Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1920-05-08
WOOD OPPOSES
HEAVY WAR TAX
We Must Take ShackIes Off Our
Business, He Warns, and
Spread the Burden.

Leonard Woods career has not been
that of business man in the narrower
application Of that term. This means
that, while business activities, in many
varied forms, have been a necessary
part Of his duties as a soldier, an ad-
ministrator and an executive, he has
never been a factor in commercial en-
terprises. Nevertheless, by looking at
business through telescope, rather
than microscope, and by the posses
sion of that real sympathy with bust
ness enterprise that is characteristic
Of all active-minded Americans. Wood
is especially well qualified to speak
words of wisdom upon both the larger
and the minor business issues that
have developed since the war ended.
Upon excess profits tax and topics
generally allied thereto, Wood says:
1--WE want to do everything possible
to push forward American business.
We must not be afraid Of encouraging
good business, no matter how big 1t
is. In recent years, the opinion has
grown up in this country among GER
tain classes Of people that big bust
ness is bad business and should be
suppressed. AS a mater of fact, no
matter how big business is, if it is
a good business, if it is beneficial to
the people, it should be encouraged.
On the other hand, no business is too
small to be controlled and regulated If
ic hoI h,,cinocS fS mt tho ci1o
Of the business which is to be con-
sidered. 1t is the character Of it. The
world is going through reorganization
in all lines of endeavor-an extensive
organization which is beneficial to the
people should be encouraged. We shall
be greatly assisted in building up
business If we can spread the war
burden q longer period of years. This
war was fought not for ourselves
alone, but for posterity, and it seems
hardly just that the burden of the war
should be borne exclusively by the
present generation, especially the ex-
cess profit tax, which has a strangle
hold upon business. It tends to para
lyze initiative; to restrict expansion.
We do not want to do anything which
hampers business expansion.
Must Develop Foreign Trade.
England, although bearing a ire
mendous load Of debt, is doing every
thing to help build up her commerce,
replace her shipping, gain possession
Of the natural trade areas, for she
realizes that upon the re-establlsh-
ment Of her trade and commerce de-
ponds her national stability. We must
take the shackles off our business. We
must stimulate enterprise and invest
meut We have never had such an
opportunity. We must develop South
American and Central American trade
We must develop our Mexican trade
and protect Our citizens and our in
terests in that unhappy land, and we
must keep an eye on the door in the
Far East and see that it is not closed
against us, for there is an immense OPP
portunity for commerce in that direc-
ton. commerce which we will lose to
an enterprising rival unless we awaken
TO the realization of our present Oppor
tunities.
america has been developed almost
wholly by private initiative, through
private enterprise, and we must look
to a continuance of this policy under
wise governmental regulations for our
future development.
"The naturalization of industry
would mean the paralysis Of private
initiative and lead to national deca
dence. We must develop our indus
tries under such protection as may b.
needed actually to protect those VIII
need protection-not protection for tn.
purpose Of developing monopoly at ths