Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-31
NECESSARY WAR TAXATION

NECESSARY WAR TAXATION
VTTAR taxation naturally strikes
wv the average American citizen
unpleasantly. 1t comes to most
of our people as an unaccustomed
burden, but the average citizen real
ICES in his inmost consciousness that
this war must be fought to a finish
and that any higgling as to cost is
simply comfort for the enemy.
There are among our public men
too many who are playing to the
gallery of popular favor. These are
encouraging in the minds of the
German autocracy the thought that
the American people are not in earn
est, that they have been drawn into
the war against their better judg-
nent and that they have no SYM
pathy with the plans and purposes of
the Allies.
We must realize that tremendous
task is ahead of us and that every
hour of delay emphasizes and in
creases the problem which must be
solved in the utter defeat of the
Prussian plunderers. Taxation has
always been unpopular, but money
represents the sinews of war and we
must all be willing to sacrifice in
such a conflict as that upon which
we have entered.
OF course, the burden of taxation
ought to rest equitably upon all
classes of the people and when the
war revenue measure shall have
finally become a law it is the hope of
every patriotic citizen that fair di-
vision of the load will have been
made as between those of large and
small income.
But the main thing is the raising
of the revenue, the equipping of the
forces of the country and the speedy
mobilization of our war strength.
When Germany once realizes that we
are in deadly earnest in this matter
and that the pacifist is in woeful
minority or this side of the ocean
there will be less disposition at Ber-
lin to prolong a struggle that must
mean inevitable defeat.
Unfortunately at this time there
are in the halls of Congress men
who are ever ready to play the
demagogue and thereby promote
their own political interests. These
men may not be traitors at heart,
but they are r menace to their coun-
try in this time of crisis. Especially
is thus true of that class of little
men in high places who would create
the impression that the war is to be
fought by the sons of poor men and
that only those of wealth have any
interest whatever in the struggle.
This attitude is so contrary to every
principle of right that there must
! be a reaction in the public mind. It
is neither rich mans war nor a
poor mans war. Sons of the rich
and the poor are fighting side by side
in this stupendous conflict. When
the war shall have ended, as it must
end some day, the very fact that
these boys in all the walks of life
have served together will do much to
eradicate for years to come the fool
ish doctrine of class which was
growing up in this country under the
fostering influence of demagogues
In the matter of taxation every
citizen should bear his proportion OF
the load. Naturally, the greater bur-
den will fall upon those of large in
come, but the fact that all are help
ing to pay the price of war will bring
closer to the hearts of the Amer
lean people the meaning of the strug.
gle. This is not war for the en-
richment of any class and for that
reason there is general approval OF
the proposition that those who are
largely benefited by reason of the
war should bear a proportionate
share of the excessive taxes.
But 1t must be remembered that
in the consideration of this Vita
question of taxation nothing should
be done to hamper the legitimate ex.
pansion of industry and commerce
because in the last analysis that
would be fatal to the prosperity OF
the entire country.
And when our city officials get oul
| garbage dismissal on tha rt0hf ha aI.