Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-09-26
President Points
(centinued from Page One

lions of the Congress as showing the
superiority of moderation and can
dor over violence and deceit in seek
ing solution of difficult public ques-
tiOnS."
The constitution. Mr.. Coolidge
pointed out. lis a device for main
tanning in perpetuity the rights of
the people. with the ultimate extinc-
ton of all privileged classes"
II the People Lose Control
IT have mentioned the desirability.'
he continued, ''for the people to keep
control of their own government and
their own property, because l believe
that Is one Of the American ideals of
public welfare in harmony with the
efforts of the first Continental Con-
gress. They objected to small In
fractions. which would destroy great
principles OF liberty. Unless we can
maintain the integrity Of the courts.
where the individual can secure his
rights. any kind of tyranny may fol-
low. If the people lose control of the
arteries of trade and the natural
sources Of mechanical power. the ma
tionalization of all industry could
soon be expected. Our forefathers
were alert to resist all encroachments
upon their rights. If we wish to
maintain our rights, we can do no
less. Through the breaking down of
the power of the courts lies an easy
way to the confiscation of the prop
erty and the destruction of the liberty
of the individual. With railways and
electrical utilities under political con-
troll, the domination of a group would
be so firmly intrenched in the whole
direction of our government that the
privilege of citizenship or the rest of
the people would consist largely in
the payment of taxes. The fathers
sought to escape from any such con-
ditiOn. through the guarantees OF our
constitution. They put their faith in
Il free republic. If we wish to maii-
tain what they established, we shall
do well to leave the people in the
ownership of their property, in con-
troll of their government. and under
the protection of their courts. By 4
resolute determination to resist al
these entertainments we can. best
show our reverence and appreciation
for the men and the work of the first
Continental Congress-"
Declaring it significant that the
first Congress resulted from the VOL
untary effort on the part of the peo-
pie to redress their own grievances
and remedy their own wrongs" Mr..
Coolidge warned that I'VE pay too
little attention to the reserve power
of the people to take care of them
selves: we are too Solicitous for gov
eminent intervention
Everyone knows" he added, that
our economic problems are very far
from being solved, but we are making
constant progress, both in the field
of production and distribution. When
certain abuses arose. we adopted a
policy of government regulation and
control. l have no doubt that some
action of that kind was necessary,
and of course such a policy would be
continued. But it has not been, nor
can 1t he hoped that it will be. al
ways wisely administered. While it
provides some defeuse agains wrong
doing. it's restrictions often hamper
development and progress, reard en-
terprise and when they fail to pro-
duce the projection promised tend to
bring the government into discredit.
The real fact is that in a republic
like ours the people are the govern
ment. and if they cannot secure pro-
lection in their own economic life
1t Is altogether improbable that the
government can secure it for them.
The same human nature which pre-
sides over private enterprise must be
employed for public action.
Strain Upon o.
mo doubt there are certain munich
palities where some public utilities
have been managed through public
ownership with a cretitable success.
But this is very different from a pro-
posal that the national government
should take over railroads and other
public utilities. What a strain this
would be 10 our economic system will
be realized when 1t is remembered that
public commissions set the value OF
such utilities at about SIS, geo, 600, 900,
and that they have about e.750,000 en-
ployes. Such an undertaking would
mean about $1.7s0. 900. 900 annually in
bond interest. and an, operating budget
estimated at about $4,000, 900, 600.
These utilities are no longer in the
hands of few. directly or Indirectly.
They are owned by scores Of millions
OF our inhabitants. 1t would mean a
loss In public revenue estimated at
s6oO,ooo,0oo year. and while in in
dustrial states 1t might not increase
the tax on the farmer more than 3
per cent or per cent in many agri-
cultural counties ii would run as high
as 20 per cent. When we recall the
appalling loss and the diff1euity in the
y,a 9Av e 4 q a