Quotes

The Cry Wolf Quote Bank chronicles the false predictions and hyperbole by opponents of these laws and protections.  While the issues and specific policies change over time, the rhetoric and themes remained the same.  You can search the Quote Bank for what opponents said to prevent these laws from passing. Using the drop down menus on the right their statements by issue, by specific law, by who said it and by the core themes they evoke.   Elsewhere on the site, you can find articles, studies, and other material that debunks their claims. 

E.g., 2024-06-03
E.g., 2024-06-03

This bill will cause further migration from the farm areas to the industrial areas and will invite the transfer of workers from the class of those not gainfully employed in order to share in the unemployment benefits…Unemployment insurance, which in many instances places a premium on indolence, would unquestionably defeat this proposed plan of the administration to place workers in the areas of lower living costs and keep them gainfully employed.

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Walter D. Allen, President of the National Editorial Association, Testimony, House Committee on Ways and Means.
03/21/1934 | Full Details

The imposition on industry at this time of the tax burden contemplated by this measure would render business recovery absolutely hopeless. Manufacturing industry is now engaged in a desperate struggle in an effort to continue operations and provide jobs. Most industries have been operating at a loss for several years. Industry is not prepared at this time to accept the added burden as contemplated by this bill.

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James L. Donnelly on Behalf of the Illinois Manufacturers Association, Testimony, House Committee on Ways and Means.
03/21/1934 | Full Details

Establishment of minimum margins for banks is unfair and unnecessarily restrictive in principle.

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William C. Potter, chairman of the board of Guaranty Trust Co of NY, testimony to Senate Banking Committee
03/13/1934 | Full Details

The national securities act of 1934, as proposed, would interfere in a vital way with the essential supply of capital to business.

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George Houston, National Association of Manufacturers, Vice President
03/13/1934 | Full Details

Taken together with the Securities Act of 1933 (the 1934 Act) will effectively bar the flow of capital into American business.

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George Houston, National Association of Manufacturers, Vice President
03/13/1934 | Full Details

The Securities Act of 1933 created a serious obstacle to recovery, through its drastic regulation of the issuance of new securities by private enterprise. The Banking Act of 1933 created an additional impediment through the provisions of Section 16 prohibiting the national banks from participating in underwriting securities after June 16, 1934.

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George Houston, National Association of Manufacturers, Vice President
03/13/1934 | Full Details

No rule of thumb method ... can be devised which will fit all securities in all situations....It would produce even greater injury than the Federal Securities Act in retarding or preventing the follow of securities into new and refunding issues, which are indispensable if employment is to be maintained and increased and the huge burden on the Treasury is to be relieved.

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From a statement issued by the unnamed “directors” of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
03/05/1934 | Full Details

It would help me by driving 85 per cent of my competitors out of business, if I could manage to keep out of Atlanta or Leavenworth myself.

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Steve Pearce, biggest wire broker of the time, on creation of SEC
02/25/1934 | Full Details

If this bill should become law, we will be forced to cancel immediately every line of advertising.

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One patent-medicine maker (unnamed) had written to multiple newspapers with the warning.
01/01/1934 | Full Details

While both we and our clients are in entire sympathy with the aims and purposes of the Tugwell Bill, we are all of one mind in our fears about such a sweeping grant of autocratic power being placed in the hands of any bureau or department of government.

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An advertising executive that represented the proprietary industry.
01/01/1934 | Full Details

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