New Ulm review., 1912-10-30

cluded an income tax provision n IN
Wilson law Of 1894. When this pro
vision was declared unconstttuttona
BY the supreme court BY . majorit.
Of one the Democratic party renewed
the fight and has contended for thu
income tax in three national cam
paigns. In 1908 the Democratic plat
form demanded the submission Of IN
amendment specifically authorizing
an income tax-the very amendment
now before the states for ratification
Mr.. Roosevelt's candidate. Mr.. Taft
declared during the campaign that IN
amendment was not necessary, and
Mr.. Roosevelt never made any argu-
ment 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. 80 far %
know, Mr.. Roosevelt has never made
. speech In favor Of its ratification
nor. since the submission OF tho
amendment, made q speech urging an
income tax as part Of our fiscal sys-
tenn. It would not require any great
stretch of generosity on his part to
credit the Democratic party with pri-
ority 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 1896, 1900 and 1904 de-
manded an extension Of the powers of
the interstate commerce commissions
Up to 1904 Mr.. Roosevelt never dis
cussed the subject of railroad regula.
t1on officially or In public speech, so
far as have been able to find Az
though nominated without opposition
in the convention of 1904, his platform
contained no promise of railroad regu-
lation. By it's attitude on the railroad
question the Democratic party alienat-
ed the support of those railway officials
who counted themselves Democrats,
and Mr. Roosevelt both in 1900, when
he was candidate for vice-president 4
and in 1904, when he was a candidate
for president had the benefit Of the !
support of those ex-Democrats. It was
ter to Mr.. Hartman and in the state
OF New York profited 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
lnathemas. .a
7. RS Complete somersault
On the subject of publicity as to
contributions he has not only
adopted the Democratic position, but
ne has been compelled to turn COM
olete somersault in order to do o.IIn
1908 the Democratic platform demand
ID the publication before election Of
AS AoucS VI luUlVluu0l COuLElDuIOT0
md the amounts contributed. Mr..
Roosevelt at that time indorsed SMr.
raft's contention that the publication
'hould be deferred until after the cleo
lon, and even went so far as to give
'easoRs for believing that 1t would. be
improper to make the publication be-
ore the election. Two years later he
declared in favor of publicity before
md after the election landing on the
Democratic side shortly before the law
vas enacted carrying out the Demo-
ratio platform on this subject. Hero,
urely, he ought to praise the Demo- 4
ratio party for the pioneer work 1t
las done in purifying politics.
Here are few of the things which
ear the Democratic brand, and with
II Of his experience on the plains he
7ill not be able to work the brand =,
yer" so as to make it look Ike 1T. r." .