Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-23

naiism and state socialism. The ac-
ceptance of these ideas would have
meant the destruction of self-govern.
ment through Capitalization Of govern
ment. It would have meant the under
mining of the individual initiative and
enterprise through which cur people
have grown to unparalleled greatness.
The Republican party from the be-
ginning rescluteiy turned It's face away
from these ideas and these war prac-
tees. A Republican Congress cooper.
ated with the Democratic adrniniStra-
ton to demobiiize many of our war &C.
tivities. At that time the two parties
were In accord upon that point. When
the Republican party came into fun
power It went at once resolutely back
to our fundamental conception Of the
state and the rights and responsibilities
Of the individual. Thereby II restored
confidence and hope in the American
people. 1t freed and stimulated enter
prise, 1t restored the Government to Its
position as an umpire instead OF a
player In the economic game.
For these reasons the American peo-
| pie have gone forward In progress while
| the rest of the world has halted and
some countries have even gone back
ward. If any one will study the causes
| of retarded recuperation In Europe, he
| will find much of 1t due to the stirling
of private initiative on one hand ana
overlooking of the government with
business on the other.
Cites Recent Proposals.
There has been revived in this cam
paign, however, series OF proposals
which, II adopted. would be long step
fIan ~ adnVSYaaY1f Nf NttF AN4AF1 =
can system and a surrender to the de-
structive operation of governmental
conduct of commercial business. Be.
cause the country Is faced with dim
Guilty and doubt over certain national
problems-that Is, prohibition, farm re-
lief and electrical power--our OPPONENTS
propose that we must thrust Govern
Ynent q long way into the businesses
which give rise to these problems.
I'm effect. they abandon the tenets OF
their own party and turn to state So
cialism as q solution for the difnculties
presented by all three. 1t is proposed
that we shall change from prohibition
to the State purchase and sale OF liquor.
If their agricultural relief program
means anything, 1t means that the
buy and sell and fix prices Of agricul-
tural products. And we are to 60 into
the hydro-electric power business In
other words, we are confronted with a
huge program Of Government In bust.
ness.
There is, therefore, submitted to the
American people . question of funda-
mental principle. That Is: shall we
depart from the principles of our Amer.
lean political and economic system, upon
which we have advanced beyond all the
rest of the world, In order TO adopt
methods based on principles destructive
Of its very foundations? And wish
to emphasize the seriousness Of these
proposals. wish TO make my position
clear. for this goes to the very roots
Of American life and progress.
II should like to state to you the
effect that this projection OF Govern
nent in business would have upon our
system of self government and our eco
noniic system. That effect would reach
to the daily life Of every man and
woman. II would impair the very basis
Of liberty and freedom not only for those
left outside the fold of expanded bu-
reaucracy but for those embraced with
IN it,,
Eject on Self-RuIe.
LET US nist see the effect upon self.
government, When the Federal Gov.
Ernment undertakes to 90 into CONNER
cial business 1t must at once set UP the
organization and administration of that
business, and 1t immediately finds itself
In q labyrinth. every alley of which
leads TO the destruction Of self-govern-
ment. - So s
Commercial business requires a con-
centration of responsibility. Self-gov-
eminent requires decentralization and
many checks and balances to safeguard
liberty. Our Government to- succeed
feet, a deSpotiSn1. There at once begins
the destruction Of Self-government.
The first problem of the government
about to adventure In commercial busi-
ness Is to determine method Of ADJ
i1inistration. It must secure leadership
and direction. Shall this leadership be
chosen by political agencies or shall we
make It elective? The hard, practical
fact Is that leadership In business must
come through the sheer rise In ability
and character. That rise can only take
place in the free atmosphere of compe-
tition. Competition is closed by bu-
reaucracy. Political agencies are feeble
channels through which to select able
leaders to conduct commercial business.
Government, In order to avoid the
tyranny of too great authority in indi.
Viduals entrusted with commercial buSi-
ness, inevitably turns to boards and
commissions. To make sure that there
are checks and balances each member
Of such boards and commissions must
have equal authority
/, Sees Divided Leadership.
Each has his separate responsibility
to the public, and at once we have the
conflict of ideas and the lack Of deci-
sion which would ruin any commercial
business. It has contributed greatly to
the Generalization Of our shipping bust.
ness. Moreover, these commissions must
and different political parties, so that
at once we have an entire blight upon
co-ordinated action within their ranks
which destroys any possibility OF effec-
tive administration.
Moreover. our legislative bodies cam
not in fact delegate their full authority
to commissions or to individuals for
the conduct OF matters vital to the
American people, for If we would pre-
serve government by the people we must
preserve the authority of our legislators
in the activities of our Government.
Thus every time the Federal Gov.
eminent goes into commercial bust.
ness 53l Senators and Representatives
become the actual board Of directors Of
that business. Every time state gov
eminent goes into business one or two
hundred State senators and legislators
become the actual directors Of that
business. Even II they were supermen
and If there were no politics In the
United States, no body of such num-
bers could competently direct CONNER
cial activities, for that requires initia-
tive, instant decision and action. It took
Congress six years of constant discus
sion to even decide what the method Of
administration Of Muscle Shoals should
be.
Taxation Factor Cited.