The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1920-08-12

Citizens, Who feel Iiiaaf m signing The
treaty, there should be no mental res
ervations that are not expressed In
| plain words, as matter of good faith
| to our associates. Such interpreta'
| lions possess the further virtue OF
supplying a base upon which agree
ment can be reached, and agreement
without injury to the covenant, is
now of pressing Importance. 1t was
the desire to get things started, that
prompted some members of the senate
to vote for the Lodge reservations,
Those who conscentiously voted for
them In the final roll calls realized,
however, that they acted under duress,
In that a politically bigoted minority
was exercising the arbitrary power of
its position to enforce drastic condi'
lions. Happily the voters of the re-
public, under our system Of govern
ment, can remedy that situation, and
have the faith that they will, at the
election this fall. Then organized
government will be enabled to combine
impulse and facility In the making Of
better world conditions. The agencies
of exchange will automatically adjust
themselves to the opportunities Of
commercial freedom. New life and re-
newed hope will take hold Of every
nation. Mankind will press a resolute
shoulder to the task of readjustment,
and a new era will have dawned upon
the earth.
Federal Taxation.
Federal taxation must be heavily
reduced, and 1t will be done at once,
If Democratic administration Is
chosen In November. Without hamper
ing essential national administrative
departments, by the elimination Of all
others and strict economy everywhere,
national taxes can be reduced in ex-
cess of two billion dollars yearly. An
noyng consumption taxes, once will
ingly borne now unjustihed, should be
repealed. The incomes from war-made
fortunes, those of non-producers and
those derived from industries that exist
by unfair privilege may be able to
carry their present load but taxes on
the earnings of the wage-earner, of the
Salarled and professional man, of the
agricultural producer and Of the small
tradesman should be sharply modified.
l believe that better form of taxation
than the so-called excess profits tax
may be found and I suggest a small
tax. probably one to one and one-half
per cent on the total business of every
going concern. 1t Is to be understood
that the term business as used does
not include income received by wage
earners, salaried men, agriculturists
and the small business man who should
be exempt from this tax. The profiteer
and some of the highly capitalized
units have used the excess profits tax
as a favorite excuse for loading on the
consumer by means Of highly inflated
selling prices many times the amount
actually paid the government. A
necessary condition to the national
contentment and sound business Is a
Just proportion between fair profits to
business and fair prices to the con-
sumer.
Would Halt Profiteerlng.
"The tribe of profteers has simply
multiplied under the favorng circum.
stances Of war. For years, large con-
tributions have been made to the Re
publican campaign fund for no pur-
pose except to buy governmental
underhold and to make Illegal profits
as the result of preference. Such
largesses are today a greater menace
to our contentment and our instltu-
lions than the countless temporary
profiteers who are making mockery
of honest business, but who can live
and fatten only In time of disturbed
prices. If | am called to service as
president means Will be found, If they
do not already exist, for compelling
these exceptions to the great mass of
square dealing American business
men, to use the same yardstick of
honesty that governs most Of US In
our dealings with our fellowmen, or
in language that they may understand,
to suffer the penalty of criminal law.
at has been my observation that the
man who learns our language, yields
to a controlling public opinion and
respects our laws; besides, in proper
ton as his devotion to American life
develops his interest In the impulslve
processes of revolution dlminishes.
We must be patient In the work of as
slmilation and studously avoid oppres-
slve measures In the face of mere
evidence of misunderstanding. The
necessity for the drastic laws of
war days Is not present now,
and we should return at the
earliest opportunity, to the statutory
provisions passed In time Of peace for
the general welfare. There is no con-
dition now that warrants any infringe
ment on the right Of free speech and
assembly nor on the liberty of the
press. The greatest measure Of indi-
vdual freedom consistent with the
safety OF our institutions should be
given. Excessive regulation causes
manifestations that compel restraint
Law Enforcement.
1.-THE legislative branch OF govern
ment is subjected to the rule Of the
majority. The public official who falls
to enforce the law, Is an enemy both
to the Constitution and to the Ameri-
can principle of majority rule. 1t
would seem quite unnecessary for any
candidate for the Presidency to say
that he does not intend to violate his
nnth OF nHlnn Anunnn who Is fnlSn To