The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-03-20
NOT A STILL HUNT YEAR.
Men of Presidential Calibre Appealing
Directly to the People.

Public men of real presidential cali
| bre with one accord have adopted the
policy of puzzling the politicians by
appealing to the people. They are ad-
| dressing the electorate directly and
! openly rather than still-hunting the
deleatesg. Examples are afforded by
I the fine declarations on public issues
by General Wood and President But
Ter. There is no difficulty in seeing
where they stand. Neither of them
shrks the difficult questions before the
public, and either of them is leader
who may be safely followed. Neither
of them is reactionary, both are for
ward looking men. Naturally General
Wood stresses preparedness, but the
general by no means shirks economic
issues, He stands for the Americaniza-
ton of the alien, with the alternative
OF deportation of those who are i'm
mune to instruction. eve must pro-
ress,g but we must know where we are
going"
President Butler speaks as a Repub-
lican as does the general. 1t is not their
fault if there is no Democrat in sight
in their class, and the party leaves the
door open for the appeal which DR.. But
Ter makes that the Democrats shall raj
ly to the support of the positions the
Republicans take, as they did in Lin
coins time Dr. Butler has the adj
vantage of the general in his selection
of public finance for special emphasis
They are both critical of our tax sys
TEN, but since nobody except its indi-
vidual authors defends it, neither they
nor the country can divide over it any
more than over budget reform. No
body opposes that outside of Congress,
nor inside it, for reasons which it is
safe to avow But budget reform has
more than financial objective as DR..
Butler puts it forward He would
make the budget "the chief political
event of each year." for it includes the
question of taxation, which for long |
will be chief among domestic issues
No budget in the immediate future |
can provide for less than four billion |
dollars, and the method of raising that
sum is issue enough to divide the coun-
try. Dr. Butler would preserve the
principle" Of protection, but he frank
" says that temporary modification"
is necessary. Customs taxes now yield
and no ingenuity can expand that to
any considerable fraction of four bill
lions. Also, if customs would yield nee
assarv revenue it could not be taken
without checking the great payments
on debts due us from those who must
pay in goods or not pay at all. Our
foreign debtors are not solvent because
hey must pay in goods On the con
rary, the great increase in our imports
n January shows that they acknowl-
,dge their obligations and are trying
o pay them like honest buyers. The
truggle with their debts is strenuous,
md. if we turn their goods away by ex-
lusive customs, they will buy else
where.
Dr. Butler estimates the losses of the
var at about ne-half more than the
otal of the estimated wealth of the
United States. The manner in which
hat world loss can be recouped will
ong be leading issue in all lands. Ma
ional and international finance, trade !
nd taxation will turn upon it. The
andidate who has the best and most
pecific proposals would have long ,
cad over those whose views on that
rhine policy are more vague or less
pproved than those of Dr. Butler. Like
,eneral Wood, he would repeal the ex
ess profits tax because of its repres-
i've effect on production and invest I
nent, and he would reduce the highest !
'rackets of the income tax for the '
anne reason. He inclines to a sales &
ak as one substitute and stands with
secretary Glass proposal when he was :
t the treasury that there should be an |
tempt to reduce the exemptions from
axation. New York Times.