The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-10-22

cfuded an income tax provision n the
Wilson law of 1904. When this pro.
vision was declared Unconstitutional
BY the supreme court by majority.
Of ore the Democratic party renewed
the fight md hns contcnded for the
income tax 10 three pntionai cam.
paigns In 10OS the Democratic plat
form demanded the submission Of an
amendment specifically authorizing -
income tax-the very amendment now
before the states Tor ratification.
Mr.. i,oosevcIt's candidate. Mr.. Taft.
declared during tho cnn1poign that an
amendment WIS not necessary, and
Mr.. Roosevelt never made any argu.
inent In favor Of the amendment or In
favor of the principle embodied in It.
The amendment has now been ratified
by thirty four states; but. 50 far Ms I
know. Mr.. 10oseve,t Inns never made
speech In fnvor OF Its ratification nor.
since the submission Of the amend
mcnt. made speech urging an income
tar as part Of our fiscal system. it
would not require any great stretch Of
generosity on his part to credit the
Democratic party with priority In the
advocacy Of this reform.
Not Always For Railroad Regulation.
Mr.. Roosevelt Is now an advocate of
railroad regulation. When did he com.
mence? The Democratic party IN its
platforms Of 1890. 1000 and 1904 de.
manded m extension Of the powers OF
the interstate commerce commission.
Up to 1004 Mr.. Roosevelt never discuss.
ed the subject Of railroad regulation Of.
fcially or in phblic speech. so far as
have been able to Hnd. Although nom-
mated without opposition in the con.
vention OF 1904. his plu torn contained
no promise Of railroad regulation. BY
its attitude -on the railroad question
the Democratic pnrty nlienated the sup.
port Of those railway officials who
counted themselves Democrats. and
Mr.. Roosevelt. both in 1000. when he
was candidate for vice president. and
In 1904. when he was a candidate for
president. had the benefit of the sup.
port of those ey.Democrats. 1t was In
1904 that he wrote his famous letter
to Mr.. Hartman and In the state Of
New York pr0t,ted by the campaign
fund that Mr.. Hartman raised.
When after 1904 Mr.. Roosevelt took
up the subject Of railroad regulation
he found more hearty support among
the Democrats In the senate and house
than among the Republicans. so that
he has reason to know that the Dem.
ocratic party has for long time plant
ed itself boldly upon the peoples side
on the subject OF railroad regulation.
Under the circumstances we might
expect some complimentary reference
to our party's attitude instead Of
anathcmas
T. RS Complete eemsrsauit.
On the subject Of publicity as to
campaign contributions he has not only
adopted the Democratic position. but
he has been compelled to turn a com.
plete somersault In order to do 90. In
1908 the Democratic platform demand.
cd the publication before election OF
the names Of individual contributors
and the amounts contributed. Mr..
Roosevelt mt that time indorsed Mr
Taft's contention that the publica tiou
should be deferred until after the elec.
ton. and even went so far as to o>give
reasons for believing that II would be
improper to make the publication be.
fore the election. Two years later he
declared In favor Of publicity before
and after the election. landing on tho
Democratic side shortly before the law
was enacted carrying out the Demo
cratic platform on this snbject Here
surely. he ought to prnIse the Demo.
cratic party for the pioneer work II
has done In purifying politics.
Here are few Of the things which
bear the Democratic brand. and with
all Of his experience on the plains he
will not be able to work the brand
over" so as to make II look like 1T Il. VI