xt7wwp9t2q46_5 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7wwp9t2q46/data/mets.xml https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7wwp9t2q46/data/59m61.dao.xml American Liberty League 37 linear feet archival material English University of Kentucky This digital resource may be freely searched and displayed.  Permission must be received for subsequent distribution in print or electronically.  Physical rights are retained by the owning repository.  Copyright is retained in accordance with U. S. copyright laws.  For information about permissions to reproduce or publish, contact the Special Collections Research Center. Jouett Shouse Collection (American Liberty League Pamphlets), "Why? The American Liberty League." by Jouett Shouse, November 1, 1934 text "Why? The American Liberty League." by Jouett Shouse, November 1, 1934 2013 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7wwp9t2q46/data/59m61/59m61_6/Am_Lib_Lg_6_001/Am_Lib_Lg_6_001.pdf section false xt7wwp9t2q46_5 xt7wwp9t2q46  
To this thought the Charleston, South Carolina, _
News and Courier adds:
"If the Liberty League shall serve as a de- is gg
fense against a government menacing private ' P
property, threatening to seize the savings of  
the provident, intimating that the diligent and
the capable shall under compulsion support _  
the incompetent and unwilling to work, then ' ·
the debt paying and industrious people o-f the ,
villages and countryside in South Carolina ugh. 5,
will be as responsive to its plans as will be  
the millionaires of New York." `
These are two of the outstanding Democratic  
newspapers of the South. In the same connection,
an important Democratic newspaper of the South-
west, the Oklahoma City Oklahoman, asks the fol-
lowing question:
"If this is not a radical Administration and A S h {
if it is strictly Constitutional, why should its p°°° °
most loquacious friends burst into a frenzy }
when certain men proclaim a determined war up IOUETT SHOUSE
in defense of the organic law? If the Admin- . · · L-b
istration is loyal to the Constitution it has ’ P‘°s‘d°“t’ Ameucan 1 any
sworn to protect and if it is altogether free L9¤9\16.B6f¤1’€ the B¤¤d Club
from the taint of lVIarxian philosophy, why T of New York, November 20
should 1t not rejoice when promment men
prepare to defend the Constitution?" · 1934
There will be those among you who will condemn Q
the League because it goes too far. There will be Q
those among you who will condemn the League ·
because it does not go far enough. But with an eye   i
single to the welfare of all the people, without parti-
sanship, without personal bias, without bitterness, .
without fear, the League will go forward along the · x
lines upon which it was originally projected, in the * (
belief that it can make a real and lasting contri- A i
bution to the welfare of America. ./·¤.>q;\_,
,·i
_ .· ‘ National Headquarters
' NATIONAL PRESS BUILDING
[ 12 ] Q' Washington, D. C.

  
"Progress” c.c—
Announcement of the formation of the American
Liberty League was made on August 23rd, last. By
force of circumstances that announcement was pre-
j mature. The original intention was that it should be
, deferred until the first of November in order that
l contemplated plans might be further perfected before
the public was informed. But prominent newspapers
’ had learned of the movement for the formation of
the League and would have sprung the story in
~ their own way had the sponsors not seen fit to issue
their own statement.
The announcement as made resulted in wide-
spread speculation concerning the League, much of
it wholly inaccurate and without foundation in fact.
It was suggested, for example, in certain quarters
that the League meant the beginning of a new politi-
cal party. Others assumed that the League intended
to take active part in the Congressional elections of
this year. Many surmised that it was projected as
a definite anti-Administration organization which
would start in, tooth and nail, to do everything it
·%°¤ could to embarrass President Roosevelt. Still others
asserted that the League was formed primarily by
certain disgruntled politicians who would attempt to
use it to further their personal ambitions and, if pos-
sible, to satisfy their personal prejudice. Then, too,
there was the accusation that the League was the
self-created instrumentality of a group of wealthy
men whose primary interest lay in the preservation
of their own large fortunes.
Why the The gamut of criticism and
of misconception has been
League was nation-wide in its extent and
Formed has included alike important
. and unimportant members of
4 both of the major political parties. To none of this
has the League replied. Its Executive Committee
made clear at once that it had no intention of taking
any part in the elections of the year and the League
` has been intentionally quiescent until those elections
were over in order that its motives might not be
further misconstrued and its activities misrepre-
sented. Now it comes forward with well laid plans
to complete its organization on a nation—wide scale.
