Collections

Should the Antitrust Laws Be Revised?

For forty years the United States has had a statue that appears to condemn every combination which restrains trade. Its general language might include almost any combination, trade association, or industry. But we have court decisions which make possible a plausible legal defense of almost any combination in restraint of trade. What business conduct the resulting law will really reach has become our major governmental mystery.

Founders Day address at University of North Carolina

In this spirit let us examine our Constitution as a chart to control administration of our organized society. Our forefathers never expected finally to solve the social and economic problems of their own day, much less those of all days to come, in the 4500 words of the original instrument. The chief purpose was to devise mechanics and to create a form of political organization, so that questions as they arise might always be answered by a peaceful method, and by a democratic process.

Why a College Education?

Perhaps you have heard about the College Executives who were discussing what they wanted to do after retirement age. One hoped to run a prison or school of correction, so the alumni would never come back to visit. Another chose to manage an orphan asylum so he would not be plagued with advice from parents.

Consumer Protection by Government

These are not difficult days, measured by what we have gone through, and what other parts of the world are going through. But they are uncomfortable days, and they are days in which a portion of the population which needs protection as consumers, may equally need protection as holders of jobs. It seems unrealistic, therefore, to think of the interests of the consumer today except in relation to our whole economic situation.

Farmers and Anti-Trust Law

The antitrust law is an American invention. Those interests which try to discredit all distasteful legislation by labeling it as "an alien influence" cannot so characterize our laws against monopoly. If any trace of foreign influence can be found it is abhorrence of monopoly and a policy to restrain it.

Business Confidence and Government Policy

I want to talk about one thing only tonight and to talk of that in the plain terms the subject calls for. I am going to speak of the responsibilities of the government, in its relations with business, for the general well-being of the country. We hear much of the willingness of business to cooperate with government. We hear also of the desire of business that the government take steps to promote business confidence.

Philosophy of Big Business

As students of political science we must try to understand the philosophy of big business. Unfortunately, no acknowledged business leader has formulated its doctrine or been its spokesman in the sense that Marx spoke for socialism, Lenin for communism and Jefferson or Roosevelt for democracy.

Address at the Jackson Day Dinner

I feel really needed here tonight- to defend the memory of Andrew Jackson as a man of the people. With these $50 and $100 dinners he is in danger of getting the name of being our most expensive Democrat. It shows what a marvelous politician he was when his name can be used to raise campaign funds a century after he lost all power to appoint anybody to anything.

Your Business and Your Government

I am glad to discuss the relations of business and government before business men of Rochester because the experience of no city better illustrates what I want to talk about. There is no better illustration of the kind of business which this nation ought to foster than the kind of business you have fostered here. And there is no better illustration of the kind of business that is a menace to the United States than the kind of business which you do not encourage in Rochester.

Little Americanism

Joe Kennedy remarked the other day that the trouble with this country is that it has too many persons who are specialists in other people's business. Maybe he meant editors -- maybe lawyers. We have this at least in common, that we both take great liberty with the affairs of the public. And I am indebted to the press for so many suggestions about my work that I must begin payment by returning a few hints about yours.