Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1918-06-06

oOAC IAS Guilty Va q SOCCSSS1ul dV'
mlnistration Of the treasury In 1918
If the question Of further taxation is
to be left undecided until 1919.
Only Thought Now ls Win the War.
1.-THE consideration that dominates
every other now. and makes etery 9TH
er seem trivial and negligible, is the
winning Of the war. We are not only
in the midst of the war; we are at
the very peak and crisis of it.
World Facing Many New Problems.
II am advising you to act upon this
matter of taxation now, gentlemen,
not because do not know that you
can see and interpret the facts and the
duty they impose just as well and with
as clear perception of the obligations
involved as can, but because there is
a certain solemn satisfaction in shar-
Ing with you the responsibilities Of
such time.
"The world never stood in such case
before. Men never before had so clear
or SO moving vision of duty. I know
that you will begrudge the work to be
done here by us no more than the men
begrudge us theirs who lie in the
trenches and sally forth to their death.
There Is stimulating comradeship
knitting US all together. And this task
to which I invite your immediate con-
sfderatton will be performed under IA
vorable influences II we will look to
what the country is thinking and ex-
pecttng, and care nothing at all for
what is being said and believed in the
Hobbies Of Washington hotels, where
the atmosphere seems to make it posi-
BILE to believe what Is believed nowhere
else.
United In War Purpose.
"Have you not felt the spirit of the
nation rise and its thought become a
single and common thought since these
eventful days came in which we have
been sending our boys to the other
side? l think you must read that
thought, as I do, to mean this, that the
people Of this country, are not only
united in the resolute purpose to win
the war, but are ready and willing to
bear any burden and undergo any sac
rifice that 1t may be necessary for
them to bear in order to win 1t.
Hundreds of thousands of our men.
carrying our hearts with them and our
fortunes, are in the field, and ships are
crowding faster and faster to the ports
of France and England with regiment
after regiment, thousand after thou
sand. to join them until the enemy
shall be beaten and brought to reck-
oning with mankind.
No Pause or lntermission.
"There can be no pause or intermis.
sion. The great enterprise must, on
the contrary. be pushed with greater
energy. The volume of our might must
steadily and rapidly be augmented un-
til there can be no question of resist
ing it. If that is to be accomplished.
gentlemen, money must sustain 1T to
the utmost. Our financial program
must no more be left in doubt or suf
fered to lag than our ordnance pro
gram or our ship program or our mum.
tiuns program or our program for max
ing millions Of men ready. These 9th.
ers are not programs, indeed, but mere
plans upon paper, unless there is to be
an unQuestionable supply of money.
'"rhat is the situation, and it is the
situation which creates the duty, nc
choice or preference of ours. There
is only one way to meet that duty
We must meet 1t without seltishness
or fear Of consequences.
Politics Adjourned in War Crisis.
Politics. is adjourned. The cleo
tons will go to those who think
least of it. To those who go to the con
stituencies without explanation or ex
cuse. with plain record of duty faith.
fully and dlsinterestedly performed
l, for one. am always confident that the
people of this country will give a just
verdict upon the service of the mer
who act for them when the facts are
such that no man can disguise or con
ceal them.
There is no danger of deceit now
An intense and pitiless light beats
upon every man and every action In
this tragic plot of war that is now
upon the stage. If lobbyists hurry tc
Washington to attempt to turn what
you do in the matter of taxation tc
their protection or advantage, the ligh,
, will beat also upon them. There is
abundant fuel for the light In the
records Of the treasury with regard tt
profits of every sort. The profiteerine
that cannot be got ut by the restraints
of conscience and love of country car
be got at by taxation. There is suct
profiteering now and the information
with regard to 1t is available and in
disputable.
I'VE need not be afraid to tax them
If we lay taxes justly. They know tina
i the war must be paid for. and that i
is they who must pay for it, and If thu
burden is justly distributed and thu
sacrifice made common sacrifice from
which none escapes who can bear 1
at all, they will carry 1t cheerfully ant
with n cort nf colarnn nrfdn