The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-31


monarchist chance to ridicule our. de-
claration of independence and the scoffer
has twitted US with inconsistency. A tour
to the Philippines has deepened the con-
victlons that we should lose no time in
announcing our purpose to deal with the
tflipinos as we dealt with the Cubans.
Every deration-commercial and poll
teal leads to the conclusion. Ports as
we may need for coaling stations or for
naval base will be gladly conceded by
the Filipinos who simply desire an OPP
portunlty to work out their own destiny,
inspired by our example and aided by
our advice. In so far our efforts have
been directed toward the education OF the
Filipnos, we have rendered them dis
tinct service. but in educating them we
must recognize that we are making col
onialism impossible. If we intended to
hold them as subjects We would not dare
to educate them; self government with
ultimate independence must be assumed
If we contemplate universal education IN
the Philippines. AS soon as opportunity
offers shall discuss the question more at
length and I shall also refer to English
rule in India for 1t throws light upAn
our own problems in the Philippines, but
these subjects must be reserved until I
can speak more in detail.
Responsive to public Sentiment.
legislative department of government is
more quickly responsive to public senti-
ment than Is our congress. In England for
instance, where the ministry is formed
from the dominant party when an cleo
tion Is held upon any important issue the
government proceeds to put into law the
will of the people expressed at the polls.
While our system is superior In many re-
spects 1t has one defect, viz, that the
congress does not meet in regular ses-
sion until thirteen months after the cleo
tion. During this period there is uncer-
tainty, long drawn out. which to the bus
mess community is often more damaging
than change OF policy promptly car
ried into effect. Would not the situation
be improved by a constitutional amend
ment converting the first session of con-
gress within a few months after the cleo
tion and compelling the second session to
adjourn several days before the follow
Ing election?
Give Public More Relief.
"Such a change would not only serve
legitimate business interests and give the
public the benefit of more relief through
remedial legislation, but 1t would protect
people from the jobs that are usually re-
served for the short session which is now
held after the election, and when many
of the members feel the less responsibility
because Of their defeat at the polls.
II return more convinced than before of
the Importance of a change in the method
of electing United States senators. There
is noticeable everywhere a distinct move
ment toward democracy in it's broadcast
sense In all the countries which have
visited there is a demand that the govern
ment be brought nearer the people. In
China a constitution is under considera-
ton. In Japan the people are demanding
that the ministry instead of being chosen
by the Emperor from among his partieu-
lar friends shall be selected from paflia-
ment, and being in harmony with the
dominant sentiment In India there is agl-
tation in favor of a native congress; in
Russia the Car has been compelled to re-
cognze the popular voice in the establish
ment of a douma, and throughout Europe
the movement manifests itself in various
forms In the United States this trend
toward democracy has taken this form of
a growing demand for the election OF
United States senator's by a direct vote
of the people 1t must be difficult to over
estimate the strategic advantage of this
reform, for since every bill must receive
the sanction of the Senate as well as or
the House of Representatives before II
can >become a law, no important legisla-
tion of a national character is possible
until the Senate Is brought into harmony
with the people.
Bulwark of Predatory Wealth.
II am within the limits of the truth
when / say that the Senate has been for
some years the bulwark of predatory
wealth and that it even now contains 80
many members who owe their election to
favor seeking corporations, and are so
subservient to their masters as to prevent
needed legislation. The popular branch
of Congress has four times declared in
favor of this reform by two-thirds vote.
and more than two-thirds of the states
have demanded it, and yet the Senate ar
rogantly and impudently blocks the way.
Income Tax Endorsed.
1.-The income tax which some in our
country have denounced as a socialistlc
attack upon wealth, has, 1 am pleased to
report, the endorsement of the most con-
servative countries in the old world. 1t
is a permanent part of the fiscal system
of most of the countries of Europe. and
in many places it is graded tax, the
rate being highest upon largest incomes.
England has long depended upon the in
come tax for a considerable part of her
revenue, and an English commission is
row investigating the proposition to
change from a uniform to a graded tax.
IT have been absent too elong to speak
with any authority on the public senti-
ment in this country at this time, but |
am so convinced of the justice of the In.
come tax that l feel sure that the people
will sooner or later demand an amend
ment to the constitution which will speci-
ffcally authorize an income tax and thus
make II possible for the burdens of the
federal government to be apportioned
among the people in proportion to their
ability to bear them. 1t is little short
of a disgrace to our country that while
1t is able to command the lives of its citi-
zens in time of war, 1t cannot even in
the most extreme emergency compel
wealth to bear its shares of the expenses
of the government which protects it.
Applied to Capital and Labor
IT have referred to the investigation of
International controversies under a system
which does not bind the parties to ac-
cept the findings of the court of inquiry
This plan can be used in disputes be-
tween labor and capital, in fact it was
proposed as a means of settling such dis
putes before 1t was applied to internal
tional controversies 1t is as important
that we shall have peace at home as that
we shall live peacefully with neighboring
nations, and peace is only possible when
1t rests upon justice. In advocating arbl-
trationN of differences between large cor
porate employers and their employees 1
believe we are defending the highest in
terests of the three parties to the dis
putes, viz: the employers. the employees
and the public. The employe cannot be
turned over to the employer to be dealt
with as the employer may please.
1.-The questions sometimes asked can l
not conduct my business to suit myself?
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