, 1924-10-09
Secretary Hoover
Criticizes LaFOllette's
Naturalization Scheme

Naturalization Scheme
WASHINGTON. D. C.-Secretary
Hoover tonight In a radio address
analysed and criticized the proposal
of Senator LaFollette for the Gov
eminent ownership of railroads and
public utilities.
1t was Mr.. Hoover's first import
ant speech for the Republican party
in the campaign and was broadcast
over nationally i-nterconnected radio
stations from Washington, Cleveland
Buffalo, Chicago, Pittsburgh, St.
Louis, Kansas City, New York, Prov
idence and South Dartmouth.
Taking as his text the recent de-
claratiOn by Senator La Toilette that
Il am for government ownership of
railroads and every other public
utility-every one," Secretary Hoov-
er declared that this would mean
Government ownership of all rail-
ways. and power, light, telephone
and telegraph service. Neither
Federal nor State Governments were
planned or equipped for the task of
Government operation of utilities, he
said, and, to bear the load of such a
~stupendous task as that which Sem
oeol -" oAAVeto PioPooSu " haNC
the Federal Government assume, the
Constitution would need to be re-
written in "a score of places, until
1t was no longer our democracy"
Secs a Debt OF $40, 900 ,OOO, 900
Above all, Mr.. Hoover asserted,
the La Toilette plan would change
the major thought and purpose of
our Government into the making of
money instead of devotion to the
large preservation of basic human
liberties-and the latter was"a big
enough job in these times" More
over, the La Toilette plan, Mr.. Hoov-
er continued, would mean higher
rates to the public, multiplication of
taxes, the addition of 2,70O, 900 en-
ployes to the Federal service and
poorer service to the public.
1t would add $40, 900 900, 900 to
the public debt of the nation. Mr..
Hoover said, and with this entire
investment transferred to- the Gov
eminent every citizen would pay
every loss of capital, directly or in
directly, from taxes or rates, wheth-
er he liked it Or not"
The change proposed by Mr.. La
Toilette, Mr.. Hoover declared, would
in fact, amount to a complete revo-
luton in our form Of government.
I'VE are asked" he said. "to
abandon all that we have builded as
a land of opportunity by injecting
into II an economic patent medicine
from Europe.
Socialism may have a place with
some Of the nations Of Europe be-
cause of their failures to provide
freedom, opportunity and service. 1t
has no place with us. We are build
ing here a form of social %organiza-
ton of our own. We differed with
European ideals 900 years. We have
today in America the widest extend
ed and most efficient utility services
in the world.
I'VE have developed an effective
method of controlling abuses. We
contribute more to invention and i'm
provements than all other peoples
combined. We are asked to aban-
dor all this and embrace new So
cial ideas. increase our cost OF SER
vice. decrease our national efficiency
undermine our democracy. destroy
the fundamentals upon which our
nation has become great. This is
not progressive. for 1t Is not prog
ress. 1t is destruction"
Secretary HoOvcr's Address
Secretary Hoover's address reads
in part as follows:
Senator La Follette's party pro-
poses Government ownership and OPP
Grafton of the railway and other
public utilities. The Senate m
phasizes this: I am for Government
ownership OF railroads and every
other public utility-every one.
This means all railways. power. light
telephone and telegraph.
I'm its immediate form this Is n
proposition that the Government
should buy and run the railways,
electrical and other utilities. valued
by official commissioners at about
$4,000, OOO.0 900. with 400, 900 en-
ployes. requiring $4,000. 900 900 an
nualiy for bond interest. with an op-
Grating budget OF $4,000. 900 900
per annum. To keep pace with nat
ural growth these concerns must
spend $4,000, 900. 900 OF new capt.
tai yearly for extensions.
This Is n financial transaction
and a 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 n voyage we should look
into the possibility Of profit. cx-
anime the chart of the place where