Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-01-26
SEEKING TO DEFEAT THE INCOME
TAX AMENDMENT.

The Cincinnati Enquirer is lighting
the adoption Of the proposed amend /
ment to the Constitution enabling the
levying OF an income tax by Congress /
without the fear Of the Supreme Court
again discarding it as a violation OF
the basic law of the country. The En-
quirer takes the position that the
granting of such a power TO the Fed
eral government is a further clear sur
render of state rights, another en-
croachment on the reserved powers o.
the states that should be resisted and
defeated. 1t insists that the proposed
amendment is in opposition to the
long established Democratic policy of
antagonizing the Capitalization Of pow
er at Washington and Of fighting the
ceaseless efforts Of the Republican.
party to minimize state and local auth
GRITTY. In this connection the Enquirer
says
The contest Of 1912 will be fought
out against unjust and unwise uses Of
Federal power and unjust and unwise
Federal taxation.
The congressional contests in this
present year viii have precisely the
same formulated issues.
Yet in face of the record of the party
as opposed to increase of Federal
powers. despite the fact that the only
important and potent weapon Of the
next TWO campaigns must be the oppo-
sitlon to the abuses of Federal powers
by the Federal Government, we have
Democratic leaders and Democratic
legislators ready and willing to stulti-
fy themselves and the party by depriy-
ing the states of powers they now
possess, and andfng over to the FEEDER
al Government additional power for
taxation.
What a spectacle Democrats viii
present before the voters if they do
this thing.
Denouncing in their platform en-
cr0achments upon the rights of the
states and furnishing the opposition
with records wherein they vote those
rights away to the Federal Govern
menr.
Is that wise work? Is that political
wisdom?
When they attack the Payne tariff
| law and exhibit to the voters of the
country the unfairness of Federal tax
alton and prove the abuses and mis-
uses of that taxation, what weight will
their words have with their hearers If
their opponents show them eager to
vote additional powers of taxation 10
the Federal power, rather than retain
that power for the uses Of the state?
To gain the approval Of the voters of
the country the Democratic party must
be consistent with its own record and
must be logical and consistent in IFS
dealings with the people.
1t cannot be for the rights Of the
states and vote those rights away 70
the Federation.
1t cannot successfully attack mis-
uses and abuses of Federal power and
at the same time vote additional
grants of power to the very authority
which abuses them.
Better hold on to all the rights the
states now possess.
Better bury the income tax amend
ment
1t is hardly probable that the posi-
ton assumed by the Enquirer win raj
~ any large section of the Democratic
party to the assistance of those who
are seeking to defeat the proposed am
endment. Bryan and the great major
ity of the other leaders of Democracy
stand unequivocaIIy for the amend
ment The Southern states bid fair to
be a unit in its support, although in
Georgia it is not unlikely that there
will be a division in the legislature
when its consideration is reached. The
popular feeling is strongly in favor Of
the taxation Of incomes. The fact that
few Of the states, whether controlled
by the Democratic or the Republican
party have availed themselves of the
right to tax incomes has lead to the
belief that the only way to secure the
enactment of a more equitable tax
system, under which the wealth of the
country will bear a more proportion
ate share of the burdens, is through
Federal income tax. Those who are
fighting against the proposed constt-
tutional amendment, in an alleged de-
fence Of state rights, would doubtless
be found fighting equally as vigorously