Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-07-23

ing IN with him were Republican by con-
siderable majorities. Instead of redeem
ing the prediction pledges Of theil
party. this Republican Congress passed,
ana Mr.. TAFT approved, the Payne-Al-
drlch law, which, instead of reducing du-
ties, bore an average rate greater thar
that of the condemned law already on
the statute books. The people felt out
ragged and indignant at this Reputation
of the party pledge and this betrayal Of
public trust.
Then followed the struggle of fou,
years later. In 1912 the Republican
party was split in two, largely because OF
the tariff question. The Taft following
stood pat, while the Roosevelt following
assailed them for bad faith in utterly
~dlsregarding the promises they had made
ana the Obligations they had assumed in
lyOS. The Progressives waged a war on
the P~ayne-AldIich law almost as bitter
ana uncompromisit.g as hat waged by
the Democrats. In the convention of
1912 the Democratic party renewed its
pledge, If given power. to enact a tariff
Jaw cutting deep into the prevailing
rates, and, as far as possible, to uproot
the monopolistic tendencies and evil eff
Iects OF the Republican tariff, policy.
When Mr.. Wilson became President, with
a Democratic Senate and House, he
promptly called The Congress in extraor
binary session and delivered a message
OF great power urging Congress to pro-
coed at once to enact new tariff schod.
ules in accordance with the pledge made
by the Democratic party.
congress responded to this call of the
PRESIDENT. Representatives of special in
terests, long sheltered by exorbitant tar
IFS, swarmed at Washington and sought
IN every way to defeat, or at least DELAY.
new legislation. l was then, and still
am, a member Of the Finance Commit
zee, wtieh a charge Of this legislation
II the Senate. Being in the thick of that
ilght, | am familiar with it. 1t would be
interesting to lay the history of that
struggle before the people of the state.
OUT ! cannot, OF course, in this necessari-
" condensed statement, do more than
barely refer to the results attained. we
dld not seek to run amuck and embar-
rass any l~egitimately conducted industry:
on the contrary, we sought to be reason.
ably conservative. We had at least
three principal purposes in view in franz
ING the new law. First, we sought to re-
duce rates to a point that would make
monopoly far more difficult, IL not pIar-
tcally impossible; secondly, to cut rates
10 a point where fair competition would
relieve the consuming public from a large
measure of the unjust burdens suffered
by them under the exorbitant rates then
pl evailing; and, thirdly, to bring tariff
could be done without suddenly too mich
disturbing established business condi-
lions. We believe that while the hin
Is necessarily more or less imperfect, as
al sucH measures must be, 1T has in the
main We'll accomplished the ends we mad
IN view in passing it. Selfish Interests.
or course, yiciously assail this legislation
put ! feel confident that it has the an.
proval OF the great body of The people.
ana am certain that 1t should commend
Itself TO the Impartial judgment of right
thinking men.
In this tariff or revenue law. ana o.
a part of il, we Incorporated an inooms
tax law. This species Of taxation has
been very generally adopted by the more
advanced nations of the world. and the
american people have been den snding il
Tor many years. The Democratic nartv
mas stood steadfastly for an income tax.
The Wilson, German bill, passed 20 years
during the Cleveland a%dministra-
Lion, provided for al income tax; hut
the Supreme Court of the United States
technical grounds, declared 1t to be
unconstitutional. Since Mr.. Cleyelan6's
time the Democratic party has not mn
~ now, been clothed with power to leg
islate. During these 20 years the Rcpub-
mean party, first under one excuse and
tnen another, refused to enact an ineoma
TAX law. At the first opportunity it has
had the Democratic party under ira
leadership. of President Wilson has en-
ected an income tax law, and we think
nave SO frained 1t as to save 1t from
Danger or adverse judicial interfer-
shce; cannot but believe that this law.
Whlch requires men of ample fortunes Ia
contribute to the support Of the goyerns
nient on a graduated scale according Ia
lhelr incomes, VIII commend itself n
General approval. 1t is a Just measure
" taxation, and ] cannot doubt that ths
Teat majority Of the American nsoniS
s1osce at its enactment"