Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1920-07-30
DOMESTIC ISSUES
OF THE CAMPA|GN
High Prices, Taxation and Elec-
ton Expenditures Call for
New Legislation.

stitu,iopal. There is no power IN thu
Federal Government TO limit proht'
cxcept. perhaps, indirectly through the
taxation of the profits of the businesses
engaged in interstate commerce or bJ
recurring the successive vendors OF mer'
ehandise that passes IN interstate com
merce 70 disclose the various costs a:
the merchandise travels from hand &c
banda difficult and what might prove
an unavoidable plan, although 1T Is
worthy of trial. Something must be
done and taxing exorbitant profits out
of existence is probably the most feas-
ihle method of destroying the lrresisuble
Temptation To prohtcering.
Never have the percentages OF profits
ar the returns on capital in business
Iccn so extortionate- Among the manu-
facturers and middlcmen every depart
mont of industry is hoDeycombed with
pools. combinations. secret understand
ings or gentlemcn's agreements The
famine I'm merchandise of recent years
has rendered this situation still more
acute than in former times, since there
i no longer the incentive as formerly TO
break through price regulations. The
laws that were intended to restrain
those combinations have completely broke
down. as most students ot the subject
prcclictcd that they would. Public regu-
lation, publicity rs TO costs and taxation
arr the only remedies, and the need Tor
them has become imperative.
When we come to the consideration Oh
tbc gencral question Of taxation as an
issue IN this campaign, the most dangeJous
enemy 81 scientific treatment of the sub
loot Is the demagogue, who by invesghing
AGAINST the escape OF the rich from taxa-
ton has driven our legislators from the
extreme Of the unjust immunity OF wealth
from TAXATION which il formerly enjoy
ed Ia the imposing Of burdens that threat
on IN destroy all incentive and initiative
And to force capital into refuge behind
pon-taxabla securities As among those
who for twenty-five years or more pilor
~ tho adoption ~ the income tax law con-
t,nuouslv urged the justice of that form
of taxation of wealth, | am satisfied
that that method Of raising revenue has
lccn overdoue and that as result OF
the abuse uf this power new enterprises
arr today IN a state OF semi-paralysis.
No civilized country penalties great IN
comes Ia the extent ct ours, and sane
reform m that respect IS essential to our
continued prosperity
Money contributions t0 candidates Tor
Federal office rs another question that
was uf sufficient moment to have le-
ceived detailed consideration and com
mitmcnts m both platforms. II Is per
plcSlng and many-eided problem. That
the use of money is essential and leg1ti
mate Ia accomplish organizations and to
hsinr before the country the merits OF
the respective candidates, to promote
puhhcitV. Ia arouse interest in the cleo
lions and Ia bring ont the vote, is tnlver-
sally conceded The proposal that tins
expenditure be undertaken by the gov
crnment Is as objectionable and impracA
tirahle as are the present unjust laws limit
ing the expenditures by candidates Tor
office to certain specified sums regardless
of the number of the constituency, the
expense of publicity or the extent OF the
territory to be covered. There are some
communities in which 500 legitimately
expended will yield as great returns as
would 81 900 in Others.
A drastic. comprehensive law that
would require the fling of detailed state
mcnts OF receipts and expenditures and
of promises. loans of money, liabilities
incurred and commitments made, once
each week and again two days before
the primary or election and still again
thirty DAVIS thereafter, by every one
who gives. contributes, loans. promises,
commits IlnlSf1 1tE tt ttfSaNt-N III IN
cess of 500 would answer every legltI- |
mate purpose. Allow any party or can
didate to expend what it or he pleases, |
but sec to it that in ample time before |
the polls close the people know in the |
most minute detail what is being spent, |
for what purpose and by whom. They |
can then Judge as to the motives for the |
contributions and whSther thu expendi- /
lures were necessary or proper. As /
primaries and elections arc now con- /
Quoted under the prevailing loose and /
ineffective Corrupt Practices acts, |
that cOnduce more to corruption than to
the prevention Of fraud and corruption I
venture 20 guess that In a PreSIden T
tlal campaign more unreported money
J. spent than that which is reported.
The disastrous effect upon fair test |
~ strength between the parties of .
limitation upon the amount of individ- .
ua subscriptions Is well illustrated BY I
the situation IN the present campaign
Tho financial manager Of the RepubI-
can Party Is himself many times a mil
.ionaire who has promoted many great
enterprises IN the stock market He is
nne 81 the most closely affiliated men in
the United States with the great in
iernational banking houses. with their
endless qualifications. For q year or
more he IN conjunction with VIII HAYS.
the Chairman Of the National Committee.
ass been devoting himself to organizing
The financing of this campaign all over
he country and he has done it with
ms usual ability and thoroughness. He
mas shrewdly announced that nc single
of over s 900 will be re-
rIved but All indications point to the
that the fund to be raised bv
nm will be the biggest Id the history of
political campaigns. and that it will
'xceed the fabulous sum of $40, 900, 900
part of which has already been advanced
N committed.
The names OF the contributors will
constitute the roster of the book of obi
ectOry OF Directors" and of their sisters
md their cousins and their aunts" of all
he great corporations of the country and
4 the tariff benehciaries, profiteers and
'ther speciai interests and men of great
wealth who regard the Republican Party
5 their bulwark against the rising ride of
orporate, industrial and economic re-
nrm.
The officers, Directors and associates
{ the United States Steel Corporation
nay alone be counted on for at least
/ ,000,000 even If the salaries of some
the officers of their numerous sub
diaries will have to be increased. and
he same IS true in lesser degree of the
Ulcers OF almost every great bank, trust
,rupapv railroad lifa anJ g. sx...,u... 1