Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-09-01
TEXT OF ADDRESS
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property. and has neither time nor
opportunity for the intellectual, NOR
al or spiritual development.
l know it is often said that this is
the wealthiest and at the same time
the more materialistic age in the
world That is true in a certain
sense. but it is also true that the
common wealth of the age as we'll as
the sum total of individual wealth
furnishes the opportunity for the
achievements that have been accom-
plished Our schools and colleges,
our libraries, our homes of comfort,
our means of transportation and
communication, and all our means of
enjoyment in life, are physical con-
ditions necessary for spiritual as
contrasted with material up-building.
The right of property on the one
hand, of life, of liberty of the pur-
suit of happiness on the other, are
not antagonistic and hostile, to be
set off in terms of opposition. Ma
terial wealth is the handmade of
spiritual achievement--that is. of in
tellectual. social and moral achieve
ment. All progress is conditioned on
the principle of conservation. Con-
servation, or preservation as it is
usually termed, of the wealth of the
world, whether it be in the realm of
the material or spiritual, is condi-
toned on the supremacy of the law.
If there is one fact that history
teaches above another, it is that the
rights incident to wealth and the
rights furnishing the opportunity to
enjoy spiritual, intellectual, moral
and social things are conditioned
upon the supremacy of the law.
The supremacy of the law, though
challenged, is not undermined by the
ordinary criminal who commits MUIR
der, robbery larceny. etc. To the
contrary, every occurrence to crimes
of this sort tends to impress upon
society the profound Importance of
the supremacy Of the law and it's Wig
orous enforcement. The supremacy
of the law is and has been challenged
mainly in that class of legislation
where there exists a difference of
opinion is to governmental policy in
enacting the legislation in question.
Disrespect for law has manifested
itself in the past mainly by large
corporations or aggregations of
wealth, commonly known rs big bust
ness. and by labor organizations in
relation to such business. l am not
much in favor of new nostrums and
panaceas to cure the ills of the body
polite. but I venture to make the
following suggestions:
First, it is an undisputed fact that
the public have right to know
what the quarrel is about in every
actual or threatened strike or lock-
out, and similar controversies.
Second. there should be some def
Mite agencies in government for as
pertaining these facts fully and max
ing an impartial finding by those
specially qualified both by tempera-
ment and training to do this partic-
ular Kind of work; and such finding
should be reported so that it will be
reliable source of knowledge to
which students and publicists and
statesmen can resort
Ihlrd, compulsory Jurisdiction over
these two factors to compel them to
submit to an inquiry of this sort is
not only desirable but just
Fourth. at present our study of
this question has not been sufficient
ly thorough to warrant legislation
compelling the acceptance of such
findings by the parties thereto
Therefore, the jurisdiction of the
propes agency should be obligatory
upon the parties to submit to the in
vestigation: the acceptance of the
nnding by the parties should be VOL
untary.
Fifth, the experience of the past
shows that in most cases, full accu-
rate, reliable publicity has been suf-
nclent to compel an adjustment of
these cases. Public sentiment is q
controlling factor, and it is import
ant. in justice to both of the parties.
that it should depend upon some
thing more accurate than successful
propaganda.
Sixth. in the course of time knowl-
edge of the nature and causes of
these controversies derived in this
way may crystalline public sentiment
TO the extent that laws can be en-
acted making such controversies i'm
possible.
Society is vitality interested in the
proper solution of this question.
When some such plan as / have sug-
gested shall have been put In oper-
alton, then we will have a more in
telligent basis upon which to enact
compulsory legislation upon this
subject.
| have been discussing acts and
conduct as basis for disrespect for
law | now turn to a consideration
of several subjects that tend to Gre
ate disrespect for law not by specific
acts merely, but by attempts to JUS
fifty those acts by certain theories of
political philosophy. And of these,
the first is the doctrine of SO called
political offenses.
Political offenses is a term, as you
know, of international law used to
denote certain classes of offenses
which are excepted from the opera
ton of treaties of extradition be-
tween States. The offenses compre-
hended under this term for which
extradition will not be granted are
ffSlally those ipuoyx,tn-