The Washington herald., 1918-01-17

Ana seize IneSe sllls, anu ~ eS70
Deeds OF Worth,
Whereby ourselves may make our
Mother Earth
dweIIing-place more fair and glo-
rious
For self and those who shall come
after us.
Copyright lslsl
American game of late 1917 and early
leIS-is being played. in this instance.
with more fervor than we have heard
Of in some time.
If Mr. Baker thinks things are
getting along fine he should look into
this case. OF all the abusur things
we have heard put up to Congress
sionaI leaders it strikes us as show
ing the greatest display of red tape:
II Mr.. Baker took time to look into
this he wouldn't be so braZen IN
recounting its history to the world.
He would feel like sneaking into a
hole and staying there-that is. any
one else would who went through the
same experience.
The platform of the Democratic
marty in 1912 contained the follow
ing uttefanCe, winch 10 vi N'N'NNN
interest at this time:
There should be no abridgemenf
of the right of the wage earners and
producers to organize"
Mr.. Wilson was elected on a plat
form which included this. And when
he took office he named to the Post
master Generalship a man who sup
ported him and who upheld that plat
formal least by voice.
The people expected Mr.. Wilson
to observe this plan-and he did so
in most respects-and they expected
Mr.. Wilson's Cabinet members to
do the same thing.
But somehow or other. Postmaster
General Burleson appears to have for
gotten 1t. He has not only done
that. but he has actually violated 1t:
He has declared that employees Of
the postal service have no such right
to organize and that they shall not
do so.
Is there any reason which impelle6
the Democratic party to write this
into the 1912 platform which would
not also impel the country at this
time to condemn Postmaster General
Burleson for his stand?
Congressional leaders think not
and may do something later on that
will hit the p. NJ. amidships. Things
are brewing which portend serious
setbacks for the plans of the Texas
statesman.
Taxation will be treated differently
after the war is over.
Congress believes this. Reports from
the various States indicate that the
people are awakening to the light,
and that various Inequalities and in
equities of the present forms of tax
ation-forms that are antiquated and
broken-down-are soon to be abol-
ished.
The period of education is not over.
however. 1t will require more. and
this will be co-eXtensive with the
education upon war matters. But
followed as It will be by the period
of regeneration and .upbuiiding.. the
time will not have been lost by the
great American people in taking. this
unusual course.
In several States Of the Union-it
seems strange to say it-people sup
posedly pay their taxes on the basis
of the amount of property they own
OF course, they do not do that. Some
of the poor washerYopep DO, hut
the moderately well-fixed folks and
the rich people do not do SO by a
long ways. The real principle OF pay
ment according to ability isn't
thought of in those States, save. as
some itinerant tax specialist makes
Mortified comment on the local sys-
tenn. and tries to ''Billy-sunday" the
people on to higher and nobler tax
laws.
The dark States. bid fair. to be led
out into the light. Congress is glad
to see the change, for as the States
begin to view the tax situation sensi-
bly,. so will the nation view 1t in the
same light. .
THE OBSERVER.