The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1914-07-10


ing in with him we're Republican by con-
siderable majorities. Instead Of redeem
ing the prediction pledges Of their
party, this Republican Congress passed,
and Mr.. Taft approved, the Payue-Al-
drioh law, which, instead OF reducing du-
ties, bore an average rate greater than
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 four
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
disreBardlng the promises they mad mace
aud the Obligations they had assumed in
1908, The Progressiyes waged a war on
the AldriCh law almost as bitter
and uncompromisiLg as that waged W
the Democrats. In the convention u
1912 the Democratic party renewed rs
pledge, II given power, to enact "A tariff
law cutting deep into the prevailing
rates, and, as far as possible, TO uproot
the mOnopOlistic tendencies and evil eff
fects Of the Republican tariff policy.
When Mr.. Wilson became President, with
a Democratic Seuat and House, lie
promptly called he Congress IN cNtIalr-
binary session and delivered a mAsS4go
Of great power urging Congress to PRO-
coed at once TO enact new tariff ScuCd-
ules In accordance with the pledge made
by the Democratic party.
Congress responded to this call of 'ho
President. Representatives OF special IN
~terests. long sheltered by eNurbitaut tar
ifs, swarmed at Washington and sought
In every way TO defeat, or at least delay,
new Legislation. was then. and still
am, a member Of the Finance Commit
tee, which mad charge Of this legislation
IN the senate. being In the tnlCk of that
fight, am familiar with II. II would be
interesting to lay the history Of that
truggle before the people Of the state,
but cannot, Of course, In this -necessari-
ly condensed statement, do more than
barely refer to the results attained. We
DID not seek to run amuCk and embar-
rass any legitimately conducted industry;
on the contrary, we sought to be reason q.
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. II not prac-
tically impossible; secondly. to cut rates
TO 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
prevailing; and, thirdly. to bring tariff
taxation as nearly TO a revenue basis as
could be done without suddenl too much
Disturbing established business condi-
tons. We believe that while the bill
- UNNECESSARILY more OF less imperfect, as
all such measures must be, II has in the
main well accomplished the ends we had
In view In passing II, Selfish interests,
OF course, Yiciously assail this Legislation,
but / feel confident that Il has the ap-
prevail OF the great body " he people,
and am certain that II should commend
Itself TO the impartial Judgment of right
thinking men.
In his tariff or revenue law, and as
a part OF Il, we Incorporated an income
tax law. This species Of taxation has
been very generally adopted by the more
advanced nations Of the world and the
American people ave been den ending IL
for many years, The Democratic party
has stood steadfastly for an income tax.
The WilsOn-GOrma bul, passed 20 years
ago, during the Cleveland adminlstn-
tion, provided for an income tax; but
the Supreme Court OF the United states.
on technical grounds, declared IL TO be
unconstitutional. Since Mr.. Cleveiand's
Time the Democratic party has not, un-
gu now, been clothed with power to leg
islate. During these 20 years the Repub-
lcan party, first under one excuse and
then another, refused TO enact an income
tax law. At the tfrSt opportunity IL has
had the Democratic party under the
leadership Of President Wilson has en-
acted an Income tax law. and we think
nave SO framed II IS 70 save n from
tho danger OF adverse jniicia ntarfsr-
ence. ! cannot but believe that his Law.
which. requires men Of ample fortunes 70
contribute TO the support ~ the govern
ment on a graduated scale according 10
their Incomes, will commend itself 70
general approval. Il IS a Just measure
ot taxation. and ] cannot doubt that the
! great majority OF the American people
rejoice OF rs enactment"