New-York tribune., 1920-10-13
Business Holds
Taxation Chief
Campaign Issue
3.673 Men of Affairs i'm
All Parts of Country
Express Their Views on
Vital Issues of the Day
For Modified Prohibition
Radicalism Is Regarded as
Still Being Aggressive;
Optimism Should Prevail

Four thoughts are paramount in the
minds Of the men Of affairs in the
United States, if survey just COM
pleted by Harris, Winthrop & Co.,
bankers, of New York and Chicago, is
an indication Of the trend of thought.
The survey was made so that COM
prehensive idea of political and eco
nomic conditions in this country could
be obtained 1t Is described as "com-
poste picture Of business America"
and is the consensus Of the views of
1878 business men on vital issues at
this time. The four questions on which
the majority Gre agreed are:
l. That taxation is the main issue in
the campaign.
2. That liberalized prohibition is gem
orally desired.
3. That radicalism is still aggressive.
4. That optimism should prevail
Twenty five questions we're submit
ted, and of the 1878 replies 2,641 hold
that the question OF reduced taxntion
is considered of greater Importance
than the League of Nations by the
voters in their section of the country
About the same number report that
majority of the people, wage earners
included, favor the abolition of the eX-
cess profits tax and reduction of the
income tax. Of the answers 1921 indi
cate that q small consumption tax or
turnover tax of 1 to i "a per cent
levied on the total business or sales Of
every going concern is favored.
In regard to the tariff the answers
indicate that public opinion is about
equally divided between desire for
higher tariff protection and main
tenance of the present duties.
Opinion on Prohibition
Question No. 6 reads as follows:
There are some who favor prohib-
ton that have come to believe that it
is practically unenforceable and that
the corruption and lawlessness that it
breeds more than offset its benefits.
A definite answer to the question is
difficult, but we would like to know
whether you favor liberalization of
the law in order to permit the sale of
light wines and beer"
This has elected many replies, a ma,
jorty of which favor the proposed lib
eralizaton. In the Northwestern dis
trict, comprising Minnesota, Wisconsin
and the Dakotas. opinion is equally
divided as to the desirability Of modi-
flying the law. The verdict elsewhere
seems to indicate that large portion
of the national territory is sentimen-
tally "humid" or "moist" it, indeed, it
is not "wet"
Collectively considered, tho answers
to the questions which have to do
with commercial and financial condi-
tions seem to indicate a qualified opti-
msm.
Most Of the firms correspondents
seem to think that Liberty bonds have
now been permanently distributed
among those who will keep them, and
this opinion finds confirmation in the
sharp advance in government bonds
that has occurred since the report was
compiled.
Opinion as to the immediate future
of business seems to be evenly divided
A majority of less than 10 per cent
look for q further contraction, but
from the cotton states there is re-
ported preponderant expectation Of
an early business revival.
"This," Harris, Winthrop e. Co. say,
"is somewhat remarka BILE, when the
decline in cotton and the outcry it has
caused are considered"
In answer to an inquiry as to wheth-
er tho organizations known as the In
dustrial Workers Of the World (I. w.
W., the Communist party Of America,
the Communist Labor party, the Nom
partisan League, the Socialist-Labor
party, the Socialist party Of Amer
ica, the anarchists and the Union
of Russian Workers were active or ag-
gressive, the replies indicate that near
ly all Of them appear to have sub
stantial membership In most states of
the Union, and that while an effort to
oppose them is being made in some
quarters it is not by any means as
general as those who believe that the
beginnings Of political evil should be
resisted ought to hope.