Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1890-09-07
THE DEMANDS OF THE FARMERS

A few days ago the National Farm
ers' annual Congress at Council Bluffs,
Iowa, adjourned. and the suggestions
made in that meeting are well worthy
of the strongest consideration. This
congress does not represent a political
party, but proposes to seek remedy
for certain ills by legislation through
existing parties, therefore instead OF
being antagonized by the parties the
Farmers Congress will merit their
support.
There are three demands made by
that congress, upon which there have
been no recent expressions by either
of the parties; the election OF United
States senator's by popular vote, a
graduated income tax and the amend
ment to the patent laws so that the
exclusive use Of inventions shall be
limited to ten years.
These questions will probably not
become party ISSUES but will be dealt
with after the style that trusto are
now being handled. The election OF
United States senators by popular
vote is question of slow growth so
far. but the fact that the millionaires
and corporations are making an effort
to capture the senate will have ten
dencv 10 hasten the discussion. The
logic of the farmers ON this matter Is
that If the senators were elected 10y pop
ular vote il would not be so easy to
buy a senatorship. But in reply to
this it might be claimed that there
is no way To avoid nominations by par
ties. and the millionaires and corpora
tions can easily control state legisla-
lures. To this the farmers will come
back with the rejoinder: IL corpora
lions succeed in nominating theil
men the canvass between the conven'
ton and election will develop the fact
and the farmers can then defeat theil
nominee, whereas in the election OF
senator by the legislature the legisla
tors who have been bought In the eau
Gus will. in the joint session, stand b.
the man who has paid them thei
price. There is determination L
check the growing power OF wealtl
aud corporations in the senate, bu
whether the elections Of senators b
popular vote is the best way is sub
ject that will bear discussion.
A graduated income tax has bee
discussed since long before that LAY
was repealed. The farmers believ
that these who make the most clea
money should pay the most taxes an
that each should hear the burdens G
supporting the government i'm propo
tion to the profits he makes. Thos
who have large incomes oppose tn
and claim that the collection of int
nal revenues is a source of frauds an
hardships. The farmers claim, as di
the greenhack party, that graduate
income tax is just and proper an
they demand it. by graduated" the
mean that il an income is SlO.OO
year alNNt tAitliNNo ~ 0Ai'hAt l'f' ~
one per cent, or 500 taxes annual
But if the income is $4,000 il shou
pay two per cent or $1,000 tax and
the income is 100000, three per Gel
or 5000 The scheme is To increa
the per cent as the income increase
This question has two sides to il N
will probably be extensively discusse
The proposition to shorten the tel
for holding patent rights will prohat
be adopted. as it has been gaini
ground for years, and Therefore I
only questions raised by the farme
congress that will probably cause :
ious discussion are the elections
the United States senators and
graduated income tax.