New-York tribune., 1920-10-19
Both Harding
And Cox Give
Business Views
Candidates, Replying to
Queries Propounded by
System Magazine, Pledge
support to Industry
Agree ON Many Points
Senator Favors GLANDS Off,
Policy; Each for Budget;
Oppose Big Profits Tax


men, propounded to Senator Warren G.
Harding and Governor James M. Cox
eight sets of question, the answers to
which the publishers thought would be
of supreme interest to American busi-
ness men. The replies made by both
candidates will be published in the
November issue Of the magazine in
authorized interviews obtained by Neil
NJ. Clark. The questions which Mr.
Clark put we're:
]. What concrete, specific aids do you
feel the government can render the
business man which it has not rem
dered in the past? Do you feel that
anything comparable to what the De-
partment of Agriculture is doing could
be done by the Departme of Com
merce?
2. What do you feel about the use Of
straight business executive ability in
government administrative posts?
3. What do you feel about the excess
profits tax? What steps do you think
the government should take in connec-
tion with the limitation of profits?
d. How about the budget system for
our government
8. What do you feel with regard to
relations between employers and en-
ployees? Do you believe that the Kan
sas Industrial Court is based on a
sound principle?
6. The coal situation-what can be
done toward improving it? What about
the transportation situation?
T. The Webb Pomerene bill has en-
abled manufacturers who sell their
tain circumstances. Do you believe
there is an economic tendency toward
combination in domestic business, and
do you believe there should be any
greater encouragement for this ten
dency than is permitted by the law
now?
s. What do you feel business men
can do to cooperate more advantage
ously with the government?
Hands OFF," Harding's Stand
Both Senator Harding and Governor
Cox said in response to the first ques-
tion that the government ought to help
in developing foreign markets for
American goods through it's diplomatic
or consular agents. Their first thought
on the subject, however, was diverse,
Senator Harding saying that about the
greatest service the government could
render to business right now was to
stop interfering with it and Governor
speedily and effectively" would be "of
incalculable benefit
Senator Harding said that the De
partment of Commerce ought to be
"the greatest agency of business cX-
panson for this Republic that we
have" Governor Cox doubted whether
the influence of the Department of
Commerce in business ever could equal
that of the Department of Agriculture
in farming.
The opinions expressed by both can
didates as to the value of straight
business executive ability" in the ad-
ministration of the government were
similar. Both thought that the quail
ties which would make man success
full in business might make him valu-
able to the government, but both were
careful to say that they did not regard
business as the training school of the
government executive. Senator Har-
ding was the more explicit on this
point.
"a man may be success in business
within the horizon of his own activi-
ties, which he can know intimately, )"
he said. when he steps into public
service he has very much wider hori-
zon and deals with a variety Of ele-
ments. He has to take into considcra-
tloll BcOB ldplilSdl anu SOClhlOElCdl ana
political conditions in broad sense
| do not mean petty politics-and it
is a little difficult for him to adjust
himself to the new situation, whereas
the man who is schooled in public
service senses these varying condi-
tions and is in position to meet them
because of his experience.'
Governor Cox put it this way:
"My thought here is that men are
needed in the government with the
qualities that make for success in cx-
ecutive capacities in business. The
training Of such men, of course, need
not necessarily have been in business"
Both Oppose Excess Profits Tax
Both candidates expressed dissatis-
faction with the excess profits tax,
and both said that "in connection with
the limitations of profits" the govern
ment ought merely to assure fair com
petition without interfering with the
development of American commercial
genius except, as Senator Harding said.