders and inspectors. Norni'
| nolly this autocracy would represent
! and carry out the wish OF the people
| but actually It would be a tyranny o!
an office holding class"