Suchergebnisse

In a constitutional system founded on principles of personal liberty, can a man be punished for the company he keeps? The problem is discussed in respect of legislation dealing with vagrancy, association with gamblers & prostitutes, groups assembled for criminal activities or association with such persons & persons engaging in pol'al conspiracy. The weight of authority of the courts is against enforcing such statutes in appellate courts; it is not considered seemly to make it a crime merely to associate with 'wicked' people. It is time enough for the criminal law to act when illegal acts have been committed. IPSA.

The many new functions of the gov in the econ & soc sphere have led commercial & industrial interests to organize themselves in order to represent their collective views & to deal with matters of common concern. Trade associations are voluntary, non-profit- making bodies established by independent firms. The largest is the Federation of British Industries, others are the National Union of Manufacturers & the Association of British Chambers of Commerce. Their chief function is to make the views of their members known to the gov through representations made by their officials to civil servants. A high % of pressure group activities in Parliament is the work of trade associations, but they prefer an approach to the administration rather than to MP's. The scope of their influence varies, but where the administration is not too deeply committed to its own ideas, it may be great. They can persuade the dept's to make changes or suggest methods of implementing policy; they influence the framing of policy & can by criticism or obstruction make the work of gov difficult. The strength of Associations depends on their cohesion & unity. Their sanction is the refusal of cooperation with admin. It is desirable to have strong trade associations, but the gov should always try to acquire through its dept's an independent view of any problem presented to it. IPSA.

Address before the Southern political science association, Lexington, Va., Oct. 22, 1948.