It will attempt to prove a constructive force in
American life and a balance wheel toward the preser-
[ 3 l

  
vation of the form of government through which the Pa7'tr$an$hiP The Amerrean peeple have
people of this country have prospered, by and large, Forei n to been taught re rrtrr rn terms
over a period of a hundred and fifty years as have g er partrsan poutres· any
the people of no other nation since time began. the League ageney> thererore> the °bJee‘
Why was the League formed? _ _ _ tlVe$ ef Wlllell maY be even
Thoughtful students of government have watched remotely poutrearr re assumed ny the ererere mem
with increasing apprehension for a number of years ee rn some rerx rear sense partrsan reed dere hee
tendencies that seemed dangerous to the future or caused a confus1on 1n the public mind with reference
the Nation_ Among them have been growing eX_ ` to the League. As a matter of fact,·1t would be
travagance in public expenditure, relinquishment of 1 lust ee true re suggest that the League re rormed tor
legislative authority to the Executive, the partial the purely S€liiSh_purpose of. try1ng to embarrass
surrender by Congress ot the taxing power and its t the present Administration as it would be to sunnose
tendency to create a constantly larger number of that the League re the genesrs er a new ponttear
Federal bureaus and commissions to which have been party· _ _ _
granted both legislative and judicial functions, _ What the League has re de, wher rr must de tr _tt
thereby building up an ever—increasing and a more re re be sueeessrur ts re adhere rrgrdry re eertarn
autocratic form of bureaucracy in the administra- Well denned Plmelplea and re allew ne lalllt el_I{afll‘
tion of govei-nment_ sanship to enter into its conclusions or its act1v1t1es.
The tendency did not hegin with this Administra_ Otherwise it will fail; otherwise 1t should fail. And
tion; it has heen going on tor years. And no more that, of course, means that wherever possible the
striking example of tyrannous rule by a group of League wut endeavor re advance _and re uphold
Federal employees could be cited than the enforce- measures erfered by_tne edmrnrstratron Whrentt eee
ment of the Volstead Act which was passed to make approve? that rr Wtn errtterze onry Yrnen errtrersm
effective the Eighteenth Amendment to the Consti— seems rzeeeeeerv and that such errttetsm ee rr Shell
tutionr However, it is unquestionably true that offer w1ll be constructive rin ICS concept and based
numerous agencies created during the past eighteen upon tne breed appreeratron er the Werrare er the
months, based on the emergency growing out of the Whele people er the eountry·
depression, have shown a disposition so to regiment lt ls rather amuelflg er the memerrr re Here Some
production and so to regulate business as to cause ei the Shafts berm: ermed at the Leesue- O_¤ the 0}le
apprehension in the minds of many millions of our side 1t 1S pilloried because. of the declaration of 1tS
pgople as to the preservation oi the type and iorm sponsors that 1t 1S not ant1—Roosevelt. From other
, ot government nnder which we have iived and in quarters it is berated and condemned on the false
. which we believe. assumption that it was organized to embarrass the
This situation annarentiv had engendered in many Roosevelt Adm1n1strat1on and to try. to hamstr1ng
mth in that-tht tttthht ofthe tthhtty tht thought errd deerrey vrepeeele ef dee Preerderrr rdreedv
that tt would be rt wholesome the tt helpful thing at errrrered rrrre le»ry_ee Well ee dreee hereedrer re be
some organization could be devised, entireiv apart made,. These critics of both classes have been either
from the realm of partisan politics, which, by edu- unwnung re permrt the League re speak ror rtselr
cation, would try to emphasize the basic precepts of er else rrrrrrirllrrrtrr re aeeept tne statements er those
our Government and of the Constitution responsible Wttn autnorrty re speak- rn adyanee er any peerrree
for it, and which would attempt to act as a signal t on any legrsrattye matter tne League here been pre-
post to the people in the seat of their Government ludged and preeondernned by pttter opponents _or
at Washington when measures are proposed or Steps , the present Adm1n1strat1on as well as by some of its
taken that might imply sutbversion of Constitutional most ardent derenders·
rights 1 I do not know any more than do you what the
Out of this situation the American Liberty League ruture may untold- I de not know now erreetrye er
developed, and with the conditions coordinate with now powerrur er now userur the League may prove-
the situation the League wiii attempt to deal. Its But I do assert that unless 1ts affairs are so d1rected
purposes are so simnie that they have heen miscon_ boy 1ts Executive Comm1ttee,·wh1ch alone 1S respon-
strued. Its aims are so entirely frank that they erble le? lls Pellelh as to aV0ld the Pitfalls ell ellllel
have been migundeygtggd and miSTgprgSgnt€d_ Sl(l€, lt   be 3,bl€ to €X€l“ClS€ little l1'll:ll1€I1C€ 3.IId
[4] [ 5 l

 will have little weight. Equally I am persuaded, erally will be financed by the great credit resources
however, that the American people will not be led which the present liquidity of banks makes possi·ble."
