Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-11-09
PUBLIC OPINION.
"How to Pluck the Goose"--A Protest.
Editor EVENING JEWS:

"How to Pluck the Goose"--A Protest.
Editor EVENING NEWS:
Last evening, with a large number
of other persons, / paid my money to
hear Frank Dixon lecture in the high
school hall, expecting to receive some
thing of interest and value. For
nearly two hours he discoursed on
taxation, which he called "plucking
the goose" | came away impressed
with the fact that | was a goose, and
he had plucked me. The hissings,
whistlings and facial contortions
which amuse children and destroy
oratory may be condoned If a speaker
has something enlightening and con-
vincing to say on an important sub
ject, but with thoughtful people these
mannerisms do not cover up the lack
of proof with which strange funda-
mental assertions should be buttress-
ed.
1t is singular that a man who
would for nine year pay his money
into a building and loan association
without occasionally examining into
its solvency should pose before the
world as a d~iscoverer and reformer in
that difficult field of economics which
has taxed the energies of such men
as Adams, and Seligman, and Cohn,
and Ely, and Bastable.
| Indignantly %repudiate his un-
proved assertion that EVERY ma is
guilty of swearing to an ~undervalua-
ton of his property in order to escape
a part of the burden of taxation.
| d~eprecate his wholesale indict-
ment of the American Judiciary. I'm
Just judges there are, and always
have been, but many judges are as
Just and unpurchasable as the angel
Gabriel. 1t is incendiarism bordering
on treason to organized society when
young people are taught that univer-
sal dishonesty rules the bench.
1t Is easy to find heart-rendine
cases of suffering, like that of the
evicted mother and child, but they
are not the rule. Does Mr.. Dixon be-
lieve such things would be impossible
in society recognized on his basis
of the abolition of taxation by gov
eminent resumption of public fran
chises?
1t is unfortunate that a speaker
should make fundamental statements
| without proving them or citing his
authority. Did James H. Hill really
build and equip his great railroad
through a mountainous region at an
average cost of twenty thousand dol
lars a mile? Have we ten millions
of. people in the United States who
are underfed and not properly cloth
ed? This is more than n in nine OF
the population. Have we five and a
half million families in this country
with an average annual income OF
only one hundred and fifty dollars
per family? When Mr.. Dixon makes
these and many similar statements he
should cite his authority.
The fact is he did not show himself
a reliable interpreter of men. In tho
beginning of his address he cited
Turgot's definition of taxation as the
art of plucking the goose without
making it cry" but he so used this
quotation as to make the impression
that the author of it was a cruel eX'
ploiter of the people. In truth he sc
lightened the burdens of taxation ano
improved the condition of the French
people as to promote contentment ano
prosperity throughout the land.
| have no desire to criticise the
management of this deserving course
of entertainments. Any management
is liable to mistake. But is unfortun'
ate if, now and then, a cynical, super
fetal, or seditious orator gains the
ear of the public, when the minds o.
our young people are hungering fol
wholesome and inspiring truth.
WINFIELD c. SNODGRASS.
Perth Amboy, November 8, 1906.