Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-09-07
SHELTON FIRES HOT
SHOT AT DEMOCRATS.
CONTINUED from Page One.)

ly larger rural population. nave re-
ceived from the State more than the
direct state tax paid.
The speaker went on to explain now
this was made possible by the indirect
tax on collateral Inheritance. corpora
tions. corporation franchises, ana pup-
lie utility corporations, thus shlttlng
the burden from those who could least
afford tc bear it to those who could
bear it with least inconvenience
'"The latest answer / have heard to
the Republican theory as TO THIS meth
cd of taxation" continued Mr.. Skel-
ten, was that Of Mr.. PattanGall the
other evening, when he said that the
Republican party claimed credit Tor
enricning the towns by paying pauper
| bills and those for the burial OF SOL
| diers and that on this theory the more
paupers and the more deaths a town
| had the weather. it would be. rms
| is fair sample Of Democratic arSu-
ment in this campaign. 1t is not
however. the claim of the Republican
party. Our contention is that these
are necessary and legitimate expenses
for the towns and that the more the
state is enabled to reimburse them
| from some other source than direct
| taxation the less the towns VIII feel
| the burden.
"Rut to whom should be given the
| credit of this system of indirect taxa
ton? will call upon our opponents Tor
! testimony In a speech in Auburn HAL
a few years ago. Mr.. Davis. then Dem
ocratic candidate for Governor. refer
| red to it as the direct Out-grOWth OF
Republican rule grown UP in the last
| 20 wears entirely Mr. Pattangall, the
| present guide and philosopher Of Demo-
C:acv. said in the House of Represent
| tatives in 1901: i believe the expen1l-
turcs have been wisely increased. ana
| whether they have or not. the burden
| of the increase has not fallen upon the
| uoor farmers of the state or the manu-
facturers 1t has fallen in the state OF
| Maine. as the increased expenditures
Of the nation have fallen. in that in!i-
rect taxation So devised as to reach best
that surplus wealth able to pay the
tax
1.-The direct outgrowth of Republican
rule saws Mr.. Davis. SO devised as to
reach best that surplus wealth able to
nav the tax says Mr.. Pattangall.
at is true that the latter gentleman
knowledge Of the subject of taxation at
birth, has since he failed to obtain d
Republican nomination to the Legisla-
ture from Bangor learned the fallacy
of the Republican tax argument by
studying the subject. as he now styles
il. the familiar argument that the taxes
paid by banks. railroads. telegraph
rompanjes and the like were not paid
by the ordinary taxpayer. There IS nc
more illuminating example of the facil-
ity With which one of these leaders VII
change positions under pressure thar
the foregoing declaration of new light
compared with the Democratic state
ment of principles on this subject as
laid down in its last State platform
presented by Mr. Pattangall himself
demanding an equality OF taxation
whereby public service corporations
shall assume their just proportion
of the burden of taxation ant
so relieve the farmer. the mechanic, Tho
householder. the manufacturer and the
merchant from unfair discrimination.
Just how these classes are to be re
) lieved by taxing public service corpor
} atoms if the Republican doctrine tina
the taxes paid by hanks railroads, tel
= cgraph companies and the like were
not paid by tho ordinar" taxpayer is
r fallacious, is not altogether clear.
Il assume that the people CT the
State desire that tie state continue t,
collect from these sourc moneys viii
which to assist the municipalities il
] the bearing Of their public burdens an(
I that they are safer to trust this tasl
with the party which has devised ant
developed the system and now has al
expert. non partisan commission con
b sidering and formulating Improvement
of it. rather than to the party whose
leaders commend it in July and con
. denim it in August
Mr. SHELTON then went on to dis
cusSion of the attitude of the two par
ties relative to the Sturgis law. anC
the proposition to empower the gov
ernor to remove corrupt and incom
petent local officials
ct is the Sturgis law that worrie:
our opponents most. When yol
= touch the liquor question. you toucl
, one of these Democratic leaders near
est the heart. And we know very wei
, that it is not always from purel,
political reasons. We have seen time
wher they were not so sensitive abou
the law or its enforcement. Whei
their call for resubmisSion was no
above a whisper and when they coult
=, not recognize hypocrisy with mag
nifyng glass. Your memory VIII cas-
ilv run back to periods when even thei
political orthodoxy was not beyont
, question.
But even here the difference as i
, presents itself is only one of perform
ance. In promise. the Democratic par
ty of the State has been as emphatic
!, as the Republican In 1904 the Demo
. cratic state platform declared, we be
lieve in a government of law and il
the honest and impartial enforcement
of all law. including the prohibitor1
law In 1906 we reiterate our de
mand for the enforcement of all law
: including the prohibitory law. The!
. We're evidently afraid it would OUTLAY
: if not renewed In 1908. we condemn
l the notification of the prohbitor!
g law
These are Democratic doctrines II
g the promise. And so far as the ranl
and file of the party is concerned.