Evening star., 1928-11-03

side of government propose to out
| line something of the principles which
must underlie the relation of govern.
ment to the constructive tasks which
confront us. A few nights ago in New
York / had occasion to discuss these
principles in application to matters
which the Government should not un-
dertake.
Tonight discuss them in connection
with matters which the Government
should and must undertake. Govern
ment is only in part negative func-
tion. Its purpose is not merely to stand
as watchman over what is forbidden;
Government must be a constructive
force.
Our country has a political, social
and economic system that is peculiarly
our own. II Is the American system.
II grew out of our revolt from European
systems and has ripened with our eX-
perience and our ideals. We have sell
0om tried to express it or define it. 1t
has been the moving force of our prog
ress. 1t has brought us into the leader
ship Of the world.
Work of Founders.
The founders of our Republic under
Divine inspiration set up not alone a
great political system of Self-govern-
ment but they set up also revolution
ary social system in the relation of men
toward men.
Our political system is unique in the
world. 1t is unique because of its de-
Capitalization of government and
its checks and balances which safe
guard ordered liberty and freedom to
each individual. Our social system is
IN, if,,tn itA tho vnr1I &c 40
cause it is founded not only upon the
ideal that all men are created equC
and are equal before the law but also
upon the ideal that there shall be equal
opportunity among men.
We have no frozen classes or stratifi-
cation of caste in our country. We
allow nothing to prevent the rise of
every boy and girl to the position to
which their initiative and talents will
carry them. We have no titles except
the description of our jobs.
From our unique political and social
ideals we are evolving a unique eco
nomic system We have discarded the
original European theory that there is
class struggle between the capital of
the few and the labor of the man,
Under that theory it was held that
labor was commodity and the laborer
in general could never rise far above
bare existence, for if he did so the sup
ply of labor would increase and thus
constantly pull him back into the cess
pool of inevitable poverty.
New System Developed.
We Americans have proved this con-
ception wrong. BY what amounts to a
revolution in ideas and methods we
have developed new economic system
The dominating idea of that system is
that labor on the one hand and capital,
which in America means the savings
of the people, on the other hand. by
joint effort can steadily increase the
efficiency of production and distrlbu-
tion.
In other words, we find that by joint
effort we can steadily incro 3e the pro-
ducticn of goods by each individual
and we can at the same time decrease
the cost of goods. AS we increase the
volume of goods we have more to di-
vide. and we thereby steadily lift the
standard of living or the whole people
We have proved this to be true and
by this proof we have laid away the
old theory Of inevitable poverty along
side the theory of human slavery.
These three revolutionary American
ideas-political, social and economic
are interlocked and interneshed. They
are dominated and cemented by t. :
ideal and practice of equal opportunity.
They constitute one great system pro-
tecting our individualiSn and Stimulat-
ing initiative and enterprise in our
people. This is the American system
One part Of it cannot be destroyed
without undermining the whole. For
- al
such as Federal or State government
entry into commercial business in COM
petition with its citizens would UNDER
mine initiative and enterprise and de-
stroy the very foundations of freedom
and progress upon which the American
system is builded.
Republican Party's Role.
BY adhering to these principles the
Republican party has played a large
part in creating the magnificent prog
ress which shows on every hand today
do not need to recite the evidences of
that progress. / have said before that
1t in no way minimizeS the accomplish
n1ents of the American people to point
out that without the wise policies which
the Republican party has made effec-
tive during the past seven and one-half
years the great prosperity we now enjoy
would not have been possible. The
Republican party has ever been party
of true progreSsivism-tru progressive
ism does not include policies which
would destroy progress.
BY adhering to these principles we
have raised humanity to greater heights
of weiIbeing than ever before in his
tory. They ne the very essence of pro-
gressive government and of self-gov-
ernment. We must apply them to the
constructive side of government.
There are three potential fields in
which the principles and impulses of
our American system require that gov
ernment take constructive action. They
comprise those activities which no local
community can itself assume and which
the individual initiative and enterprise
OF our people cannot wholly compass.
They comprise leadership of the Gov
ernment to solve many difficult prob
lens.
Public Works Cited.
The first of these fields includes the
great undertakings in public works
such as inland waterways, flood control,
reclamation, highways and public build
ings.
sCIOIlu Va LIlCSC ID lllG I1GCGSOdI y
interest and activity of the Federal Gov
ernment in fostering education, public
health, scientific research, public parks,
conservation of national resources, agri-
culture, industry and foreign commerce.
The third great field lies in broaden
ing the assistance of the Government
to the growing efforts of our people to
cooperation among themselves to use
full social and economic ends.
The first of the particular tasks to
which I believe this constructive side
of government should be directed is
public works.
Inland Waterways Vital.
More than any other section of our
country, the Midwest is at this time
vitally concerned with the advancement
of these. undertakings. l have stated
on other occasions that, due to the
shift of economic currents from the
war, the Midwest has not had equal op-