Evening journal., 1918-10-01

The last man In Congress who ever
ought TO have been chairman OF the
Ways and Means Committee of the
House OF Representatives in Claude
kitchin. In time OF peace, TO place at
the head of that committee, so deeply
and powerfully involved in the indus
trial lot OF the American people, a man
Of such limited intelligence, Of such
economic ignorance, was folly and mis-
chief.
A man who doesn't know any more
about the elemental principles OF tax
alton, for example, than to pile such
heavy burdens upon thousands Of poor
prospectors for oil that they could no
longer so out and search and bore for
oil wells.
A man so destitute Of business sense
that he would compel corporations, big
and little, to distribute all their earn
lngs, when no business can be safe un-
less, TO take care Of future needs and
hazards, II sets aside and holds a rea-
sonable proportion Of It's profits instead
Of squandering them.
A man so blinded by his unlicensed
prejudces that, sinister toward all
prosperity he cannot see the difference
between extraordinary profits snatched
out OF abnormal war business and ordi-
nary profits plodded out Of normal
business.
A man so mentally topsy turvy that
In his revenue measure last year he
heavily penalized workers for earning
their livings, when he imposed upon
salaries a special tax, calling IL war
profits tax, which not even the leisurely
person having inherited a fortune in
stocks and bonds was asked TO pay.
In time Of war TO keep such a man at
the head OF the Ways and Means Com
mttee is both a wrong and a peril.
When he was violently opposing the
entry OF the United States into the war
TO save, before II was too late, its
honor and Its life as well. Kitchin pro-
claimed that II we had war IL would
be a cold blooded war, engineered for
profit by American plutocracy. When
we entered the war Kitchin swore that
he would assess its cost on the part
Of the country north OF Mason and
Dlxon's line. And, az far as he has
been able 10 go up 10 now. Kitchn has
made good HIS threat. What his eco
nOmic perversity has fallen short OF do
-
done with a vengeance.
II Kltchin made fool taxes merely be-
cause he did not know any better, he
deliberately drove those taxes, like
poisoned spikes. into the vitals OF the
industry, the trade, the earnings. the
savings, the bread and butter OF the
interests and the people north OF Mason
and Dixon's line.
KItchin's economic Authorizations and
superstltions were bad enough. II was
worse, hideously worse. that his pas
sons and hatreds, distilled along with
his stupidltles and follies into the ma
tion's revenue policy. should have made
the Industrial fields north Of Mason and
Dixon's line tax objects of pillage.
Thus Kitchin, the economic igno-
ramus has mania for destruction-al-
ways north OF Mason and Dixon's line
come TO be the most dangerous man
In Congress, the most dangerous man
In the United States. Kltchin is a dan
ger 90 the very government OF Presl-
dent Wilson because his frenzied policy
must cripple resources which should
be permanently available for the sup
port OF the government. Kitchin Is a
danger 10 our valorous armies in
France because he must weaken the
national power 10 back them up with
munitions and food and clothing.
Kltchin is a danger to the future of
the nation, In peace no less than In
war, because he must paralyze its very
arteries.