Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-10-24


direction is illustrated by our pres
ent foreign trade. In 1913 both inn
ports and exports were but $780,
10000. After the war the trade Of
the whole world collapsed. but we
have brought our foreign trade up
TO about $S.OOO.OO0.OO0. Translated
into pre-war prices this would be
about S5.2OO.000.OO0.
when we look for an example of
benefitting consumers. we shall find
1t in the bituminous coal industry.
Three years ago there were about
5000 mines, or 10 percent more
mines and miners than could be Civ
en- regular employment. The depart
ment of commerce found there was
need OF more cars, more simmer
These have been accomplished, with
the result that while in the profiteer-
ing period of 1920 run of mine coal
averaged $5.H ton, notwithstand-
ing the strike of 1922. it averaged
$3.67 per ton, and for the year end
ing June thirtieth 1t averaged 81 %
per ton. This industry has been or
gained. but not monopoliZed. it has
between 1000 and 5000 competing
mines. and no person or group con-
trolls more than . percent or three
percent of the production.
1T is impossible to escape the con-
clusion that the general economic
condition of the country is good.
While business and agriculture have
not fully recovered the losses caused
by the worldwide depression which
always follows war, they are now on
fairly profitable basis. 1t would be
natural to suppose that every well
wisher of the country would be anx-
ious to maintain the present estab-
lished order of things, which has
given to the people Of America a po-
sition superior to that ever before
held by any people on earth. But in
spite of the extraordinary results
which have been accomplished. there
is not only a large amount of criti-
cism, but proposals to make at least
two Of the most revolutionary chang
eS.
Government Shouldn't
Own the People
1T has always been the theory of
our institutions that the people
should own the government and not
that the government should own the
people. This policy cannot be main
tanned unless the people continue to
own and control their own property
AhO illcSt AHlpol ttlitl pI Opcllg VI luc
country is transportation and water
power 1t is not only very large in
amount. but is Of the greatest strate-
gic value. 1t could be used in such
way as to resume virtual control
of all other business of any import
ance. 1t Is proposed that these prop
critics should be brought under pub
| lie ownership.
Irresponsible public commissions
have valued these at about $4,000
100000. Such a cost would more
than double all our public debts. Any
deficit in earnings would have to be
made up out Of taxes We did that
during the war at cost of 81, 500,
| 10000 With the government in
| possession of such a great enterprise,
with two and three quarters millions
OF employees, spending $4,000, 00O, 600
or $4,000, 100000 each year, holding
virtually the power of life and death,
what chance would the rest of the
people Of this country have! 1t would
appear to be perfectly obvious that
| If these properties are taken off the
| tax list by public ownership, the
other property of the nation must
pay their yearly tax of some $780,
| 100000. In the thinly settled agri-
| cultural regions this would make an
| Increase of 30 percent Or 40 percent
on local taxation. Measured by our
experience, by efficiency of service,
by rate of wages paid, we have
everything to lose and nothing to
gain by public ownership. 1t would
! be a most perilOus undertaking.
Judicial Rather Than Political
Another principle in which the
American people have always
strongly believed, and which they
have stoutly maintained. is a judicial
as against a political determinatio
of causes. When our constitution
was adopted it established the SUI
| preme court Of the United States
| to be the very citadel of justice. Its
| members are appointed for life in
| order that they may be devoted en-
! tirely to the administration of Justice
| according to law. and as independ-
ent and impartial as it is possible
| for men to be. One of our chief
duties Is to protect the rights Of the
! individual. Our government is any
thing but absolute. 1t is strictly
| limited. 1t has only those powers
which are conferred upon them by
the constitution. That constitution
distinctly declares that the president
doing certain things, the central
thought of which is that no one shall
be deprived of life. liberty. or prop
erty without due process of law.
There is provision against unlawful
searches and seizures. in order that
the people may be secure in their
persons. houses, papers and effects,
also against making any law re-
speeding an establishment of religion
or abridging the freedom of speech
or OF the press. and including the
right to trial by jury. with many
other provisions for the protection of
the individual from impositions
which other governments had con-
stantly inflicted upon them. There
Is in accordance another theory that
people are born with certain inalien-
able rights which no government
should have any power to take from
them.
THE same privileges that belong
to the individual are likewise guar
anteed to the minority and to the
several states. We have made our
constitution the supreme law of the
| land and whenever the congress, the
president, or a state. legislature or
governor. violates it. anyone who is
injured has the right to appeal to
the supreme court and have such
violation prevented. What better
method could there be for preserving
the rights of the people and of the
states. 1t is not necessary to prove
that the supreme court never made
n mistake. But if this power is TAX
en- away from them. it is necessary
to prove that those who are to exer-
else 1t would be likely to make few
er mistakes.
Power to Violate Our RIGHTS