Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-16

COuut4y' Anu why why, MI. PreSl- |
dent, there is rumor in the air here
and there, sometimes voiced by the
distinguished senator from Massachu-
sets (MT. Lodge whose erudite learn
ing is always a source of joy and a
tribute to the body in which he sits,
that Mexico broods for the moment in
The shadow Of serious conflict with the
United States.
In such an hour, sir, IL war should
be declared in this country, whom will
we find rushing to this capital, through
their emissaries, asking for the protec-
ton for their wealth by the bayonet
and gun, demanding TO be barricaded
On safety by the lives of the sons OF the
republic? Whom shall we see rushing
TO the government asking that navies
be put out TO the waters bordering
their possessions to protect them-de-
handing that they may be fortified
with protection in every wise, safe
against all assault?
It will be these delectable gentle
men who for a while linger in Ameri-
ca, absent from the polling booths,
their names seldom seen upon the tax
collectors list, while they fit from
here to>Europe, and there in their lux
urious yachts or in speeding Joy auto
mobiles ensconce themselves along
the Riviera in the Mediterranean in
the winter or in the mountain fastness
OF pleasure resorts in the summer.
These who contribute little TO this
government and yet who would de-
mand promptly that every man of the
poor who could give his life-from the
farm, the factory, and in the mill
shall be summoned to die to save their
wealth from the assault Of those who
intrude upon the nation or threaten it
with invasion. II is such as these who
will be found crying for the navies
with their gallant men to go out upon
tie broad seas with their batteries to
save them and theirs. Yet, sir, shall
1t be said that the Senators people"
shall not be taxed because, forsooth,
they are able to pay and are his
chosen people? Shall they be exempt
because they will not be able to swear
off the tax upon the one hand or swim
die the collection of 1t on the other?
The time has not come, say, speak
ing for myself, when the democracy
of this country will take. any mans
property because he is rich; but 1t
will allow no rich mans property to
escape its just burden because 1t is
wealth and it's owner powerful. The
doctrine of democracy, sir, is not that
we make war against wealth for that
a. gr. . 4,
Oon be we'll stated: We do not make
illegal war against legal wealth, but
we do make legal war against illegal
wealth. There we stand. If these
privileged and superior gentlemen for
whom the senator elects only to speak
are those who feel that they will have
this government to protect them. that
they will have this government to sus
tain them in the possession of theil
riches, that they viii have this govern
ment send it's young sons to death Il
save them and their wealth, then, sir
| demand that they shall contribute
to help to build the navy, to maintain
the army, TO save the honor of the ma
ton OF which they are part and man.
of them so little credit.
The senator speaks of "my people.
I would invite to his respectful cor
sideration the fact that my observe
tons through New York are thos
which would apply in any state Q
this Union. There is the burdene
farmer bending in toll during the hea
of the day, with his blistered hand
and bowed body, striving for a mer
existence. He pays his tax of fror
100 to 200 per cent upon the mer
necessities of life, ostensibly in orde
TO maintain a government, but reall
TO give fortunes to these for whoi
the sentaor speaks as my people
There IS the toiler in the mill, III
man in the factory, and the man
the workshop, all with small wage
all these being constantly reduced
their possessions and'whose substanC
Is being consumed for the mere priv
lege of living. This man he, too. pa!
the tax and also bears the burden
the tax that is evaded by those WI
are the senator's people" Why, the
shall not they the senator's ''peopl,
be forced TO pay a little out Of TIL
which they fitch from others and a
slst to maintain the government whiC
protects their wealth which they no
seek to have shielded and exempt'
from any responsibility!
The senator says my people" W
have to pay the tax. What law is the
here which specifically applies the
come tax provision to New York onl.
Where are there any people who W
escape? The tax is paid by all tho
with incomes exceeding $4,000, whet
er they are in the imperial state
Illinois or the splendid state of Ne
York, whether in a state demeaned
the poor representation may give n
state or honored by the magnifi
position the distinguished senat
gives his. None escape. All. l say
the distinguished senator. wherev
they are, from ice-bound Alaska
the tropical zones of Porto Rico a.
the Philippine Islands; from the fiel
of toll, where they garner the grain
sadness; in the machine shops; in I
factories. where the lives OF the lit
ones are ground out in order that frc
their sacrifices privilege may &C