The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-04-24
w1ALrn AND The COUNTRY.

The Houston Post thinks that. on
the whole, President Roosevelt is not
likely to lose prestige by his strong
words touching the necessity for lin.
iting inheritancs. The best thought OF
the country is bound TO sustain him,
and II is only TO be- regretted that he
neglected TO submit some definite
plan TO bring about the reform he out.
lined. The very difficulty Of achieving
this most desirable result. and the
certainty that Success. when attained
must follow weary years Of agitation.
renders II all the more desirable that
some tangible method Of procedure be-
formulated.
The Democratic party has for
years been declaring In its national
platforms for an income tax. notwith-
standing the cOnsti .utonal obstacles
in tho way. but little progress has
been made In the direction OF securing
constitutional amendment We all
know that the peculiar relations CT.
listing between the federal and state
governments render the inheritance
problem moro than difficult and that
IT'S solution can mover be reached until
these relations aro changed in some
impotant respect
The country has reached the stage
OF the $500 1000 fortune. surrey
when the 10000. 900 Is no longer con.
sidered extraordinary. there are
bound To be conditions Affecting lho
masses as a whole which demand at
tentlon. The president suggested tina.
the time must ultimately come" when
the government would have 10 take
oogniSance Of these conditions. Since
the danger is already present, the
question ay well be asked. How long
should action be deferred7
Anything like n progressive tax up
on inherltanccs Is going 70 be resist
ed. no matter when unles.ikor
Therefore. It IL useless TO hope that
public opinion may at some future
time become so unanimous as 10 ren.
der tho task easier.
The people are Rlrady rcstivc I'M
der system which grants TO con.
centrated wealth extraordinary privi
leges, yet largely relieves Il OF it's
share Of the burden OF the federal
government To a large extent these
large and dangerous fortunes are a
result OF privilege. and while Il would
bo desirable 20 limit their dimensions
and power. nevertheless inheritance
taxes can never finally solve the prob.
lem. Tho conditions which accumulate
abnormal wealth must be dealt with
and Il would be better far in the long
run 10 abate tho privileges which dis
tribute wealth unevenly than TO 20
too IA In the direction Of limiting the
accumulation OF wealth.
With privilege eliminated. the cause
OF excessive fortunes would be large
ly removed. and instead OF having a
chronic condition TO deal with. the
country could address itself merely
To what would be likely TO prove a
temporary con1.tion. but even when
the accumulation OF dangerously
largo fortunes has been prop.
ely death with. It would still be
desirable TO compel wealth TO per
form It's duties 10 the government
and an income tax. or an inheritance
tax. or both. would be strictly in ac
cord with sound public policy.
II should be emphasized. however,
that the question Is not for ultimate
treatment. as the president says, but
one OF Imminent concerns. Delay must
necessarily render It's complexities
moro bafiiing and It's solution more
difiicult.