The Menace of Paternalism. An Address before the Convention of the American Bankers Association, Chicago, September 27, 1918

N. P. [Chicago: American Bankers Association?], 1918. pp 93. 1 vols. 8vo. Original printed wrappers. Ownership stamp on front cover and title, library stamp on back of wrappers with pencilled notations on front, else a very good copy. pp 93. 1 vols. 8vo. Government-the Monopoly of Monopolies. Kahn (1867-1924) was a noted banker, a partner in the banking firm Kuhn, Loeb & Co. He was also the President and Chairman of the Board of the Metropolitan Opera Company. In this speech he speaks against "Paternalism:" the government restricting the freedom of the people by unnecessary regulations as "liberty necessarily limits governmental efficiency." He believes that the business functions of government should be confined to "activities which private enterprise cannot undertake equally as well or better than the State...Government, in its very essence is the negation of competition. It is...the monopoly of monopolies" and he questions "Why, then should a people which rightly discountenances monopoly and rightly believes in the principles of competition, enlarge the operations of governmental agencies further than is required for the recognized purposes which a free government is meant to serve".