Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-07-08
ABOUT THE CONVENTION.

We hope the Democratic convention
to be held tomorrow at Columbus,
will be characterized by thorough
work. We have no doubt that "A man
of clean record and good repute will
be called to head the ticket. There
are an abundance of such men in
Ohio. Indeed the Republicans have
already nominated such one. IL
therefore, we would outmatch them
we must do more than choose a repu-
table man for our standard-bearer.
This means that to win the doubtful
or independent voter, we must show
him that the policy to which the con-
vention Is to commit the party is
superior in merit to that promised by
the enemy
There Is, we believe, not much
doubt that the question of reforms In
taxation is today uppermost in the
minds of the people Of Ohio; certainly
IL touches them nearer home than any
other issue upon which we can go
before them this year.
The Republicans,-wh are wise In
their generation, have recognized and
anticipated this, and have thrown a
tub to the whale in the shape of IA
declaration which may mean something
or nothing, according to the political
bias Of the person looking at IT, No
doubt 1t WAS intended to mean moth
ing. If 1t has any other significance
Il is only that we are to throw over
board our present constitutional theory
of a dead-level uniformity OF taxation,
with its cast iron inadaptabilty to
circumstances, and In its place turn
the whole question loose upon such
Legislatures as we may from time to
time send TO Columbus. This would
be only to change the problem of the
tax.dodger from that of purchase
OF the taxing otiicers,-as at present,
to that of buying of Legislators
a distinction without much difference
certainly none of hardship to the tax
eater.
The Democrats ought to promise
something far better than this. If
they can't, we can hardly hope for
success.
If there is any country-even Tur-
key-~where the taxpayer gets less ip
return for what he pays, in the shape
Of efficient and economical government
and satisfactory public service, than
the people OF Ohio are now getting
we don't know 1t. And whatever else
the Democratic convention does or
falls to do. here 1t should put the knife
In deep and reach the very seat of the
inhrmity OF our present system OF
taxation, and propose IA remedy ut once
radical, wise and practical. Nothing
can well he worse than the tax situation
which now obtains. We chance little
In saying that the people win welcome
any change-as being one for the bet
ter.
Not only ought the work of the con
vention TO be thorough going in this
respect, but It's nominees should fairly
match 1t. No man should bc placed
upon the ticket whose record Is essen
TALLY inconsistent with the principles
upon which we are to go before the
people; and no tax.dodGer, or represen
tative OF tax dodgers, or benehciar,
of tax-dodging should be entrusted
with the carrying out OF the policy tc
be formulated 10y the convention.
With an unequivocal platform, pledg
ing the party TO a tangible policy o
reform in matters OF taxation and sub
stantial reatlirmation Of the principles
declared by the National Conventions o
1896 and 1900. and with candidate
who can look these declaration
squarely in the face, and stand pei
pendicularly on such a platform, W
can win in Ohio in November. With
tt1II