The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1909-08-27

M st,I acy II may be noted that
no student of national politics ha.
IaiLeu 10 place practically all the Re.
PuoIicah states west of the Ohio Rive,
III the column Of States which wili
support this constitutional amendment
mus establishing rather clearly tbatt
me last Republican National Gonven.
lon was not representative of the party
wheh IL omitted an income tax blank
from its national platform. '"''N
Senator Aldrch and his folloverS
VINO nave given their support to the
JOINT resolution are, as they have been
bitterly opposed to the adoption of the
amendment. They do not believe tbe
amendment will be adopted bv the 20.
CURED three,fourths of the States of
the Union. 1t will probably be two
years before the result is known. unless
inc Governors OF various States shall
call the legislatures in special session.
In the meantime the protected interests
and untaxed wealth will not be idle.
The Senate ring so complacently passed
the resolution that it is apparent they
see no possible hope of the amendment
becoming a part of the Constitution.
we have a wider faith in the people,
and we believe that but few States
will have the hardihood to refuse &C.
ceptance of this amendment. In anv
event the people should be thoroughly
informed and will be thoroughly in.
formed as to the value of such a tax,
and legislatures will be compelled to
pass upon the question on its merits.
Thlrty-tive of the forty.six States must
approve to ensure its adoption. The
Washington students have already
figured the new England States Maine,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Yer
mont. Connecticut, Rhode Island as
being opposed. In some quarters New
Hampshire is excepted
New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
New Jersey, Maryland and West Vir-
ginia are likewise counted as surely
against it. Here is eleven States, in
the first drawing, listed in the opposi-
ton column. But we differ with the
men who are making the figures. SEN
atOr Root, the leader of the New York
Republicans, has declared himself alb
sOlutely in favor of the amendment.
IL think, he said, 1.-The United States
ought to have the power to lay and col
lect an income tax because | want my
country to have TIM power to summon
every dollar possible to its relief in
times of stress" From such a state
ment even Mr.. Root may find it diff
cult to recede. Maryland and West
Virginia need not be passed over to the
so readily. In the West
the opponents of the income tax de-
clare they have a chance to secure the
legislature of Nevada. They may have,
but we doubt it. And to the credit of
the West Nevada is the only State in
which predatory wealth even claims
control. OF course, one cannot be-
come enthusiastic over the prospect of
success. If the amendment carries it
will be a tight squeeze. The States
which may be looked upon as reason
ably certain for the amendment are:
Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Flor
ida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa,
Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minneso-
ia, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana,
Nebraska, North Carolina, North Da-
kota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dako-
Ia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas,
Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wy
oming, making total of twenty-eight
States or seven less than enough to
larry.
In the doubtful column is placed
illinois. Nevada, California. Utah and
ohio. To those might well be added
Maryland, New York and West Vlr-
rinia. Thus we find in the hostile
column practically nothing but the
New England States. The speed
With which the situation surrounding
his question has developed makes much
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