Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-06-12
CONSUMPTION OF MEN AND MONEY

"Ihe government is cOnScrlptnG your sons Tor THIS
war. Now let 1t conscript the wealth of the country so
that the rich can do their share,''
This is a familiar argument used on practically ev-
cry platform from which are delivered addresses intend
ed to create sentiment against the government of the
country and to impede it in its prosecution of the war.
This argument is misleading, and Is intended to be
SO. 1t is based on falsehood whether directly stated or
implied does not matter. The assumption, and the i'm
preston which is intended to be conveyed. and which
is conveyed, is that the rich are exempted from con-
scription, and that their wealth is not already being
"conscripted."
The assumption is utterly b..sls.s, and every argu-
ment founded on it Is worthless. The man Of millions,
If of military age. is required to register. and has reg
istered. If he is past military age himself. his sons. if
he has them, are registered. just as the sons Of the farm
er and the small merchant and the day iaborer are reg
istered. And when men from this group of eligibles come
to be drawn for military service, the rich and the poor
will be given exactly the same treatment. Men Of both
classes will be drawn on the same basis. They will be
mustered into the same service. They will cross the
seas on the same ships, will engage side by side in the
same drill. and side by side they will take their places
in the trenches, there to serve as they can, and to accept
what fortune is sent them. ..
Neither is 1t true that the rich are absolved from
providing funds for the war. No one IL exempt from this
duty. Through the levying Of taxes every human being
in the country is made to contribute either directly or
indirectly. But, while most Of our commodities and ac-
tivities are taxed, these taxes are not apportioned &C
cordihg to wealth. for they are SO adjusted that the
wealthy are required to pay constantly increasing pro-
portions as their wealth increases. Most Of our taxes
are based on a levy on property values which remains
the same whether the possessions Of the individual are
worth much or little. So many mills on the dollar are
levied, and rich and poor pay the same rate. the poor
paying smaller sums, of course. because their wealth is
less. But in the levying Of war taxes a different basis
has been adopted. and the more wealth one has the
higher will be his rate of taxation. Take the income tax
as an illustration. Most people are not called on to pay
any. The man Of small means and small income !s
exempt from this tax. The man Of larger means pays
something. The man Of millions pays a still higher
rate. and the man Of many millions pays very mucn
more. This is true Of inheritance taxes. Small estates
are exempt, those Of moderate size pay some tax, very
large ones pay a still higher rate.
In other words. the government is treating the rich
and the poor in the same manner in the matter Of per
sonal service. It il discriminating against the rich In
the matter Of taxation. This is entirely proper. But
when anarchistic orators stand on the platform and de-
mand the CONSUMPTION Of wealth they seek to create the
impression that in some way the wealthy are escaping
entirely personal service. and are not being called on to
contribute their money to the cause. This is but q sample
Of the methods employed by Townley and others Of his
stripe to prejudice their hearers against the government
Of their country in its time Of mead. &