The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-08-23

do it very effectually by adopting the
La Toilette amendment
Senator vardaman, Mississippi,
termed the LaFollette amendment
good law in peace time and very
good law in war"
1.-THE protests against it," said Var
daman, ARE coming from the class
of men who capitalize their pretended
patriotism. The individual and all
he possesses belongs to the govern
ment in war time, to take If need be.
say take it from the rich"
Gompers' Statement.
[By Samuel Gompers, President of
the American Federation of Labor,
Written for the United Press.l
WASHINGTON Aug. 23.-There
never was a war that afforded less JUS
tification for war profits than that
in which our country Is now engaged.
The Fundamental purpose of this
war Is to establish inviolability OF
human rights.
In my opinion the rate of taxation
upon war profits should be brought
down to nearly peace profits.
For this war our republic has felt
justified In enforcing compulsory mill
tary service, at the constant lr>tari
, Of health body and life; to require
the full man power in production and
transportation.
That corporations, companies, and
even individuals should have the OPP
portunity to coin the flesh and blood
of their countrymen into war profits
is abhorrent to justice and humanity
and in conflict with the very ideals
! n lit Nd hni a
are contending.
No single determination would do
more to unity the nation behind the
governments efforts in this war and
establish feeling of equity and Sc
curity than to tax war profits so
heavily as to virtually wipe out Of ex-
istence profits resulting from the war.
lie has long been charged that there
are industries and financial interests
which have even endeavored to pro-
woke war that they might profit there
by Even now, despite the fact that
America has joined in this world
struggle for the most exalted, funda-
mental principles and ideals, the
| false charge has been levelled against
US that this is war for profits.
BY preventing profits from our
present wars necessities, nothing
would tend so much 20 enroll the
spirit, conscience and activity of our
people in one great homogeneous
task to win the war for justice and
| freedom and democracy the world
over.
In recognition of the unusual con-
ditions attending war production in
my opinion, the rate of taxation upon
war profits Should be brought down
to nearly normal peace profits, and
surely the history of industry Of the
United states demonstrates the fact
that those profits are nlggardly TO
enterprise and wealth.
1t is my judgment that It would be
extremely unwise for our government
to raise all the revenue of this war
for democracy and humanity through
borrowing and mortgaging the future.
Under the borrowing principle, safe
loans are made to the government
for which full compensatory are guar
anteed.
Interest on Hoans and often loans
themselves must be repaid by taxa,
ton levied upon the people and
which of course fall more heavily on
the poor than upon the wealthy.
By taxation on war profits, In
comes and inheritances, our country
can in large part meet the expenses
of the war as we proceed with that
great enterprise.
The American labor movement has
officially endorced the principle OF
taxation of war profits. The justlhca
ton of the principle cannot be ques
toned In defense of the principles
of this republic the government has
the right to ask the service Of the
citizens of the country and to use for
defensive purposes all of the re
sources of the country.