Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-02-12

and complex forms OF taxation. 1t
would seem as IL that form OF taxation
which would produce the least friction
and annoyance TO the taxed would be
the most judicious one to adopt, and
that form which would be the most
dlstasteful should be the one to avoid,
and as a matter of opinion / would
say that an income tax would be the
most distasteful tax that could be
adopted. The advocates of an income
tax, take It, come from class of
people who would want u graduated
income tax, and they would want pref
erental rates as to the percentage to
be paid. They would not want to pay
an equal per centage on their small
income as that to be derived from large
incomes. They, therefore, seek in this
method, slight form of paternal gov
ernment, or is it more fagrant dis
position of contiscation OF the other
mans wares, and would it not bring
up a bitter contest all along the line
from the man who receives his daily
wage up to the multi-millionaire?
OF course, YOU are aware that the
adoption of an income tax would only
come about after n revision of the con-
stitution of the United States, as such
n law OF tax has been declared uncon-
stitutional by the United States SUI
preme Court. Therefore while this
debate is only academic, the question
is one that is liable to come up as "A
new fad in politics, and I would not
be surprised, at any time, If Bryan
would adopt il as new issue. There
seems TO be the usual antagon-
ism or n disposition to tax the rich
man in some unusual way, or a little
higher than his poorer competitor. An
income tax separate from this thought
or principle would fall very fiat. There
has been a great deal of energy vast
ed in getting at the rich man, My
advice would be, just let him alone a
little while and he will die, and you
and and the whole world will be bet
ter off for his having lived and saved,
He cannot take ii with him, and 1t
may be left in railroads Oh which you
and | can ride, OF in steamships OH
which you and l can cross the ocean,
or II NAV be he has invested in large
manufactures in which you and | can
get work, or it may be he has invest
ed it in banking, where you and |
can borrow some money, and then just
think, we always have such sure
thing of collecting good tax from his
estate. in the usual way--and let us
not waste it, for it is such a staple
thing. Let us encourage others to get
rich so we can tax them. BY and by,
we will have so many rich men that
our own tax will grow less and less,
and wealth will accumulate very
largely and all the world will pay trl-
butte to us and our great ships will
bring wealth aud luxurics from I'LL ma
tions and lay them down at our doors,
so that we can all be better Off and pro-
fit by this accumulated wealth, which
is always working for us ana pro-
ducing for us things we most need
the product of the farm, of the loom,
of the workshop. of all kinds and var
iety. each wear Is furnished us a little
cheaper so that we can have more of
them, if we want, or greater variety
if we like. And just think, too, the
rich men are getting less interest every
year. He is loaning his money now to
the government for what brings him
less than . per cent. The cheapest
thing | know of today, is the rich mans
money. He cannot use it mt all with
out he uses it through your energy.
He depends on your genius, your abil'
ity TO handle il, and you have that
genius and ability-you are dividing
the honors with him by constantly
reaching out and developing new
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