Milford chronicle., 1914-10-30
The War ON INDUSTRY.

The Democrats are at last realizing
that a war tax in time of peace is not
a popular proceeding in the United
States. Therefore, there is now appear
ing a flood of explanations and apologies
as to the alleged necessity of putting up
OH the people this additional burden,
when already they are bearing the added
anxiety that comes with disturbed mark
cts and business unrest.
The people are beginning to ask very
pertinent questions about this tax, and
very embarrassing ones so far as the
Democratic party is concerned. They
ask why onerous exactions are imposed
upon active domestic business interests.
They wish to know why a hundred mil
lions of dollars should be called for from
the business men of the United States at
the very time that the European war has
interrupted exchanges, broken down the
machinery of international finance. and
placed great strain on our volume of cur
rency.
They are asking how il is that the
Democrats can figure just how much
additional revenue is needed. What do
the leaders Of Congress know as to this
need' How can they use the customs
receipts of August as a true barometer
and guide of what the future has in
store That was the month of the wars
opening when fear was everywhere on
the sea; when ships sought sudden
shelter, and sailings were cancelled. II
was a month of confussion and appre-
hension on every sea-coast.
Already there has been marked
change for the better in the world S ship
ping The area of ocean danger is now
limited and known Ships are again
sailing on regular schedule. Transpor-
tation by sea has been resumed. To
Judge of what will be needed in revenue
by the receipts of the first month of the
war is but a blind leap in the dark. 1t
will probably be just as accurate as the
Democrats guessing on the amount to be
derived from the income tax.
If the Democrats were sincere in their
taxation they would postpone the quest
ion until the next session of Congress
By that time it could be much better told
how much revenue would really be re-
quired, and it would also be possible to
forecast the length of the war. There is
no danger of the Treasury becoming
bankrupt before that time. There is no
occasion for this haste in taxation.
There would not be this haste if there
was sincerity at the foundation of the
new tax, if it was really for the purpose
that is professed.
Of course, the truth is that the Demo-
cratic revenue planning has failed, as
must all plans that are based merely up
on guesswork and imagination. The
Democratic leaders know that more reve-
nue. will be needed to make up for their
errors in calculation, and to pay the bill
for the extravaganza of Democratic ap-
propriations. Their idea is to raise this
revenue under cover of the European
war clouds, to provide for it during the
first days of the conflict while there is
still daze in the country over the terri
bic struggle, and before people generally
have time to consider the merits of the
taxation.
So they cunningly term il war tax
trusting that it will thus escape the criti-
cism that is its just due. 1t is war tax
only in the sence that it is another step
in the war upon industry and business
that Democracy is wagiug, and has waged
ever since it came into power last year.
This is a time to Tighten governmental
demand for cash from the commercial
world, not to call for more This tax is
a part of the Democratic war on business
in which the first step was the enactment
of a tariff law, and in which other steps
are the laws to regulate business by
strangling 1.-THE Press