into unfair prejudgment of the League by prejudiced That declaration as well as other expressions of a
partisans, for whatever reason oron whatever side. similar nature from Administration sources must be
taken as an assurance to investors and to those who
A Practical May I guggegt to ygu my COIIUOI thé II13.ChlI’1€I`y' of •I1'1V€StII1€I1t that m&lI1t€—
_ conception Oi the province gf nance of the rights of pr1vate property forms an
and Definite the League? Essentially its , integral part of the Administration’s program.
Program purposes are educational, but ll Perhaps I should say at this juncture that   speak
it is withal a Very practical ~‘ only as one member of the Fjxecutive Committee of
organization. It has not been created by any higher   U18 L€&g¤€· Q¤€St10¤S of P0l1¢Y 111_SP€¢1ilC f0fm_hj#1Ve
pOW€1._ It has authority tt, Speak only {Oi its Own not yet come before that Committee for decision.
membership. In no sense can it attempt to act as a I do Hf-lt, §h€F€f0Y€, 3Ui€{¤Pt to V01C€ €XPf€SS10¤ of
general supervisory body over all legislation that th€_ C0mm1tt€Q, ih0¤gh_1H what I Say I h0p€ and
may be presented to Congress. Such an assumption, believe that I 1¤t€YP1‘€t 111 3 g§’=¤€Y8·l Way the f€€l111g
indeed, would mean that it could have no real effect and thi? Httltlldé of the C0mm1tli€€-
upon any individual piece of legislation. Upon those V
subjects with which it tries to deal it must have full The League In that spirit I suggest that
and accurate information. Any position it takes the League should attempt to
must be determined only after careful investigation Looks to the deal with the future and not
and with the well-founded belief that the position is Future with the past. Whatever
correct and is wise. It must state frankly to the may be your opinion or my
public the reasons for its contentions. It must ap- opinion as to features of some of the legislation now
proach the Committees of Congress only with a on the statute books, the work of the incoming Con-
desire to be helpful and in the knowledge that the gress, the proposals that will be before that Congress
legislative representatives of the Nation welcome are enough to occupy to the uttermost the time and
from any responsible group useful suggestions in con- the energies and the efforts of the League and of other
nection with proposed legislation. In measures that agencies of American citizens.
may be offered it must seek to preserve what is good There is, however, one class of legislation which
and to oppose what seems unwise and improper. necessarily must be contemplated within the purview
Wholesale condenmation should be as foreign to it of future activities and that is a group of measures
as unrestrained commendation. And most important that have been passed because of emergency with a
of all, it must have the courage, despite any groups definite statutory limitation as to the time for which
that it may be compelled to oppose, to uphold per- and within which they are to be effective. With
severingly and unflinchingly the positions it assumes. some of the most important of these Congress during
Always and in all circumstances the League must the coming Winter must deal, and necessarily the
stand for principles and for principles alone. Per~ extension or the amendment of these enactments will
sonalities must not and will not enter in. bring into issue legislation which has heretofore been
It is the duty of every loyal citizen to cooperate passed.
with those in high office as long as he may do so with- As an example, there is the National Industrial
p out a sacrifice of his own convictions on fundamental , Recovery Act. The date of its expiration as matters
principles. I think it peculiarly appropriate to sug- now stand is ]une 16, 1935.
