The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1909-07-30

necessary to wait for three-f0urths
of the stAte legislatures to ratify the
amendment to the eonstitu.
tion, is the conviction of senators and
other students of politics and eeonom.
les in the national capital.
Friends of genuine income tax
realize only too well now that the
proposed amendment of the eonstitu
tion was but a part Of the conspiracy
devised by Aldrioh and others TO de
feat the income tax II viii be recalled |
that no lesser legal authority than i
President Taft himself was the first
TO express the opinion that II would
not be necessary, even II possible, 70
amend the constitution; that he be.
lleved the supreme court would up.
hold an income tax II given another
opportunity.
II Is practically impossible to amend
the constitution Otherwise Mr., Aid
rich would never have consented so
smillngly to the apotion Of the joint
resolution providing for the propos.
itlon. Senator Aldrich stated on the
floor of the senate he always had been
against an income tax and always
would be. Senator Aldrioh Is no doubt
honest in his convictions. He has
acted as a tool of the greedy special
interests so long he really believes II
would be step toward anarchy for
congress to pass a law requiring the
rich to pay a tax on their incomes,
as they do IN Great Britain, Japan,
France, Germany, Holland, Austria,
Denmark, Switzerland Australia and
New Zealand The Rhode Island sen.
ator is frank enough TO admit that
he is convinced the best way TO raise
revenue to run the government Il 70
tax necessities, and that until the
bill Is taken from his hands" he viii
see to II that tax on wealth docs
not supplant tax on necessities.
In response to the overwhelming
demand for an income tax Senator
Aldrieh handed the people gold
brick" In the form Of IAN opportunity
to amend the constitution" Under
the constitution provision for an
amendment, It is possible for 4 per
cent of the voters to nulllfy the viii
OF the other 95 per cent. Twelve
states are sufficient 10 defeat an
amendment.
Here are the states that win likely
lido 1t; Maine. New Hampshire. Yer
mont, Massachusetts, Delaware. Con
nectieut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania
New Jersey, Michigan, California ant
Louisiana
The California Legislature Is domn
! ated by the Southern Pacific railroad
. In Il. Hartman. who controls th.
Southern Pacific republican machine
in California, has a sufficiently largi
income 10 make him hostile to an In
S come tax. and his Wall street frlendi
would be hostile to an income Ia
for the same reason
Louisiana would probably refuse tt
ratlfy, fearing as a possible reaction
a reduction IN the tariff on sugar
n The New England states are bltterl
+ antagonistlc to an income tax for tw
e reasons. One Is that wealth Is cor
n centrateI in these states. and wealt
n would be taxed under the propose
$ legislation The more important res
d son is that New England fears tina
r II new revenue is raised from the ric
IS the tax on things manufactured
/ New England would be reduced. Low
4 er tariff rates on manufactured article
f would force the tariff trust 10 compel
to moderate extent with foreig
e. manufacturers thus damaging thel
g monopoly on American markets an
n making It impossible for them to e
le tort excessive prices.
sr The prospect Of amending tho col
a stltution to pave the way for an Il
ot come tax may be appreciated when
or Is understood that over 1000 futil
attempts have been made IN that d
ie rection. while only fifteen have bee
10 successful in the history Of the n
II. tion.
ig So great a jurist as Chief Justlt
er Marshall conceded that the majoritls
ef required to change the constitute
e are too high THE machinery Is u
N, wieldy and cumberous,' are his exa
words
he When the ratification OF the co
ee stitutlon was before the patriots. Pa
be riel Henry refused 10 vote for rattle
1T ton for be saw that once Il had be.
.ly pas ed there was practically no vi
Ist to hanas Il.
~ Trom 1888 . io0s. 124 amendmen
III wefe propose6 and 10 adopted The
sir weie 10 OF 4 small friction Of Va