The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1911-02-03

vast fortunes accumulated through the
system of privilege. How it is that
some men in the course of few years
can collect as much as under natural
conditions twould take thousands of
kyears for the average man to earn?
1t could not be done if there were
justice in the distribution of wealth.
We cannot bring about forced equ
ity of conditions, but there may be an
| equalization of burdens and oppOrtu-
mites. These swollen" fortunes are
for the most part grated GU. Of tn
public by means of high tariff, water
| ed stocks, fictitious bond issues and
through monopoly of some necessity of
| life Watered stocks, fictitious bOnd
| issues and the tariff graft should be
done away with, and holding compan-
| les whereby these unnatural fortunes
are concentrated in the hands of a
very few men should be placed under
the ban of the law Then through
an income tax the burdens of govern
ment should be more equibly distiibu-
ed The income tax is tax on what
the people have, not, like the tariff,
tax on what the people want. 1t is
the fairest of all forms of taxation be-
cause it bears most heavily on those
most able to bear it, and least heavily
on those least able to bear it, An in
come tax exempting the small in
comes, and with very light rate up to
say twenty thousand dollars a year,
then increasing with the increase of
the income until it would become less
desirable for individuals to have in
comes running into the millions each
year would do much to equalize the
burdens of government and to remedy
the injustice that now exists in the
distribution of wealth.
The amendment to the United States
constitution now before the people is
not in the exact form that it should be
to permit the levy of the graduated
income tax adjusted in this manner,
nevertheless it is a step in the right
direction, and l hope it will be adopt
ed. Having gone that far we can go
further later on.
The democratic party should not
fight wealth as such, but rather the
privileges that produce tainted riches
on one hand and undeserved poverty
on the other. 1t should not be an enc
my to enterprise but the friend of
honest industry and legitimate devel-
cpment The only limitation should
be that the prosperity of one should
be consistent with the welfare of all,
for it is an axiom of democracy that
whenever one man has more than he
should have, some other man must
have less than he should have. De-
'nocracy should safeguard property
rights, but should recognize the fact
that property rights are best safe
ruarded by preserving inviolate the
public rights.
Shall there be government by privi-
lege for a class or government by the
eople for all? This is the great ques-
lion before the country. Government
" the people is either right or it is
' rong. If it is wrong, then this repub-
tic is the mightiest blunder of all
ages it is right then the people
cannot be given too much power tC
run their own government.
The election of senators
vote of the people is an important
, step in government, hot only of and
|, by the people but government for the
people. When our constitution wa;
, being framed the fear was the people
might confiscate the property of thu
I wel--to-do, who at that period consist
? ed for the most part of large lanC
. owners. That the time should eve
come when the rights of the peopl,
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dation and concentration Of capital
t and its influence in government, dit
A not occur to the fathers of the repub
o lie. So they provided a house of rep
Q resentatives to represent the peopl
h and for senate elected by the legis
a latures of the different states to rep
! resent property, We have now learn
q ed that property interests should nc
, be inconsistent with public interests
o and that officials should represent II
10 class but the entire public. This pre-
o posed reform of election of senators b
A, the people will, according to preser
Il indications. bear fruit in the near FL
o ture.
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