Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-09

ment of good government. AS an essen
tial part of this effort many. and perhaps
most of us. are here to express very de-
cided discomfort with the recent failures
of our party organization in respect of
efficiency, in respect of public and party
usefulness and in respect of actual sue
cess.
The Democratic Greed.
After declaring his belief in the ne
cessity for partisanship and yet, accord
ing praise to those who act Independently,
Chairman Shepard proceeded to discuss
his view of democratic creed. He con-
tinued:
THAT creed was never more neces-
sary. never more vital, than it is today.
Nor does 1t depend upon any organi-
cation. 1t can. and. If necessary, it will,
get on without the present democratic
party. Our party will not be tolerated
simply because once upon a time it held
a useful creed. If 1t embrace socialism
or otherwise become the ally of those
who believe in special privilege or stand
for plutocracy or otherwise show practi-
cal disbelief of the axioms of self-gov-
eminent. then some other organization
will displace it; and, beyond doubt.
many to whom I now speak would, in
such case, go over to that other or
ganization.
Reform Of the Tariff.
ITO the destruction of the corruptions
of the present tariff system-far away
the largest and deepest-reaching Of the
corruptions in American life-the demo-
cratic party must be dedicated if it is to
be true to itself. If it cannot be trusted
for that, it can be trusted for nothing.
Although 1t must be years before DEM
ocratic President and Congress can eff
fectively deal with the tariff. there is no
time to be lost in starting the educa-
tional campaign.
Anti-Imperialisn and Economy.
Nor will the party, I believe, cancel
from its creed its hostility, expressed
again and again, to the un-American,
costly, wasteful, undemocratic, colonial
policy so unnecessarily assumed and con-
tfnued by republican administrations In
the Philippines, but OF which 1t Is easy
to see that the republicans themselves,
and especially the humanitarians among
them-of whom l am glad to believe Mr..
Taft Is one-are becoming more and more
tired. And 1 think SO well Of him per-
sonally as to believe also that he would,
If he could without rending his party
atwain. reduce our monstruosly overgrown
governmental expenditure. But that he
economy and of a simple public life is to-
day and will continue to be the cause of
the democratic party
Tax on Corporations.
Discussing the tax on corporations he
said:
"It seems to me that the home rule pol
icy which is so chief and undoubted doc
trine of our party should make us insist
that this tax and this regulative power be
left to the states. The tax, besides, is one
n <n~ k1xvf<xr he
transaction Of business which are nearly
always unwise and which 1t has been our
policy, although laying in times of war, to
remit in times Of peace. Moreover, the tax
Is at the last and really paid by stockhold-
ers without reference to their personal
ability to pay; 1t is deducted from their
dividends whatever their poverty or their
wealth. AS every one knows, large part
of the means Of those very moderate or
small fortunes are in corporate invest
ments. In this respect the new corpora.
ton tax does not favor less fortunate
citizens as would an income tax with the
usual exemption OF small incomes.
The Income Tax.
1.-THE proposal OF the income tax amend
ment presents another timely question
which we cannot rightly ignore at this
meeting, although doubtless there are
among us differences of opinion. You
will, I hope, forgive me for saying that
it seems to me that the democratic party
should heartily support the amendment.
The income tax is not one upon the
methods or processes of business. 1t
does not stifie energy or harass indus
trial freedom or obstruct or reduce the
production of wealth. With an exemp-
ton limit not too high, it is a fair tax
the richer paying more and the poor
paying less.
II venture to express the further opin-
ion that, even il the democrats of New
York should, upon this question, reject
their party platforms of 1904 and 1908
land overrule the recent unanimous demo-
cratic vote in Congress, the only result
would be that in due time. and time
not far distant, the republicans would,
on this question, dish the democrats,
yielding at last. and as they invariably
do, to any overwhelming pressure of
American public sentiment.
Popular Election Of Senator's.
"Mr. Bryan is. think. right to unite
with the income tax the popular election
of United States senator's as a reform
for which it is now time that the federal
Constitution should provide. We might
in New York well support the reform
even If for 1t there were no other reason
than the chemically unfair division of the
legislature of our own state between the
TWO parties, 50 tIdt any ordinary ueHO-
cratic majority in the state would still
leave the senatorship to the republicans.
So we might fifty accept the unanimous
expression of our party in the national
convention of 1904, which nominated
Judge Parker. and in that Of 1908, which
nominated Mr. Bryan
Respect Of Popular Will.
Praising the objects of Gov. Hughes
primary nominations bill, he said: For
of one thing 1 am sure beyond peradven-
ture, and that is that the improvement
in democratic party management, the
hope of which has brought this confer
ence together. depends upon the enforce
ment upon panty managers in the organi-
zation and procedure of conventions and
committees of a scrupulous respect for
the will of the members of their party"
Regulation Of Corporations.
Public service commissions, however
much thoir rroSonf SySforo and nra Ctico