The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-07-31
FRONT PORCH
SPEECH TODAY
Continued from page

| world liberty in grim necessity, and
the same spirit, the same concern
the same mutually followed every
step in the development of the re
public.
The tendency to clasp conscious
ness is product of developing for
tunes and is both reflex Of achieve
ment and menace to maintained pro
| gress. We must caution against class
distinction and class conflict at every
istep.
Here in the middlewest, where
farming is free from tenantry, and
holds to the normal way, and manu-
featuring is mainly confined to the
plants Of that moderate size which in
dexes the surprising fabric OF Ameri-
can industry, we have touch of inti-
macy and that closer understanding
which emphasizes the thought | have
in mind We cannot promote agri-
culture alone because, the factory is
necessary to the making of market.
We cannot foster the factory and ig-
more agriculture because the farm is
our base of food supply.
II can readily recall forty cent
wheat, flayed from the fields of Rich
land and Morrow.
II trust no one will misquote me as
laying / believe in forty cent wneat.
because have INDUCED my memory.
Sometimes we are very unfair in hand
ling the utterances of public men.
remember when the senate was dis
cussing the war time guaranty on
wheat when we felt we ought to give
the American farmer that assurance
which would encourage seeding to
guard against war famine, a western
senator was urging that wheat could
not be raised for less than $3.50 per
bushel. l interrupted him to say that
/ well recalled that Ohio farmers, in
pre-war days, had rejoiced to get
dollar for their wheat. l was speak
ing of normal days prior to the war.
You will bear me witness that spoke
fairly and correctly. Yet there are
those today who seek to convey that
l said dollar bushel is enough for
wheat today. ! am not so annoyed
at the silly untruth as am distressed
at the affront to ordinary intelligence.
"There is no living today or tamor-
row according to the standards OF yes
terday. We collect more federal tax
es in one year than the entire wealth
of the republic century ago. Only
a little while ago our grievances about
taxes were wholly local, because a
half century or republican control of
the federal government held us free
from direct burdens. But the changed
policy, the democratic drift to freedom
of trade which is International rather
than national and mounting cost OF
government and finally war burden,
turned federal taxation to a colossal
burden. No one seriously complained
while the national crisis hung over
us, but we must work a REIMBURSEMENT
for stabilized and prosperous peace
We ought to make wealth bear its full
share of the tax burdens, and we never
will. Having this thought in mind,
and also thinking of the excessive
cost of living, ! doubt if the excess
profits tax for war precisely accomp-
fishes the end we seek in peace,
though we do not disagree about the
worthy intent It's operations have
been disappointing, its cost multiplied !
and pyramided and righteous changes
and notifications ought to be sought
at an early day. l would gladly rec
ommend a change, but / am not yet
to suggest an equitable sub
stitute, though l should have no hes
itancy in asking congress to seek the |
earliest possible solution. The re-
duced cost of government is already
pledged and reduced appropriation by
congresses already recorded. We must |
not paralyze American production by
taxation at home, or destructive COM i
petition from abroad, because our mu-
tual interest in productivity has made !
US what we are"