Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-09-30
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP
IS NEGATIoN OF PROGRESS
HOOVER'S WORD BY RADIO

Washington. Sept. 29-Secretary
Hoover's address on Government
Ownership. by radio this evening
was broadcast over nationally inter-
connected stations. In opening he
said:
Senator LaFollettes party pro-
poses government ownership and
operation of railway and other pub
lie utilities. The senator emphasizes
this: II am for government owner
ship of railroads and every other
public utility every one" This
means all railways, power, light, tele-
phone and telegraph. The Republic
can party stands for private owner
ship. with the prevention of abuse
through government regulation of
service and rates or profits. Between
them We must choose. Either we are
to remain on the road of individual
initiative. enterprise and opportunity.
regulated by law on which American
institutions have so far progressed.
CT we are to turn down the road
which leads through naturalization
of utilities to the ultimate absorption
into government of all industry and
labor. What the senator proposes is
far more than 4 transitory expert
ment of government in business: It Is
4 change in our social, economic and
political principles that will react 10
revolutioniZe our government itself.
The Proposition
'In it's immediate form this is n
proposition that the government
should buy and run the railways.
electrical and other utilities, valued
by official commissions at about forty
tillionsS of dollars, with two million
seven hundred thousand employees.
requiring two billions annually for
bond interest, with an operating bud
get of ten billions per annum. To
keep pace with natural growth these
concerns must spend two billions of
new capital yearly for extensions.
This is n financial transaction and
venture into business of n magnitude
never before undertaken by any man
or by any government, democratic or
otherwise-except in Russia. Surely
before we embark on such voyage
we should look into the possibility
of profit. examine the chart of the
place where we are going, and con-
slider the capacity of our vessel to
carry the cargo.
1T is for the American people TO
decide. If they are to decide rightly
they should have the reasons set be-
fore them in terms of sober economic
and social thought. not In vitupera-
ton and appeals to hate. / accredit
the sincerity of the advocates or
these propositions. and believe they
Rave the manhood to credit ours.
There is but one consideration-pub-
lie interest If I believed for one
moment that this adventure would
reduce rates. that it would produce
better service. that it would de-
crease taxes. that ii would benefit
the employees. that it would main
tain discovery. initiative. and adj
vance in the development of these
services. that it would not wreck our
democracy. that it would strengthen
the foundations of social and spirit
nal progress in America. or even thar
it would do n few of these things. l
would unhesitatingly accept this pro-
posal stupendous as it is.
but ] do not believe It. ] am
convinced not only from the e.
perience of our own country. but
from the attempts made abroad, that
government operation is n step back
ward i'm every one of these PROPOSE
lions. IT is the negation Of progress.
America has, found the true road OF
advancement in these enterprises
through sustained initiative and
equality of opportunity to our people
with public control to prevent abuse.
Our salvation consists in following
this line with increasing intelligence
and devotion.
Our Present System Of Utility
Control
Much of the present agitation is
based upon conditions. not as they
are today hut as they were n genera
.tion ago. There were then great
abuses that called for remedy. The
Republican policy of public regula-
ton and the historic moral upheaval
to which Theodore Roosevelt con-
tributed more than any one man
cured the worst of these evils and
created the machinery of govern
ment to meet the rest Theodore
Roosevelt was the enemy of govern
ment ownership and the advocate Of
public regulation.
There is scarcely a single utility
today that is not uncer public con-
troll through some governmental
commission. local or national. These
commissions today fix the rates. the