The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-12
THE INCOME TAX STRUGGLE.

without a doubt, the proposition to
amend the federal constitution so that
it will be possible for the national
government to levy a direct tax on in
comes is the most important question
before the people of this country to-
day. To make this most desirable
condition of AFFAIRS a possibility 1t is
necessary for the proposed amendment
to the constitution to be ratified by
the LEGISLATURES of three-fourths OF the
states of the Union.
That there is considerable opposi
ton to the principle of an income tax
of this sort throughout the nation is
not to be gainsaid. The opponents of
the plan are, for the most part, the
men who have piled up huge personal
fortunes by hook or crook and on
whom such a tax would fall with the
heaviest hand. 1t would not be OPP
pressive to them. however. They
could well afford to stand it. and it
will be admitted by every fair-minded
man that the rich men of this country
do not now bear their justly proper
tionate burden of the expenses of the
government Seemingly there is no
other adequate way 20 compel them
so to do.
As stated. though. they are general
" opposed to the tax. Old John D.
Rockefeller has already voiced his
sentiments to the public on the propo-
sitton. His friends in great fortunes
are undoubtedly of the same mind
even If they are keeping their opinions
to themselves. These men. these
plutocrats of the nation, are mighty
factors in the legislative activity of the
states where they make their homes
They WELD much of their power in this
respect through the gigantic corpora
lions which they control. They nave
been known to swing elections through
the coercion of their armies of en-
Moves. They control the political
machines of both parties in their states
where direct primary nominations do
not prevail. And the legislatures in
many of these states have ever been
willing to do their bidding.
These conditions exist to more
general extent in the states in the
eastern section Of the country and
thew point out the fact that the in
come tax amendment is not to have
easv Shedding. If it wins, as it should
the hardest kind of work will be re-
ouired by it's friends. But that the
situation is not hopeless in the east is
shown by an exchange of views be-
tween the Augusta (Ga-) Chronicle
and the Springfield Republican the
Chronicle remarked recently that the |
six New England states, except per-
haps Vermont, present no hope to the |
supporters of the income tax idea"
perhaps an exception should be
made" says the Springfield Republi- |
can in reply, "but if Vermont is to be |
admitted as a possible RATHER of the |
amendmeT :, New Hampshire and |
Maine evidently should be also-espe-
cialIy Maine, which has lately exhibit
ed radical tendencies, as in the adop-
ton of the initiative and referendum
Nor is Massachusetts, to be despaired
Of. Indeed, we must consider this
state pretty hopeful ground. If Sena-
tor Root is to work for the amendment T.
before the New York legislature, as he
has promised to do, Senator Lodge
may be found performing the same
service before the Massachusetts, leg
stature, even though he does not like
the idea of an income tax any better /
han Senator Root |