The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-03-02
SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT Levy A
SPECIAL TAX ON INDUSTRY
AND ECONOMY?
SHOULD IDLEAESS and VICE GO UH
TAXED?
Should the Government Give a Premium
to ThriftIessness?
Should Not Every Man be Required to
Pay, Equally with Every Other Man,
to the Support Of the Government ?

If demagogues or others OF shallow
brains lack the ability and are deficient In
the power to instruct and to raise the am
bition Of the average citizen to higher
plane so that he may reach out for the
better attainments in citizenship, such
politicians may always find hearty re-
sponse in appeals to the preiudices and the
ignOranceS of people who would tear down
their more Industrious, their more eco
nomical, and their more successful neigh
bors.
The consent of any citizen to join the
hue and cry Of the demagogue against the
solid and the more substantial element OF
society furnishes at least one proof Of his
need Of political guardian.
Who are the alleged tax dodgers? Are
they not the men who, pay more to the
government than do their accuSerS?
BY what right does one man require an
other to pay more taxes than he does
Who is responsible for an old mans pov-
erty?
Should not all men pay an equal amount,
whether he has saved or thrown away the
earnings Of his manhood? II any man
wastes his money, and for this reason is
excused from paying taxes, is not the gov
gible premium for lack Of thrift
For instance: Take the history Of the
rich men of today, or of yesterday, or of
the preceding generation Who were the
poor men Of the contemporaneOu times
as above? Who were the rich men then
Go back to any Of these dates and see if
q large per cent. of the property owning
class of today started on the ground floor,
with no better apparent prospects OF sue
cess than any other of the poor boys of
his class or time. Both worked for small
salaries. They were mentally equally well
endowed. They had good health, and
were hopeful Of accomplishing O good
work and Of attaining to high place in
the esteem of their neighbors. Their good
names were untarnished. The world Of
fered to each great opportunities. They
buckled on their armor and entered the
struggle in the halo Of victory.
After thirty or forty years, ~ after a
longer struggle, how do the bo. stand to-
day, and why the difference in their sue
cess?
During the first year the race seemed
about even. Neither had noticeable ad-
vantage of the other.
little later on one began to spruce
up" and to wear a nicer suit of clothes
than did the other young man. In little
while the more dreSSy young man became
greater favorite with the girls, whose
friendship he bought by personal atten-
tions. and may be with added candies and
soft drinks at the drug stores. He was no
miser and he priced the bright smiles Of
the girls above the value of a few dirty
dollars.
He attended expensive dances, drank at
the drug stores some of the Harmless"
drinks which are so hurtful to life and so
injurious to health. Possibly he tippled
of the pure juice Of the corn.
OF course he contracted the habit OF smok-
ing and possibly he learned to chew to-
bacco. Being now a society man he must
go to the barber for his shaveS. Of course
he would not now polish his shoes-that
Job is turned over to the bootblack. Being
now an extra nice young man, he must go
buggy driving, and must give expensive
presents to the girls who invite him to
their wedding. He gets behind with his
expenses, but he is honest and will pay q
little later on. Being disheartened by his
financial embarrassment he may possibly
occasionally drink to forget his poverty,
and to remember his misery no more"
Even occasional dissipation and eXcesses
inilict their penalties by lowering his vital
ity, and when this brother is gone, it may
be, because Of violations of the law Of
rious dispensation of that Providence who
took from us in his early manhood the fell
lOwShip of a good man and brother. His
name is now erased from the tax book, and
it is no longer memory.
What OF the other fellow or of his class?
AS a rule he lived to save and to accumu-
late something for rainy day, and he was
blessed with greater length Of days.
Must he, for this reason, now pay more
than the share of the taxes that is attached
to others? Instead Of spending his money
20 in N-,,nth in fhrnuinCr IN
crafty acquired appetites and, unnatural
tastes he may be regarded as something
of crank. He put his money in a saw
ings bank, or carefully laid it by for future
reference. He didn't dress quite SO eXpen-
sively as did his contemporary he drove
fcwer fast horses, and drank fewer harm
less drinks that so surely injure the health
and shorten life. In little while he had a
good little pile laid up and he was selfish
enough not to associate with or to join 1.-The
boys" in their wastefulnesS. He married
and became the head of a family. With
the passing years riches and honor were
added to his holdings.
OF the dozen young men whom you knew
thirty years ago, how many are tax payers
today?
Perhaps thrce-fourths have answered the
mysterious call of the divine Master, which
mysterious call Or premature visitation, in
large majority of cases, was penalty
because of the weakened constitution re.
sulting from violations Of the laws OF
health.
1t is not, however, of the dead of whom
we would speak. If their days were cut
short because of their OWL indiscretions, OF
by accidents, or from the result of physi
clans experiments, we must now excuse
them from paying their share of taxes.
1t is Of the living Of whom we would
speak. Why should one man pay more
taxes than another? If one man, to avoiC
becoming tax payer, should spend his
money iii rye and oats" living, where does
he get the right to throw stones at tht
man who has lived soberly, economically
who has labored industriously to accumu
late competency for himself and his fam
lily?
Why does the law encourage and protec
idleness, thriftlcssness, and general cussed
ness in one man, and then punish the 9th
er for e altering up property with which t.
support himself in old age, and to clotht
and to educate his children
If it be said that vice, crime and idlenes
cost m oney, why should the State offer
premium for idlcness and u lack of thrift
Il