The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1915-12-09

dulOlS GuC lldVleS O1 CHe MaT1C1Qe ma.
tions. We should now definitely de-
termine how we shall, complete what
we have begun, and how soon."
This paragraph forcibly expresses
the presidents belief in an adequate
American merchant marine:
eve have not ships enough of our
own. We cannot handle our own
commerce on the seas. We are not
likely to be permitted to use even the
ships of other nations in rivalry of
their own trade, and are without
means to extend our commerce even
when the doors are wide open and our
goods desired. It is of capital i'm
portance not only that the United
States should be it's own carrier on the
seas and enjoy the economic independ-
ence which only an adequate merchant
marine would give it, but also that the
American hemisphere as whole
should enjoy alike independence and
self -sufficiency, if it is not to be drawn
into the tangle of European affairs"
A bond issue is not favored by the
president to meet the increased ex-
penses Of the government that the en-
largement of the army and navy
would necessitate. He believes we
should pay as we go, and here is his
suggestion as to the sources from
which the necessary revenue should
be derived:
- 1--WE should be following an almost
universal example of modern govern
ments if we were to draw the greater
part or even the whole of the reve-
nues we need from the income taxes.
By somewhat lowering the present
limits of exemption and the figure at
which the surtax shall begin to be i'm
posed, and by increasing, step by step
throughout the present graduation, the
surtax itself, the income taxes as at
present apportioned would yield sums
sufficient to balance the books of the
treasury at the end Of the fiscal year
1917 without anywhere making the
burden unreasonably or oppressi 1ely
heavy"
We doubt whether these suggestions
for raising additional revenue will
meet with popular approval:
"And there are many additional
sources of revenue which can justly be
resorted to without hampering the in
dustries of the country or putting am
too great charge upon individual ex-
penditure. A tax Of l cent a gallon
on gasoline and naptha would yield,
at the present estimated production,
$10,0O0,OO0; a tax of fifty cents horse
power on automobiles and internal ex-
plosive engines $15,000,0O0; stamp
tax on bank checks, probably $18,OOO,-
900; tax Of rs cents a ton on pig
iron, $10,0O0,000; a tax of rs cents a
ton on fabricated iron and steel, prob
ably $10,000,000. In a country of
great industries like this it ought to
be easy to distribute the burdens of
taxation without making them any
where bear too heavily or too exclu.
sively upon any one set of persons or
undertakings. What is clear is that
the industry of this generation should
pay the bills of this generation"
In the following vigorous Language
the president pays his respects to Inc
foreign-born marplots who are at
tempting to raise hell in this country:
81 have spoken to you today, gentle
men, upon single theme, the
thorough preparation of the nation to
care for it's own security and to make
sure Of entire freedom to play the i'm
partial role in this hemisphere and in
the world which we all believe to have
been providentially assigned to it. /
have in mind no thought of any i'm
mediate or particular danger arising
out of our relations with other nations.
We are at peace with all the nations
of the world, and there is reason TO
hope that no question in controversy
between this and other governments
will lead to any serious breach of ami
cable relations, grave as some differ
ences of attitude and policy have been
and may yet turn out to be. I am
sorry to say that the gravest threats
against our national peace and safety
have been uttered within our own
borders.
"There are citizens of the United
States, I blush to admit, born under
other flags but welcomed under our
general naturalization laws to the full
freedom and opportunity of America,
who have poured the poison of dis.
loyalty into the very arteries of our
national life; who have sought to bring
the authority and good name of our
government into contempt, to destroy
our industries wherever they thought
it effective for their vindictive pur-
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