Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-04-17
NlscELI.ANEous RECoRh
RoosevoIt on Taxatlon.

Roosevelt on Taxation.
President Roosevelt, according to dis
patches from Washington, has spread
CONSERVATION among Republican Sena-
tors and Representatives by his open
advocacy, in the course OF his corner
stone laying speech on Saturday after
noon, Of progressive tax on inheritances
as a means OF breaking down the holding
Of large fortunes by individuals General
newspaper comment also shows that the
speech has stirred political circles
generally throughout the country.
Among Republican members Of
Congress the Presidents declaration is
held to be evidence Of distinct leaning
towards Populism and Socialism. Il is
pointed out that his progressive inheri-
tance tax suggestion is in line with the
platform of che socialistio party, adopted
at Chicago in May, 1904, in which the
party was pledged to work for the
graduated taxation of incomes, inheri-
tancos, franchises and land values" Upon
this platform Eugene Debs was nominated
for President Comparison is also made
with the People party platform Of 1900,
demanding r. agraduated income and in
horiianco tax, to the end that aggregated
wealth shall bear its just proportion Of
taxation" Also, with the platforms Of
the Socialist Labor party and the Middle
oi-tho-Road Populsts, in favor Of taxing
inheritances and incomes.
u is further stated that Democratic
members Of Congress are delirious with
joy over this further evidence of the de
cidod inclination of the Republican Presi-
dent of the United States towards pro-
nouncod Democratic doctrines
Therefore, by the concensus of Washing
tom political sentiment, President Roose-
Welt is undergoing political conversion,
and instead Of being consistent Repub-
Lean, is now inclining to Socialism, to
iopulism, both radical and moderate,
and to Democracy. And yet he was
elected President of the United States
ON the Republican ticket less than two
years ago
So far as the Democrats arc concerned,
the President s expressed views on the
taxation OF large inheritances are not to
be accepted as orthodox Democratic doc
trine according to the views of the founder
of the Democratic party, Thomas Jefier-
son. Nearly a century ago, on the margin
of treatise on political economy, Thomas
Jefferson wrote: IF the overgrow wealth
of an individual he deemed dangerous to
the State, the bost corrective is law of
equal inheritance TO all in equal degree;
and the better as this eniorces law Of
nature while extra taxation violates il. i"
This suggestion was in accord with the
old French system of equal inheritance,
as result of which, it is pointed out, land
holdings were divided and subdivided
until they brought about a multitude of
small landholders who found themselves
in a state Of Calling poverty by reason
OF the insuiieiency Of their portion to
afford them a living
However Jeiienon's position relieves
President Roosevelt Of the charge of in
clining to Democracy in his advocacy of
a progressive inheritance tax. For.
according to jefferson, such tax is not
Democratic.
As to this form Of taxation being purely
Populistic, or Socialistic, it is a fact that
it has been advocated, and in some
instances enforced for many years, long
before these hair-brained political organi-
cations found an abiding place in this
country
lt is held by many sound students Of
political economy that a fairly imposed.
carefully guarded progressive inheritance
taN is a proper and reasonable means Of
securing m equitable division Of the
burdens OF taxation, so that those who
are possessed OF great wealth may not
ierade the payment Of their just share.
Collateral inheritance taxes arc imposed
by some of the States in this Uni n. So.
modify the President s suggestion into a
State, instead Of a national, pr cess and
IL viii be nothing radically new
As to an income tax, it was eld by
Adam Smith, one of the greatest a. hori-
ties on political economy,to be "the fai. est
tax ever devised by the wit Of man" Il
has been a leading feature Of Grea
bniain's taxing system for many years
So il will be seen that President Roose-
vcits suggestion Of inheritance taxation
is not to be deprecated as evidence of hi.
inclination towards Socialism. Populism
or Democracy The Republican squirm.
ing is simply because his suggestion strike.
at the holders Of great wealth who have
given their money to the President S party
in order that It may continue in operation
the system Of taxation by tariff, under
which they have prospered so onormous,
at the expense Of the great body OF th,
people.