The Washington herald., 1913-02-09
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.


The adoption Of the income tax
amendment to the Constitution, and
the progress through State Legislatures
of an amendment providing for the di-
rect election of Senators, mark two
distinct changes in our system of gov
crnment.
They are signposts which point to
new paths in our political history.
The income tax amendment is an
other indication of the socialistic ten
dcncy of the times. The purpose of
the amendment is to make the rich
bear the burden The poor man is
necessarily unaffected; and the people
without incomes of 5000 year bo-
ing largely in the majority, there was
no difficulty in securing the new order
of things. The amendment was rati-
fed by the State Legislatures with re-
markable promptitudc.
1t would be interesting. as well as
instructive. to consider why the fram-
crs of the Constitution did not make
provision for raising revenue from in
comes. but that is all past history. II
is with the future that we have to
deal. What effect will the income tax
have upon the political situation? \
very vital one. 1t will, in the first
place. largely remove from the Federal
Legislature the necessity of raising
revenue from the tariff. On the eve
OF a revision of the tariff this is an
important consideration The income
tax viii. it is expected, provide at
least SIooooo,ooo This leaves the way
open for those who believe that pro-
lection is unconstitutional TO carry
their theories into effect. The eX-
perience of the nation under the last
low-tariff law was most unfortunate.
Not only was private enterprise seri-
ously affected, but the government
was embarrassed by deficit. With an
income tax in operation, this latter
situation can be avoided, even though
the tariff be greatly reduced. Upon
many articles the duty can be lowered
or entirely removed.
This means that the Democratic
party has now a free rein in the
handling of the tariff question. 1t can
put its economic policy into full cf-
feet. The result OF that action will dc
tcrmine its political future. If it shall
be demonstrated that with the wealthy
contributing largely to the support OF
the government and the poor obtaining
the benefit of cheaper necessities OF
life. the great mass of the people arc
in happier and moro comfortable sit
uation, then the Democratic party need
have no fear of the outcome OF the
next election 1t has four years in
which to make the experiment. II
can proceed along the lines of its plat
form with the very material aid of the
proposed income tax law The con-
ditions which affected the framing and
administration OF the Wilson tariff
law no longer exist The way is now
open for a full redemption of the
party pledges The outcome will be
awaited with deep interest. Those who
believe that protection is essential to
our material prosperity will, of course,
still entertain some doubt as to the
successful execution of the new pol
icy. None the less, the Democrats
are entitled to attempt it, and if it
proves that it results in the greatest
good to the greatest number, they will
deserve the commendation which they
will receive
The relation of the income tax to
the political situation is, therefore,
very plain. 1t enables the Democratic
party to put its policies regarding the
tariff into full effect, and the popular
verdict upon those policies will de-
eide the next election.
There is another consideration re-
garding the income tax. which is
probably not as tangible. but which
may nevertheless be eventually visible
1t is the cry. of social reformers
that the great middle class, which is
the safeguard, as well as the glory OF
this nation, is disappearing-that, to
use a common saying, the rich are get
ting richer and the poot poorer. The
fear is expressed that in course of
time we will repeat the experience OF
France before the revolution, and find
our population divided into two classes,
the very rich and the very poor
Whatever the agitators may say, this
situation is certainly not Immediately
impending At the same time, there is