Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1920-08-12

clares Present Congress Has Not
Passed a Single Constructive Law,
but Has Spent Time and Millions in
Seeking to Make Americas Military
Triumph an Odious Chapter in His
tory-Favors Repeal of War Taxes,
Criminal Prosecution of Profiteers,
More Adequate Supervision Of Rail-
roads, a National Budget System,
and Woman Suffrage.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE
TT will Of course be understood
that in carrying out the purpose of
the League, the government of the
United States must at all times act in
strict harmony with the terms and in
tent of the United States Constitution
which cannot in any way be altered by
the treaty-making power
Helpful Additions Not Barred.
"UnquestiOned friends Of the League
have made other proposals. Our plat
form clearly lays no bar against any
additions that will be helpful, but it
speaks in firm resolution to stand
against anything that disturbS the VI
tai principle. We hear it said that in
corporations are unnecessary. That
may be true, but they will at least be
reaSSuring to many Of our citizens,
who feel that in signing the treaty,
there should be no mental reservations
that are not expressed in plain words,
as a matter Of good faith to our as
sOcfates. Such interpretations possess
the further virtue Of supplying a base
upon which agreement can be reached,
and agreement, without injury to the
covenant, is now Of pressing impOr-
lance. 1t was the desire to get things
started, that prompted some members
of the senate to vote for the Lodge
reservations. Those who cOnScien-
tiOusly voted for them in the final roll
calls realized, however, that they acted
under duress, in that a politically big
Oted minority was exercising the ar
bitrary power of its position to en-
force drastic conditions. Happily the
voters of the republic, under our SyS-
TEN of government, 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 facil
fly in the making Of better world con-
ditiOnS The agencies of exchange will
automatically adjust themselves to the
opportunities of commercial freedom
New life and renewed hope will take
hold of every nation. Mankind will
press a resolute shoulder to the task
of REIMBURSEMENT, and new era will
have daWned upon the earth.
Federal Taxation.
Federal taxation must be heavily
reduced. and it will be done at once
if a Democratic administration is
chosen in November. Without ham
pering essential national adminiStra-
tive departments, by the elimination of
all others and strict economy every
where. national taxes can be reduced
I'm excess of $20O0.O00, yearly. An
noying consumption taxes. once will
ingly borne, now uniustified, 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 Salaried and professional man.
of the agricultural producer and of the
small tradesman should be sharply
modified. | believe that better form
of taxation than the sO-called excess
profits tax may be found and / Sug-
geSt small tax probably l to IL 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 cap
italiZed units have used the excess
profits tax as 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 just proportion between
fair profits to business and fair prices
to the consumer.
Would Halt Profiteering.
''The tribe of profiteers has simply
multiplied under the favoring 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 un-
derhold, and to make illegal profits as
the result Of preference. Such lar
lgesses are today greater menace to
our contentment and our institutions
than the countless temporary profit
teers who are making a mockery of
honest business, but who can live and
fatten only in time of disturbed prices.
If l am called to service as president
means will be found, if they do not al
ready exist, for compelling these ex-
ceptions to the great mass Of square
dealing American business men, to use