gest that idea to this gathering of men who have so ’ Speaking for myself, I not only am not prepared
much to do with supplying the capital which serves { unreservedly to condemn the NRA, but, on the other
as the foundation for the Nation’s economic structure. ·l hand, I believe that in many regards it has served
There have been recent assurances from high a useful purpose. With its social objectives, which
official sources that the Administration’s plans con- are an important part, I have deep sympathy. And
template in so far as possible the utilization of pri- while I feel very strongly that the prohibition of
vate capital as a basis for recovery. In his address child labor, the maintenance of a minimum wage and
to the American Bankers Association the President the limitation of hours of work belong under our
expressed the conviction that "private business gen- form of government in the realm of the affairs of
[ 6 l [ 7 l

  
the difte1‘e¤t 5tat€$, Y€t I am €¤tiY€lY willing tv benefits as may accrue at the sacrifice of all oppor-
Hgfee that i¤ the Case of fm 0V€YWh€1mi¤g ¤&ti0¤&l tunity to exercise personal discretion, to use intelli-
emergency the Federal Government fO1‘ 3. limited gence and judgment or to retain the privilege of
period should be permitted to assume jurisdiction individual initiative,
of them. The answer of the Department of Agriculture as
That the NRA has llldlllgéd lll UI1W3I'I'3.I‘1t€(l BX- set Out in the papers Of yesterday is an offer of
cesses of attempted regulation there can be no doubt. increased benefits in the oorn-nog program fer the
That its policy of price fixing is d€tYim€¤t¤l to the _, year 1935. Such a course of action is, of itself, cause
best interests of the great mass of the people is my ' for real concern to thoughtful students of methods
firm ‘b€1l.€f.   its attempt to write codes for every , being employed   the GOV€rnm€nt_ Certainly COI-1,
little business of the country was absurd and ridicu- ' gress should watch with most jealous eye any at-
lous there is small question. But because of these t tempts to extend AAA authority through amendment
things I would not ruthlessly sacrifice everything of the existing act, particularly if, as charged by
connected with the NRA and try to have the entire responsible members of the Senate last Spring, such
law repealed. I shall look forward with interest to amendments are designed primarily to justify what
the report now being formulated by the committee has been done under the pretense of authority origi-
created to recommend a re-organization of the nally conferred by the Act.
agency and I shall hope that the result will be such
as to permit endorsement by the American Liberty Compulsory The Bankhead Cotton
L€8~8’u€· Control Act is an even more
Cvntrvl vf ambitious effort to raise agri-
Dangers in The other outstanding in- Production cultural prices by artificial
strumentality of national im- means. Within the next few
the Fafm portance recently created as weeks the cotton planters are to be given an oppor-
Program emergency legislation is the tunity to vote on the question of whether or not this
Agricultural Adjustment Ad- Act should be continued in effect for another year.
ministration. Unlike the NRA it was not established There have been rather substantial indications that
for a hxed time. On the other hand, it does not many of the producers are far from satisfied with
represent permanent legislation. The President is the results obtained under it. I share the apprehen-
empowered to declare in his discretion an end of sions which were expressed by Senator Borah and
the emergency and with such declaration the AAA others when the bill was under consideration. Com-
passes out of existence. pulsory control of the production of a basic agri-
I am not one of those who is unconscious of, or cultural commodity is a tremendous power to be
unsympathetic with the agricultural problem. I vested in one man or in any small group of men.
recognize the ills with which agriculture has been The principle involved, if once accepted, may lead
afflicted. I recognize the desirability of restoring to control of the production of every commodity
the buying power of the farmers. I recognize the upon which the nation depends for its food supply.
necessity to attempt to achieve a price for farm The results which might easily fiow from a mistake
products that will justify their production. The on the part of a government off1cial———through failure
Farm Board experiments of the Hoover Administra- to anticipate a drought or some other unforeseeable
tion did not succeed. I am unable to see that the { factor—are so appalling as to be almost unbelievable.
regimentation of production undertaken by the In my judgment the best interests of the cotton
present Administration will succeed. Nor is it either » growers and of the Nation as a whole demand repeal
V justifiable or ultimately beneficial. Moreover, in of the Bankhead Act.
