Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-04-06
SIA1E' 5 RIGHTS A CLOG
INCOME TAX AMENDMENT MEET
ING WITH CONSIDERABLE
OPPOSITION.
OUTLOOK FOR RATIFICATION
is NOT THE BRIGHTEST
Vote Of Legislatures Of Three Fourths
of States is Necessary-Measure Re-
suits in Division of Political Opinion
in the south-opposition in the
North.

North.
Washington, April s.-During thu
last week there has been much quie
discussion among members of bott
parties in Washington regarding the
outlook for the ratification by
three-fourths of the states Of the in.
come tax proposition, submitted by
congress as proposed amendment te
the federal constitution. 1t is perhaps
hardly necessary to say that the I'M
animous opinion is that the outlook is
not good. The best feature Of the case
1t is recognized on both sides, is that
regardless Of how the matter goes with
the legislatures, the income tax is for
ever removed as q political issue. The
refusal of several of the northern
states to ratify the proposed amend
ment has been matched by a similar
refusal in Virginia, and it is now said
by those who have been inguiring into
! the matter that the example of Vir-
ginia will, without a doubt, be fol-
lowed next winter by other legislatures
in the south, showing that section to
be divided with respect to the issue.
This promised division of political
opinion in the old south is interesting,
mainly because the income tax has
been democratic doctrine for many
years, and the south prides Itself on its
support of democratic doctrines. But
as to the income tax, that section
4
without regard to national platforms
States Rights Argument.
The most effective argument brought
to bear against the income tax. and
the argument which decided the case
| in Virginia, was the old argument Of
states rights. After South Carolina
| had ratified the income tax amend
ment. it was believed here that the
| south generally would follow her lead
But after the action of Virginia, prom
inent southerners in Washington have
been in communication with their h ONE
states, and they are responsible for
the opinion now prevailing here, that
the final rejection of the amendment
Is now almost a foregone conclusion.
1t only needs. it is pointed out, that
added impetus which New York APP
pears sure to give to Virginia's stag
gering blow, to put the result absolute
ly beyond all doubt The sentiment
in New York state, as reflected here by
men who are not hostile to the pro-
posed amendment, rises from a deep
conviction that the amendment contem-
plates an intrusion which the states
ought not to pernit-in other words,
states rights again, but not called by
that name. Notwithstanding the power
full argument in favor Of the tax made
recently by Senator Eli1u Root, it is
reported here that the sentiment of
New York comedies with the position
taken by Governor Hughes at the time
the legislature in that state met, early
in the year.
Breaks Away From Bryan.
The refusal Of Virginia to ratify the
amendment is almost past belief in this
city, and it is still being discussed with
as much interest as tho it had taken
place but yesterday. Virginia has been
as loyal as South Carolina to democrat
ic principles since Bryan came into
leadership. She has three times chosen
Bryan presidential electors, and signi-
fed her partizan regularity in various
other ways. But on a constitutional
question of the extension of the powers
of the federal government Virginia has
chosen to break away from Bryan and
the national democratic platform and
follow her own opinions and feelings
This action, 1t is now explained, was
due to the fear that ratification of the
amendment would be an encouragement
to further federal entertainments on
states rights. The following opinion,
expressed by a prominent Virginian, is
the key to that action, and it is worth
quoting, for it appears likely to have
a strong influence in other southern
states:
Ratification means that the state
must give up legitimate and long
established source of revenue and yield
it to the federal government. 1t means
more than this. 1t means that the
state actually invites the federal gov
eminent to invade it's territory, to GUST
jurisdiction, and to establish a federal
dominion within innermost citadel of
the reserved rights of the common
wealth. 1t would be such a surrender
to imperialism as has not been made
since the states of the north, in their
blindness, forced the fourteenth and
fifteenth amendments upon the entire
'sisterhood of commonwealth"
Opposition in North.
This opposition in Virginia is based
on principle. Similar opposition in sew
eral wealthy states of the north, nota-
bly, New York and Massachusetts, is
based on the fact that the proposed
amendment would touch the incomes of
many thousands of people who hitherto
have contributed little or nothing to
the federal treasury. East of the Allie
ghenies and north OF Maryland is the
section in which people with means
have been in the habit of investing
their means in securities Of various
kinds.
The opposition of that section to the
amendment is, therefore, an opposition
based largely on selfishness, as con-
trasted with the opposition of the rela-
lively poor state Of Virginia, based on
principle.
Most of the states will have legisla-
lures in session next winter, at which
time the fate of the amendment will
probably be determined. Meanwhile,
the preliminary reports, as. stated, have
not been satisfying to the people who
favor it.
Mr. Bryan's name has been connect
ed prominently with the income tax
CT, 80