Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-05-20
Platltudes and Practice

DRESlDENT HARDING'S speech before
1 the United States Chamber OF Com
merce very largely vocing Of plati-
tudes quite generally accepted in theory.
but more honored in the breach than the
observance in practice. AS moral dis
0uisition designed 10 inspire high stan
durd OF individual probity in business con
Guct. il is above criticism. For instance.
no one find fault with this admonition:
II would like TO charge you men and
women Of influence and responsibility with
The task Of eliminating from American COM
mcrCe those who do not have conscience
whose constituencies practices bring that
criticism which sometimes attends our Amer
lean activities That Is good advice In
respect to what concert OF individual effort
may accomplish toward reforming CONNER
cal abuses; but what about the course OF
conduct the administration is translating
into action 10 encourage perpetuation OF
the very practices against which the Presi-
dent inveighs?
Further along in his address he says: 1T
will not do TO pursue the activities with
which we Americans are so cminently con
ncctcd without mindfulncss of everybody
involved Commerce canno, be adjusted
alone to the fortunes OF the captains of
industry. There must always be thought
OF the great mass without whom there
could be no productivity on the one hand.
and little consumption on the other Re
specting this commeudable admonition, We
find those administration leaders who
framed the pending tariff bin widely al
variance with its teaching. Did these lead
ers have "a mindfulness OF everybody in
volved.' when they framed that measure or
were its schedules adjusted with solicitude
alone for the fortunes Of the captains OF
industry? How much thought did these
tariff nycrs give to the great mass without
whom here could be no productivity on the
one hand and little consumption on the
ether" when they concocted their auda-
cous scheme OF erecting a Chinese tariff
wall that would give 10 American manu-
facturers monopoly OF the homo market,
thus enabling them 10 exploit the great
mass with constituencies greed? Here
have an example Of the wide divergence be-
tween administration preachment and prac-
lice
In respect TO the abstract principle of
morality which the President sagc!y adj
mon!shes. his sincerity in IL efficacy may
not be questioned. but the admonition loses
its force coming from an admit istration
which has deliberately 81. is face to Tho
imposition upon the country OF policy that
directly encourages practices wholly at va
Rance with it. The rebuka administered
by the voters OF his own party in two re-
cent State elections is quite suggestive OF
their recognition of the falsity OF admins
tration pretense OF high moral conscien-
'iousuess for mass welfare in the restric-
tons it would tasten upon American trade
enterprise
II the President really wants TO give to
The world an example o: 4 commercial ma
ton with an abiding conscience" as he
says. he will lose no time in Selling the
re!ns OF party leadership and compelling
congress 10 shelve the present iniquito Gus
trade prohibition measure until il attains
a conscience sufficiently informed to en-
act tariff that will not hinder a great ma
ton from playing its Just part in world
restoration, and Will not be an intolcrable
burden upon the American people.