the experimentation that has been undertaken in t An important conference was held in Washington
this connection there is a grave challenge to‘Consti- last week relative to a program of social legislation
tutional liberty. to be offered this Winter. None of the measures
The farmers themselves have signified in recent has as yet been prepared. Therefore, it is impossible
referenda a serious distrust of the plan and in im- to express an opinion concerning them, But again
portant sections have demonstrated by their votes speaking for myself alone I do not hesitate to assert
that they are unwilling to continue such immediate that there is the certainty of a system of unemploy-
l 8 l [ 9 l

  
ment insurance as a necessary safeguard to the in- swings too far in either direction. It proved ex-
dustrial life of the future. Legislation of this char- tremely unfortunate to past Republican Adminis-
acter, like Workmen’s Compensation, comes within trations that there was not a larger opposition. The
the province of the States and not the Federal gov- wisest friends of the present Administration may
ernment, and it is very earnestly to be hoped that well regret that as a result of the recent elections the
such action as the Administration may urge shall be incoming Congress is so overwhelming in its Adminis-
predicated upon the basis of state authority. tratioéi majority. That situzstion places upon the
_ Presi ent a graver responsibi ity even than he has
The League Th e American Lib erty here§oforf:tfaceil1sbecssa.use he hassutlse power to rgiaclg
• o League believes in progress. any egis a 1on a emay see o propose. uc
Bgltgveg tn Its attitude is in no Sense e enormous power carries w1th·1t an equally burden-
P Static On the other hand it ~ some respons1b1l1ty. There IS, however, a similar
Togress ' responsibility upon the minority small and inade-
would advocate orderly prog- t .t . It I dr t t th t
ress as the only safe method by which to go forward. Quai? es ‘ ;S· t EY"? I?. me “ Y .t‘? °§.°;“ tr
It has been frequently referred to as a representa- cgi; gi Zncgrgleulalgevielvf egggnenzljpgil ggzxrlc gin
tive of the conservative thought of the country. I do Of 15 isletien that me be Offered}, y P C
not object to the word "c0nservative," but I main- g y ‘
tain that a better definition of the aims and purposes The League As I have already stated
of the League is the assertion that it represents the While the American Libertg,
constructive thought of the country. It believes Not G New League is in its Very essence
in the value and the necessity 0f social i‘€f01‘m, but P t a political organization———be-
it draws the very definite line Of distinction b6tW6611 ar y cause its objectives are -
gbgggfgygsegiggviejgiergetnre and U16 ih601Y of liticalyit is_  nc; inse a political party. Its gid-
• o era ion wi no . "' '
Socialism d0€$ not Y€PY€S€¤t PF0gY6SS· C0111111¤· niit be partisan. Whfergiigiliinlisibfdsifwilllshrblpdviii
nism is the antithesis of progress- Resiinentation is work with the Administration toward objectives
the outcome of tyranny and the handnnaiden of an- beneficial to the country. To that end, it will exert
tocracy. Regimentation and democracy are as far every effort. On the other hand, the League will
apart as the P01€$· _ _ be true to the principles enunciated in its charter.
TI16 111611 311d W0111611 Wh0 21d}’0¢&_t6 p111161pl6S of It will not hesitate to differ when difference involves
self-help and of individual initiative, those who Constitutional principle. It will not fail to uphold
point to the opportunities afforded by this country fundamental Americanism against subversive the-
to every boy no matter how humble the c1rcum— Ories and alien doctrines.
stances of his birth nor how great the hardships with Suggestion has been made in some important
which he is confronted, those who would hold up as quarters that the American Liberty League places
examples to be emulated the type of sturdy Ameri- too great a stress upon property rights. I can offer
canism illustrated by the men who have made this no better answer than does the Houston, Texas,
country great——it is they and not the disciples of Chronicle. It calls attention to the question of a
mere change who speak on behalf of liberality and C1‘itiC of the League who said: "But what will you do
progress in America. For the theory of change only W11611 P6YS01161 611d property rights conflict?" And
for the sake of change is in its essence a destructive { then U16 Ch1`011i€I6 8065 011 to commentz
theory and one- that will do infinite mischief if r "What Could be Sjljjel-p Rights, cem>t·eOn_
allowed to prevail. _ I ilict. That, it seems, should be axiomatic.
I believe 1n the system of party government which i Nor is there any such thing as property rights.
has sprevailed in this country for the last hundred A building has no rights, apiece of ground has
years. I believe in party obligation and party re- no rights. Some person has a personal right
sponsibility. Whether it be in Nation, State or City, in the ownership of the building or land. It
the best government is achieved when the balance is as much a personal right as his right to
of power between the two parties is as nearly as pos- vote or to enjoy freedom unless convicted for
sible equal. It is undesirable when the pendulum some cr1me."
[ 10] [ 11 ]