The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-06-22
STEALS "A PLANK
From rhe Democratic Platform
of Last Year.
TAFT is THE THIEF

~ uNS
He Turns His Back on the Repub-
lican Platform and Plants Himself
Squerely on the Last Democratic
Platform, Hoping by SO Doing to
Save His Party.
Once more, says the Washington
correspondent of the Spartanburg
Herald, the Republican party has
found it necessary to adopt plank
from the Democratic platform, in
order that it may save its face. This
has become so frequent and COM
mon of late, however, that 1t has
ceased to cause surprise. The lat
est instance of the Republican theft
of Democratic campaign thunder is
in the compromise on the income
tax proposition, by which it is pro-
posed to submit the matter to the
people in the effort to secure an
amendment to the constitution per-
mitting the levying of such tax.
In recommending to congress the
submission of constitutional
amendment expressly authorizing the
collection of an income tax Mr.. Taft
has turned his back on his own
record and planted himself squarely
on the Democratic platform of 1908.
At the Denver convention, July 10,
last, the Democratic party made this
declaration:
1--WE favor an income tax as part
of our revenue system, and we urge
the submission Of constitutional
amendment specifically authorizing
congress to levy and collect tax
upon individual and corporate in
comes, to the end that wealth may
bear it's proportionate share Of the
burdens of the federal government. y
The Republican convention at
Chicago in its platform was silent
on this subject, but in his speech
of acceptance at Cincinnati, July 2S,
Mr., Taft volunteered this statement:
1.-THE Democratic platform de-
mands two constitutional amend
ments-one providing for an income
tax and the other for the election of
senators by the people. In my judg-
ment an amendment to the consti-
tuition for an income tax is not ne
cessary. l believe that an income
tax, when the protective system Of
customs and the internal revenue
tax shall not furnish income enough
for governmental needs, can and
should be devised, which, under the
decisions of the supreme court, will
conform to the constitution.
Senator Bailey has been making
some efforts in the direction of Sc
curing such a tax, and these efforts
have met with such approval among
members of the senate that it is an
open, secret In Washington that the
compromise which was decided on
after. numerous conferences among
Republicans, one with the president,
was vigorously sought by Aldrich
and his followers, who did not want
any such tax.
This compromise will put the mat
ter "up to" the people. 1t will be
necessary that two-thirds OF the
membership Of both houses shall
favor the submission of the consti-
tutional amendment to the people
of the forty-six States. and that the
legislatures of three-fourts OF those
States shall express themselves In
favor Of tha adoption Of the amend
meut. lr Is thus seen that the lhi ~
that is sc scrviceab'. - the Repun-
lican narty-ind efinite delay--wi!l
be secured.
It is not generally known out
side of senatorial circles just how
much trouble this income tax prob
osition has caused the members of
the "Aldrich gang" They have had
numerous conferences and consulta-
| tions, and have even taken polls OF
the senate, and sounded men on the
proposition, to ascertain their atti'
tude. The results of these sound
ings revealed support of Senator
Bailev's income tax proposition (to
which Senator Cummins succeeded
| in having his name attached that
was anything else than pleasing tc
the leaders. And so the activity
was begun which has resulted in the
compromise proposition.
Naturally the "straight-out' in
come tax advocates are much per-
turbed over the present state OF ar
fairs, and they propose to carry
the fight further They claim that
Senator .Aldrich has a very narrow
margin of majority who will support
the compromise. and they hope yet
to secure enough votes for a
straight-out income tax amendment
to the tariff bill to carry their point.
The proposed amendment to the
constitution, which was introduced
by Senator Nelson, provides for the
submission to the several States OF