The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-09-29
He Goes to the Root of Grave
National Evils.
TO TAX TRUSTS HEAVY
As Recommended by Report Of the Committee
at American Bar Association
Other Live Topics Pre-
santed.

ter passing mild resolutions III favor OF
enforcing existing laws against trusts.
The convention did not endorse the dras-
tic and effective measures offered IN a
series Of resolutions offered by Mr.. j. j.
clearinghouse, of North Carolina, but
they are educative and we'll worth con-
sideration. Mr.. Laughinghouse has gwen
long and earnest consideration to the
tlust evil, particularly as it bears upon
the farmers OF the country. He has
read much, and has seen and telt the
burdens imposed. by the trusts upon
American agriculture, and the remedies
he offered are believed by him and by
many others to be necessary to give re
lef. The resolutions offered in that con-
vention by Mr.. Laughinghouse are as
fellows:
ENFORCE HI CRIMINAL STATUTES.
Whereas, Notwithstanding the penalties
AGAINST trusts have been upon the statute
book for ten years, there has been no
instance of conviction or punishment IN
fficted in a single instance hereunder,
while these devourers OF the peoples sub
stance nave Deeu multiplied iihC thN
plaques of Egypt,
Resolved, That this Convention respect
fully petitions the President of the Unit
ed States to see that the criminal sta
tutes aaginst trusts be strictly executed,
in both letter and spirit.
TEN PER CENT. a ON TRUSTS.
>. Whereas, The criminal statutes
against trusts have proven ineffective Tor
their suppression; and whereas, the I'M
position of a ten per cent. tax upon State
banks of issue, a perfectly legitimate bus
mess. procured their instant destruction.
Resolved, That this Convention respect
fully petitions Congress to impose a fran
chise tax Of ten 90 per cent. upon all
corporations engaged in Interstate COM
merce whose capital stock shall exceed
one hundred million of dollars.
INCOME TAX NEEDED, DEMANDED.
Whereas, One-third of the revenues of
Great Britain are derived from a grad
uated tax upon incomes, the ratio IN
c~reasing IN proportion to the size OF the
mcome; and whereas, by the change OF
opinion of one Judge of the Supreme
Court OF the United States. the income
tax levied by Congress, which had been
constitutional for more than one hun
dred years, was suddenly held unconstl-
tutional, thus transferring one hundred
millions Of annual taxation from these
most able to bear it and placing 1t upon
those least able to bear 1t, whereby, al
ready IN these ten years the masses have
paid one thousand millions Of dollars in
taxation which the people through their
representatives in both houses Of Con-
gress had ordered should be paid by IN
come Tax. Now, therefore,
Resolved, We earnestly petition Con
gress to enact a Constitutional Amend
ment to be submitted to the Legislatures
of the several States, empowering Con-
q Tess to levy an Income Tax.
ELECTION OF SENATOR'S, JUDGES.
4. Whereas, In a free country, no public
office should be deemed so high and i'm,
pOrtant that the people are incompetent
to fill it, and it is increasingly important
that the people should retain supervision
of their public servants:
Resolved, That this Convention respect
fully petitions Congress to pass a Consti-
tutional Amendment to be submitted TIC
the several legislatures providing for the
election Of United States Senators and all
United States Judges by the people, and
the adoption of a term of years, in lieu OF
life tenure, for the latter.
AGAINST FREE PASSES, FRANKS.
5. Whereas, by the Interstate Commerce
Act, Railroad and Telegraph, Telephone
and Express Companies are forbidden tC
make any discrimination, and by repeated
decisions OF the proper Court. this Act
forbids the giving of Railroad free passes
or Telegraph, Telephone and Express
franks to Senator's, congressman and
Judges or other public officials, and the
notorious violation of this law in favor
of public officials is a bad example anG
a scandal:
Resolved, That this Convention respect
fully petition the President to TAX steps
TO secure the due execution of this
statute.
NO QUARTERS FOR SUBSIDIZED
SHEETS.
6. Whereas, 1t is notorious that grea1
trusts and corporations have acquir eC
ownership or control of a large part O
the newspaper press with a view of in
ttuenClng public sentiment in their inter
est and to prevent the dissemination O
correct and full information of intelligence
upon matters vitality affecting the publ,
welfare:
Resolved, That we recommend to The
farmers and toilers of this country to pat
ronize no paper whose u]tterances do no
show that it stands at all times fully ant
squarely for justice to the people in the
great contest in which we are now en-
gagged, and against the trusts and illega
combinations that would rob us of thu
just fruits of our toll.
The papers did not. state whether MI
L~augkinghous made a speech to the Con
vention in favor of his resolutions. If h
did, he spoke with characteristic force an.
convincing argument. He is a man VIII,
does not advocate any cause in which h
does not sincerely believe, and a man VIII,
is ready always to give a reason for tn
faith that is in him. A ringing speed
from him would have been like a bugl
call to his brother farmers to awake from
their lcthargy and get ready for drasti